The New York Racing Association announced on September 4 that John Imbriale will retire as the NYRA’s full-time track broadcaster at the end of 2022. Though he will be leaving the microphone at the end of 2022. Racecourse Saratoga and Aqueduct race trackImbriale will continue to act as the main announcer at Belmont Park in 2023 and beyond.
Imbriale’s 43-year tenure with the NYRA began in 1979 when he won the New York Daily News contest, which gave him the opportunity to enter a race and work with the NYRA press office. In 1990, the Queens, NY native became a back-up for Tom Durkin. Along the way, he took on other responsibilities at NYRA, working with Harvey Pack on the hit show Inside Racing and in various roles on NYRA TV.
Imbriale has been a full-time NYRA broadcaster since January 2020, the latest in a line-up of famous New York racers that includes the likes of Durkin, Dave Johnson and Fred “Cappy” Caposella.
“NYRA is the pinnacle of this great sport, and the past three years have been filled with incredible moments and races that I will never forget,” Imbriale said. “I want to thank the fans at Saratoga for really hugging and kissing me, and I look forward to being at the booth for the rest of the year and at Belmont Park moving forward.”
Frank Mirahmadi, broadcaster at Santa Anita . Park since 2018 and Monmouth Park since 2015, will take on race organizing duties at Saratoga Speedway in 2023. A native of Los Angeles, Mirahmadi is known to racing fans in New York through her work at Aqueduct Racecourse, Co. Belmont Park and Saratoga Racecourse in recent years. Additionally, his previous experience includes calling races at Oaklawn Park, Louisiana Downs, Golden Gate Fieldand Hialeah Park. Mirahmadi, 54, will give up her ride hailing duties at Monmouth Park and continue working as a broadcaster at Santa Anita.
“I felt the history and tradition of Saratoga Racecourse as soon as I entered the gates for the first time 25 years ago,” said Mirahmadi. “It’s a magical place, and I’m incredibly grateful to follow in John Imbriale’s footsteps next summer at Spa.”
Chris Griffin, who was a broadcaster at Racing Parx as of 2021, will expand on his previous experience at the NYRA and become the lead announcer at the Aqueduct Raceway starting in 2023. Accordingly, Griffin will call winter, spring and fall meet at Big A.
Griffin, 41 years old, formerly a broadcaster at Sam Houston Racing Park, Gulfstream Park West, and Portland Meadows. A Santa Monica, California native, Griffin was a backup broadcaster to Imbriale at the 2021-22 Aqueduct winter meeting.
“The Aqueduct Raceway plays a central role in New York’s purebred racing ecosystem, and it was a privilege to be able to host races there last winter,” Griffin said. “I thank NYRA for this opportunity and can’t wait to return to Big A to begin this new role.”
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse Staff.
