A Race-Calling First?

Quirky race calls from the announcer's booths are nothing new in the horse racing industry. Every once and a while an odd or colourful call will break the norm --- and the most recent instance may actually go down as a first.

Saturday, July 21 at Minnesota's Canterbury Park for thoroughbreds was dubbed 'Extreme Race Day' by event organizers. In addition to its horse-racing card, the day at Canterbury also featured a camel race and an ostrich race.

As off-the-beaten-track as camel and ostrich racing generally is, they have --- surprisingly enough to some --- already taken place during horse-racing cards this year.

Something which doesn't take place on the regular, though, is having the track announcer huff back a couple of lungs full of helium, step up to the mic and offer his race call to the punters and horsepeople taking it in.

Canterbury Park's 2012 Extreme Day 'Helium Race'

With the Extreme Race Day program a perfect testing ground for the original call, track announcer Paul Allen toted his helium-filled balloon up to the booth, inhaled a broad blast of the gas and kicked into his spiel as soon as the field of runners broke from the gate.

Pausing for a couple of instances in order to suck back some more helium, Allen was able to deliver an overall wonky, yet entertaining race call.

In addition to thoroughbred racing, Extreme Race Day also featured some quarter-horse races; and, as it was 'Family Day' at Canterbury Park, the day included free pony rides, face painting, and a petting zoo for the kids, along with the Old Dutch 'Kids Race the Track' following the final race on the card.