Sugar Doyle is inching closer to becoming the track announcer for Grande Prairie's spring/summer harness meet, but nothing has been finalized

. After the story of Doyle's uncertain Alberta future broke yesterday on the Horse Racing Alberta website, Trot Insider spoke with Doyle and HRA has since also provided an update.

The management team at Grande Prairie's Evergreen Park has notified ASHA -- the horsemen's group -- of its desire to have Doyle call its 46-day meet, which starts June 12.

However, under the current proposal, Doyle would become an ASHA employee, with Evergreen Park paying for some of the deal. "We have a handshake agreement to lock up Sugar for the spring and summer," ASHA executive director David Kincade has told HRA. "We are waiting for formal (correspondence) from Grande Prairie."

Where this story gets really interesting is that another undisclosed racing venue outside of Alberta has stepped forward in the last 24 hours to show interest in Doyle's services. The 39-year-old track caller -- who has been the voice of Northlands harness racing since spring 2006 -- is leaving for his Maritime home at the end of the Edmonton harness meet on February 28. By the end of this week, Doyle will likely have a contract offer to sign from ASHA, but could have a competing offer from elsewhere.

According to HRA, Doyle is not publicly commenting until a written contract offer from ASHA arrives.

The personable announcer called the races in Grande Prairie last year and has been waiting to receive an offer to go back this year.

Evergreen Park general manager Greg Suess made it clear to HRA that his organization wants Doyle to return. "It was an easy decision. (But) we didn't understand the timelines (to getting a deal in place)," said Suess.

(With files from HRA)