The Versatile Voice Of Peter Kyte

While announcer Peter Kyte has hit the ground running at Western Fair Raceway, when the runners hit the ground for Fort Erie Raceway's opener tomorrow Kyte will not be in the booth

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"As it turns out, it just wasn't financially feasible for either side for Peter Kyte to announce at The Fort this year," Kyte told Trot Insider. "My family and I moved to St. Thomas in February to be closer to Western Fair, which leaves me nearly three hours from Fort Erie, which means added expense of living on the road for three days a week. I certainly am not in any position to absorb those added expenses and in speaking with Daryl Wells it was obvious that the company wasn't prepared to either. It's understandable. Business is business."

Kyte had served as the voice of Fort Erie for the past three seasons.

"I have absolutely nothing but good to say about Daryl Wells, Herb McGirr Sr. and all of the people at Fort Erie. We had a lot of fun together! They gave me a wonderful opportunity to get back in the booth and there is no doubt that the exposure and credibility that my working at Fort Erie is what led to my hiring at Western Fair. I made some new friends, learned a few things about thoroughbred racing and I am genuinely disappointed that it had to end."

The decision to forego Fort Erie adds some unexpected and unwelcome downtime to Kyte's Summer schedule.

"Western Fair quiets down in the month of May, racing just twice a week, but we're going to be busy prepping for what we hope will be the best Molson Pace Night in the track's history," continued Kyte. "Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'll do for the Summer months while Western Fair is dark, but I'm confident that someone will recognize some of the good that I've been a part of at Western Fair this year and have something in mind for me. I've got some ideas of my own that I'm excited about and putting the finishing touches on. Harness racing is my entire life, Ontario harness racing especially and I can't foresee myself doing anything else at this point."

Showing his vocal range extends beyond harness racing, Kyte recently scratched one item off his bucket list: singing in a band.

"I recently joined a band led by Traci Kennedy. The stage name is Traci Kennedy and County Line," stated Kyte. "I sing a few leads, including this song but mostly harmonies with Traci. It's been great for me, something I've always wanted to do and I'm glad I finally took the plunge and involved myself at 33 after a lifelong secret passion for music."