A new voiceover described the racing action at Turf Paradise this week, with the same British accent as the track’s full-time broadcaster, Craig Braddick, but with a different pitch.
Dani Jackson, familiar to racing observers in the United Kingdom as a regular commentator and broadcaster for greyhounds, was this week’s race guest at the Phoenix circuit, sharing share the task with Braddick. The second has mentored Jackson for the past six months.
From Manchester, UK, Jackson works abroad for William Hill as a TV presenter and commentator. She also hosts Racing Post social media videos about greyhound races.
But she aspires to transition to being a full-time horse racing broadcaster, a goal that gained traction in June when Jackson responded to a tweet from Braddick offering the opportunity for a guest hostess at Turf Paradise.
Jackson sent Braddick her call samples. After initial criticism, in the months before her appearance at Turf Paradise, they chatted remotely via videoconference about her race suggestions.
Jackson said her initial two races this week at Turf Paradise were merely “passable” but now feel more comfortable for her week-long run.
“It was the most amazing thing that ever happened,” she said of her career opportunities.
Racing at Turf Paradise
Recently, Jackson auditioned with RaceTech in the UK for the race caller position.
“I don’t know if I’ll make it to the next round, but fingers crossed,” she said.
While there are plenty of female rowers and TV presenters at racetracks, female callers are a minority compared to their male counterparts, both in the US and abroad. A handful of women have announced racing action in the country in recent years.
But another female broadcaster will be behind the microphone next week.
Jessica Paquette, racing analyst for Sam Houston Racing Park and Colony Downs, said she’ll fill out current Sam Houston broadcaster Nick Tammaro next week while he’s preoccupied with family matters. Tamaro tweeted on January 20 that his father had passed away.
“I’m happy to be pin-hit,” she said.
Jessica Paquette
Paquette was previously part of a group of individuals who made the announcement at Sam Houston during its Quarter Horse meeting last summer after its announcer that winter and spring, Chris Griffin, had get a position at Racing Parx. She previously became the first woman to do a race on the New England circuit in 2014 when it was defunct. Suffolk Downs, when the track’s customary announcer is unable to arrive at the track before the race has started. She also called a bell tower race at Colonial this past summer.
According to published reports, Angela Hermann was the first woman to call a full card of the Thoroughbred races in North America in 2013 at Canterbury Park. She then announced a racing season at Golden Gate Field in 2016.
Dawn Lupul is also said to have called the mining races in Canada, announcing a full card of the Standardbreds in 2009.
In the UK, “there is nobody,” Jackson said of current publishers.
Paquette added: “Car racing is very male-dominated. So is sports broadcasting. “It wasn’t until recently that you started hearing the voice of a woman doing a play or other commentary next to the newspaper. side fox.
“Part of this is that people are used to hearing women’s voices. I totally understand that it’s a bit unusual for people when you’re so used to the normal.”
Jackson has been largely well received, even on social media, which is full of critics on almost any subject.
Paquette praised Jackson’s calls, though she called Turf Paradise for a since-deleted tweet in which the song’s account, handled by Braddick, in part hinted that she was not a girlfriend. or his sister.
The implications of such opportunity, even without ill intentions, “are antiquated and offensive,” says Paquette.
Braddick, who declined to comment on the tweet, wanted to focus on Jackson and her performance in the booth. He called her “a very talented cab driver” who had done “a wonderful, wonderful job.”
“I’m so happy and so proud of her after all the hard work we’ve put in over the past six months, zooming in on meetings, listening to dozens of calls and responding to her,” he added. . “She really brought her ‘A’ game to Turf Paradise. I couldn’t be more proud of what she’s achieved right now.”
Jackson also appreciated Braddick’s time and guidance.
“I really couldn’t ask for a better mentor,” she said.
His idea to entice Jackson into the Turf Paradise booth worked for the Arizona track as well, drawing attention to a track with a modest track.
When asked how she hopes to gain competitive experience in her state, Jackson doesn’t hesitate.
She said: “I want to be the UK race caller and the first female caller to follow the track. “That will be my main job, what I want to do.”
