Sadly so much racing everyday does not allow for these in sighting programs let alone a colourful pre race depiction from the good old days like Paul Ambrosoli.

I've had the pleasure of becoming good friends with Dan Russ and Kel O'Rourke and have found these guys to be not only great race callers, but both men are long time fanatics of the sport. And always seem to see the best within the sport rather than the negative.

Sadly callers of our sport are faced with long hours behind the wheel driving and travelling to meetings and then the long trip home. Most callers receive a travel allowance and a wage, but let me tell you it is not what anyone would think it is.

These guys have recently had hours cut back as the industry tries cutting back costs. It is sad to say but not having race callers on track and rather calling from the studio is surely not what the future of the sport needs.

What is even sadder is that some of these blokes have had to go and search for other work while the industry cuts them off at the knees. It's sad to think that supposedly a race caller at a track is not important.

Callers fall under the old saying of "heard but not seen" many people probably could not tell you what most race callers look like. But it's the voice that so sets apart callers.

I hope this situation is quickly rectified here in N.S.W'S and the powers that be realise that callers are not a commodity. We really do need them, and it's imperative going forward, that we do not leave them behind.

I'm a little perplexed why they would be cost cutting in this area as there are more meetings nowadays than ever compared to yesteryear. Turnover is up as well.

How can they justify this?

PA was a huge asset to the industry although his tipping was not great.

But who listens to race calls? Car drivers, home punters or workers without vision. But that's about it. And that depends on variable radio reception - terrible at Gosford, for example, only a technical stone's throw from the transmitter. Anyone trackside or in clubs and pubs will be watching the vision to see where their selection is lying. (Besides, their voice coverage comes in on the back of the video pictures signal).

Besides for every good caller there are a dozen I would not feed. And, necessarily, their info run behind the actual running of the race.

Of course, they should be part of the entertainment package but that's not easy as greyhound coverage is low on the totem pole due to corporate attitudes and an overcrowded program.

Generally, pay may be low as calling the dogs is the entry point to the profession. Callers make more dough by adding tracks or moving on to more popular racing.

I recall once going to the Moss Vale dogs during a country familiarisation trip and listening to Darren Flindell doing the job there.
After the last he hopped into his car and belted down a windy back road to the Nowra dog meeting - with me doing the same thing behind him. And so on to the horses, then Hong Kong and back to the premium spot at Sydney gallops. CH7 now give him live coverage for comments.

Anyway, now they get paid by the Jolly Green Giant whereas in the old days each club employed them individually - hence the variable quality and a tendency to give some ordinary callers a lifetime pass.

If the camera man gets it wrong, it can be a long night for the caller.