Tag: People

Parx track announcer Chris Griffin has been named the new track announcer at Monmouth Park starting with the 2023 meet that gets underway in May, it was announced today.

Griffin, the back-up announcer at Monmouth Park since 2020, will replace Frank Mirahmadi, who is taking over as the track announcer at Saratoga next summer after eight years at Monmouth Park. Mirahmadi is also the track announcer at Santa Anita.

The 41-year-old Griffin was also recently named the track announcer for the Aqueduct winter meet that runs from January through April.

“We're pleased to have Chris Griffin join us as our full-time announcer. There has been a tremendous legacy in the Monmouth Park announcer's booth for the past 50 years, from Bob Weems to Larry Collmus to Travis Stone to Frank Mirahmadi, and we feel Chris will carry on that tradition,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park.

Griffin has been the track announcer at Parx since April of 2021, filling in at Monmouth Park in Mirahmadi's absence for the past three years as well. He also serves as the track announcer for the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet and will continue in that role going forward.

“It's an honor. I'm humbled,” said Griffin. “It's nice when you feel like you have worked really hard to achieve your goals of what you want to do career-wise and where you want to be.

“I have gotten to know some of the people at Monmouth Park over the past three years. To be able to fill in over that time, and to do so for Frank Mirahmadi, someone I respect immensely in this industry and as an announcer, has meant a lot to me. It's a great opportunity to be able to now get to do this full-time at Monmouth Park.”

Griffin, who hails from Santa Monica, Calif., got his announcing start with the National Hot Rod Association and Harlem Globetrotters, moving on to call races at the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, Calif. He has been the announcer for a variety of California fair meets as well as Portland Meadows, Los Alamitos and Gulfstream Park West.

Griffin was named the track announcer at Sam Houston in 2018. He also filled in at the Belmont Park fall meet in 2021.

The post Chris Griffin Named Full-Time Track Announcer At Monmouth Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Florent Geroux and agent Doug Bredar will part ways after the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 4 and 5 at Keeneland, Bredar announced via Twitter on Wednesday.

According to the Daily Racing Form, New York-based agent John Panagot will pick up Geroux's book after the World Championships. Panagot will continue to represent New York-based rider Manny Franco, remaining primarily in New York while “occasionally popping in and out of wherever Florent is riding.”

Geroux plans to ride in Kentucky during the spring and fall, Fair Grounds in the winter, and Saratoga in the summer.

Bredar left his career as a racing official when he took the young French rider's book in 2010, and the two won over $140 million in purses together with highlights like Horse of the Year Gun Runner and multiple divisional champion Monomoy Girl. Bredar told DRF his future is “undetermined.”

“Doug did so much for me and my family,” Geroux told DRF. “I've been thinking the last few weeks about my next move. I will always be grateful to Doug.”

Unfortunately good things come to an end. I'll work w/ @flothejock through BC,proud of what we accomplished,grateful for horsemen trusting us w/ great horses. 13 years,7th in NA. Amazing run beyond all expectations. Apparently grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.

— D. R. Bredar (@grade1sw) September 28, 2022

The post Florent Geroux, Doug Bredar Part Ways After 12 Years; John Panagot To Pick Up Flo’s Book appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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It's not unusual for a jockey to have multiple wins on any one day but what Jaime Rodriguez did at Delaware Park was unusual. He rode eight consecutive winners for eight different trainers from Sept. 16 to Sept. 22, one win shy of tying the record of nine wins.

The unique accomplishment earned Rodriguez the honor of Jockey of the Week for Sept. 19 through Sept. 25. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Rodriguez's streak began on Sept. 16 with three consecutive winners for trainers Michael Matz, Andrew Simoff and Bernardo Lopez respectively.  On Sept. 17, he won with all four of his mounts beginning in the second race for trainer Jamie Ness. Three wins followed in races 4, 5, and 6 for trainers Gary Contessa, Christophe Clement and Victor Barboza, Jr.  The streak continued to Sept. 22 when Rodriguez posted his eighth consecutive win in the first race for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

The record of nine consecutive wins in the United States is believed to have been set by jockey Albert Adams in 1930. Jockeys Anthony Black in 1993 and Travis Dunkelberger in 2009 tied the record.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez attended the famous Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school and has been riding state-side since 2010. He rode primarily at Aqueduct and Belmont before moving his tack to Finger Lakes in 2012 where he dominated the standings while also riding at Mahoning Valley.  In 2020 Rodriguez decided to move to the Mid-Atlantic region riding primarily at Delaware Park, Laurel/Pimlico and Parx. 

Rodriguez is in the midst of his best riding season ever with a commanding lead in the Delaware Park standings with 99 wins through September 25, well on his way to earning his second consecutive Delaware Park riding title. The Delaware Park meet runs through November 5.

Weekly statistics for Rodriguez were 10 wins from 24 mounts and $268,220 in total purses.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Florent Geroux who won the G1 Cotillion, Andy Hernandez who won his first graded stakes race, Angel R. Rodriguez who led all jockeys in wins for the week with 11, and Mike Smith who won the G1 Pennsylvania Derby.

The post Eight Consecutive Wins Net Jaime Rodriguez Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Since 2005, photographer Lou Hodges, Jr. has captured the excitement and beauty of horse racing at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La. On the final day of the 2022 Thoroughbred racing season, he will officially pass the baton to his highly respected assistant Ann Switalski.

Lou Hodges, Jr. served as track photographer at several racetracks, including Rockingham Park, Washington Park and Arlington Park. His father, Lou Hodges was the official photographer at Fair Grounds in New Orleans beginning in 1948, before his son took over in 1976.

In addition to being the official photographer at Fair Grounds, Hodges Photography also has the contract at Louisiana Downs.

Ann McKnight Switalski was born in Saginaw,  Mich. She arrived in Louisiana in 2003 and stayed after her husband retired from the military. An avid equestrienne, she began taking photos of morning works and soon realized that an investment in a quality camera was essential. Hodges offered her an opportunity to shoot some Super Derby action and hired her in 2016.

“I was very fortunate to find Ann,” explained Hodges. “She was working for a veterinarian on the backside and was interested in photography. I met with her and noticed right away that she was very creative and asked her to come to work.”

Color and clarity are two of the elements that are evident in the work of Hodges Photography.

“Our technique for getting perfect race shots is to use telephoto lenses to have tight shots,” said Hodges. “We are always looking for different angles and different compositions that will make someone who views the image look twice.”

With no previous background in photography, Switalski realized she had a lot to learn, and with the expert guidance of Hodges, she jumped right in.

“Lou made sure I understood that there is a very limited time to get the shots we need: the stretch, wire and comeback,” said Switalski.  “He taught me the importance of getting the horse in front to allow room for editing.”

Switalski enjoys the people involved in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing and getting memorable shots of jockeys as they jog back after a tough finish.

“Maria Baca gave me a very nice compliment,” said Switalski. “She said that no one takes photos of the riders like I do and that her mother loves them!”

Switalski, lives in Keithville, La., with her husband, Tony, and sons Sam and Nathan. They share their home with three goats, two ducks, five cats and two horses, including Maverick Impression, an Appaloosa who is showing promise as a novice jumper.

She looks forward to the next chapter and is grateful for the support of her family as well as her Louisiana Downs assistant, Dawn Thomas.

On the final day of the 2022 racing season, Louisiana Downs officials honored Hodges for his service and presented him with a plaque thanking him for his excellence.

“Hodges Photography has been an integral part of the history of Louisiana Downs,” said Kevin Preston, the track's owner and president. “We are grateful for the professionalism of Lou Hodges and the images that will remain with us forever. Ann is greatly admired by our horsemen and everyone in our organization. We know she will do an excellent job!”

The tribute meant a great deal to the inimitable photographer, who is nowhere near retiring and looks forward to the upcoming live racing season at Fair Grounds.  He wishes all the best to Switalski and is confident that the transition will be seamless.

“Ann will do a great job,” stated Hodges. “I am hoping to come back, possibly for the Super Derby, but look forward to traveling with my wife, Leslie, next summer.”

Switalski has not decided on the official name on her contract with Louisiana Downs, but can be reached at ladownsphotos@gmail.com.

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