Voice The
of
T
By Ryan Patterson
here isn’t much that Terry Wallace hasn’t seen after 36 years in the booth as the track announcer at Oaklawn Park. The Ohio native has called every race at Oaklawn since 1975. He has been called “the Most Recognizable Voice in Arkansas” and has had the privilege of calling horses such as Smarty Jones, Lady’s Secret, Cigar, and Azeri. It is possible that the best horse he will ever call will be Zenyatta in this year’s edition of the Apple Blossom Handicap. Humble beginnings Wallace got his start in the thoroughbred racing industry working in the parking lot and running for the press box at River Downs in Cincinnati, OH, while he was a student at nearby Xavier University. At River Downs, he met track announcer Jim Hines. Wallace enjoyed Hines’ calls and learned the craft by listening to him. After returning from studying in France, Wallace recorded a race in French and played the tape for Hines. The veteran race caller suggested that his young friend give it a try in English. “I got positive responses to my race
22
STRIDE MAGAZINE
calls, so I decided to give it a shot as a career. At the time I was working as a teacher at McNicholas High School in Cincinnati. It was a gamble, but I decided to take a job as the track announcer at Latonia Park [now known as Turfway Park]. Luckily, the gamble paid off and led to a successful career in the thoroughbred racing industry.” The rest, as they say, is history. Wallace is now a jack of all trades at Oaklawn. He serves as director of media relations, simulcast host and as a member of the senior management team, in addition to his duties as track announcer. Oaklawn has changed greatly since
March 17, 2010
Photo: daniel sample/eclipse sportswire
Oaklawn
Crediting his experience cramming for exams a
Wallace arrived in 1975. At the time, the track was small, though flourishing; handle and attendance were on the rise. In 1983, Oaklawn handled just over $3 million in wagers per day on average. After years of expansion and success, the track suffered growing pains in the 1980s, but the addition of “instant racing” and an on-track casino helped bolster revenues. The money coming in from the casino enabled the track to boost purses – owner Charles Cella was able to increase the purse of the Arkansas Derby to $1 million in 2004. As Oaklawn matured, so did Wallace. The decades that he has spent