Tony called up for invitation day

The Bully’s racing writer and veteran race caller, Tony McMahon, has now been given the call to attend the Racecallers Invitation Day at Newcastle this month.

ALLAN REINIKKA

THE Morning Bulletin’s racing writer Tony McMahon has been invited to join an elite band of leading race callers to take part in Australia’s longest-running Race Caller’s Invitation Day at Newcastle’s Broadmeadow racecourse on Wednesday, March 17.

McMahon, along with the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Steve Hawkins, will represent Queensland.

Other invited callers to Newcastle for the meeting, which features the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m) include legendary Melbourne caller Greg Miles of Melbourne Cup fame, as well as Victoria’s Terry Bailey.

Sydney broadcaster Mark Shean, SKY Racing’s Josh Fleming, Matt Hill and Rod Fuller will represent New South Wales.

McMahon said he was both elated and surprised when contacted by John Curtis, the general manager of racing services for the Newcastle Jockey Club.

“I was absolutely thrilled as I spent some of the happiest years of my life when employed in Newcastle by the Newcastle Racing Registration Board as handicapper and steward for Newcastle, Gosford, Wyong, Wollongong and the Hunter Valley race clubs between 1974 and 1977,” McMahon said.

“I remember the likes of Ken Howard, Bert Bryant, John Day, Bill Collins, John Russell, Geoff Mahoney, Ian Craig and John Tapp calling at Broadmeadow for the day which was then known as the TAA Invitation Racecallers Cup.

“In those days I used to call Saturday meetings at Scone and actually called alongside Ken Howard there one year.

“I also remember calling the 1977 Newcastle Cup for the ABC, which was won by Hyperno, who then ran third in the Melbourne Cup that year before winning the Cup in 1979.

“Anyhow, to be on the roster to call at this prestigious meeting at Newcastle is simply a great honour and I can’t get over it.”

Curtis said after hearing McMahon’s impeccable race call of the seven horses starting with the name Craiglea in a race at Mackay last month, he was eager to invite him back to Newcastle to call.

“Tony’s call that day was simply brilliant and was recognised worldwide,” Curtis said.

“The publicity that Mackay race call generated was amazing.

“The Newcastle Jockey Club is delighted Tony has accepted our invitation and with his diversified background he will be an interesting interview at our Beauford Club luncheon at Broadmeadow the day preceding the races.

“I know he has many old friends here in Newcastle.”

McMahon began calling races at Lismore in 1969 before becoming the first full-time caller of the Gold Coast Turf Club until 1974.

That career was subsequently cut short when he developed blood clots on the vocal chords, but after successful surgery he diversified into racing administration in New South Wales before later dabbling again at race calling.

He was appointed race caller for the Rockhampton Jockey Club in 1989 and held that position for 16 years until December, 2005.

Subsequently he was sought after by numerous country race clubs while some years back was appointed on-course, SKY and Radio TAB broadcaster for the Mackay Turf Club.

“I must say the last four years of calling races at Mackay as well as at all the country clubs such as Thangool, Yeppoon, Clermont and Springsure have been the most enjoyable of my career.

“I thought calling the Craiglea race had capped everything for me, but the Newcastle invitation means so very much more for many reasons,” McMahon said.