Boom! Just like that, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino is getting set to celebrate its seventh Anniversary and has dubbed the afternoon program on Saturday, April 23 as Fan Appreciation Day at the races. To help in celebrating the big event, a pair of harness racing legends — announcers Roger Huston and Vance Cameron — will be making the journey to Alberta for the special anniversary card.
“Roger Huston is a legend and an icon. I mean there was a bobblehead doll giveaway at the Meadows one year!" said the Managing Director of Racing for Century Mile and Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, Paul Ryneveld. "Vance Cameron brings his flair and expression that has made him a Canadian legend. I have been fortunate to hear both live at their respective tracks and look forward to what will be a memorable seventh Anniversary of racing at Century Downs.”
Huston, the famous voice of the Little Brown Jug, and Cameron, longtime caller of P.E.I.'s Gold Cup and Saucer, will both share in the announcing duties for the day. Huston mentions that he's absolutely looking forward to heading west for some harness racing action.
"I always get excited going into a new location to call races and this will mark 20 Canadian tracks that I've had the pleasure of announcing at," said the announcer of close to 181,700 horse races over his career. "This will be the farthest west I've been in Canada," he mentioned. "I did call races at Queensbury Downs, for an anniversary program back in 1994, but this will be my first time in Alberta."
When asked about his favourite races to announce, over the years, there are a few Little Brown Jugs that do standout. "I'd be foolish if I didn't say Falcon Seelster's Jug day win, in 1985, was my favourite and likely my most popular race call. The Wiggle It Jiggleit Jug, of 2015, will go down as the greatest race I've ever seen or ever called... Life Sign's Jug victory, of 1993, was a memorable one as well."
Cameron has never been west of Marquis Downs, in Saskatoon, so he is anticipating to the new surroundings as well.
"I was out that way in 1981 and called races with guys like Ed Tracey, Jerv Clifton, Jamie Gray and Billy Companion, coming in from Alberta, so I do have 'a wee bit of western swing' in me," he said. "I was absolutely humbled to get the call and to team up with Roger Huston for this...I'm just really looking forward to it."
Known for his popular catchphrases such as 'Boom! Just like that', 'Brouhaha', 'To it and at it, at and it to it,' Cameron sounds very keen and will be hoping to use some of his signature calls on the day. "I'm going to bring them all, and I may have a new one with me as well. I'm sure it will be a great time in the booth!"
Cameron emerged victorious in 'Canada's Best Race Call' poll, conducted by Standardbred Canada and voted on by fans of Canadian harness racing in 2019. His much-heralded call of the 2008 Gold Cup and Saucer, where Earl Smith won with Pownal Bay Matt, was a clear winner among the competition.
Event organizer James Jungquist, a former driver on the Alberta circuit, came up with the idea of bringing these two legends together at Century Downs. "When I moved into this new marketing role, I thought about my time in the sulky and what would have gotten me excited as a horseperson. This was it!" said Jungquist. "Roger Huston is harness racing and Vance Cameron is that in Canada. This will be an awesome event for race fans and horsepeople on track and off. We've had a wonderful response from our industry partners in making this happen; I'd like to applaud Century Downs, Horse Racing Alberta and ASHA for coming together and sharing in this very special event. The excitement, on this day, will be second to none for all involved."
Stay tuned for more '7th Anniversary at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino' details to come.
(with files from HRA)