SOUTH Australian race caller Tim Edwards is tipping today’s Scott Group of Companies Gold Cup will see strong racing on the newly redeveloped track.
Armed with his trusty binoculars and a gift for race calling, Mr Edwards said he was looking forward to witnessing how racing would unfold on the overhauled circuit.
Calling his third Mount Gambier Gold Cup, the well known full time race caller said all signs were positive for today’s race meeting despite the inclement weather.
“I have spoken to some jockeys in Adelaide and they described the track – which they rode on the other day – as fantastic,” Mr Edwards told The Border Watch.
“I think they will get through the meeting today and it will be interesting to see how it plays out – whether it favours the front markers or whether the horses can come from behind.”
Mr Edwards – who arrived yesterday to call a greyhound meeting at Tara Raceway – said the fields also appeared strong for today’s event.
“The Mount Gambier racecourse is a brilliant racecourse and the club do a great job,” he said.
“They will have steeplechase and a hurdle today, which will be a good spectacle.”
Meanwhile, Mr Edwards said the new track should not suffer the same water-logging as the old circuit.
“The old track did not cope with rain very well, from what I am told the new track will cope very well,” he said.
“The track will be probably be heavy given the rain we have had – but it should play alright. They have only raced on it once so far.”
While the conditions were expected to be wintry today, Mr Edwards foreshadowed few problems calling the races.
“If it gets too bad you can use the television to call the race. If it is dark like yesterday, sometimes you can look to the television to get a bit of a guide where the horses are.
“But more often than not you use your binoculars – we sit in the broadcast stands upstairs in the tower. Even if it is raining it is not too bad, it is mostly a problem if it is raining and foggy,” the race caller said.
Mr Edwards revealed he planned to spend last night studying the “form and colours” ahead of today’s big event.
“By the time I get there today I would have memorised most of it – and when the horses go out to the barriers, I will have a quick look again to ensure I have the right names with the right horses,” he added.
“Occasionally, I may have to look at the race book if I have forgotten something.”
While race calling was fast and furious, Mr Edwards said it became easier with experience.
“Once you have done it a few times, you get more relaxed,” said Mr Edwards, who is just one of four full time race callers in South Australia.
“You trust that you know what you are doing.”
Regarding the move to transfer the Gold Cup to December, Mr Edwards said he believed this was a “really good move” by the club and industry.
“It will fall just before Christmas, so you get a lot of break-up parties and good weather. Today will be the last ever Gold Cup meeting in May,” he said.
While it was an “end of a tradition”, he said it would usher in new opportunities for the club.
“The club really needed to do it and I am looking forward to it.”
Mr Edwards works for Radio TAB, which broadcasts greyhounds, thoroughbred and harness racing.
His passion for race calling was triggered as youngster when he went to thoroughbred race meetings with his grandfather.
“I knew I wanted to be involved in the racing industry, but I was too heavy to be a jockey. So I worked out race calling could be something I could do,” Mr Edwards said.
Mr Edwards practised for “years and years” in the broadcast boxes before he snatched an opportunity to become a full time race caller.
