Nathan Klein: Colonial Downs
For the second summer in a row, I was able to intern at Colonial Downs. This year most of my time was spent shadowing and learning from their chart caller, Jon Miller.
With Jon, I experienced the meticulous and sometimes hectic routine required of a chart caller to get accurate information to the public in a timely manner. This included tasks like getting the scratches, the reasons for the scratches, and checking all the equipment to make sure it matched the program. During the running of the race, the chart caller quickly called and recorded the positions of horses in the race to be posted on Equibase. There is an incredible amount of responsibility that comes with keeping and updating the records of every horse that runs on the track.
I was also introduced to Gmax, a horse racing GPS system used to track horses through two trackers in a saddle towel. It was a team effort to relay information - especially in unusual situations (i.e., low battery/unresponsive trackers) and to fetch and publish the information the trackers went to our computer system.
I also worked the gap in the mornings, allowing horses to enter the racetrack to train. If someone wanted a timed workout, I ensured that the clocker had been notified. It gave me the opportunity to experience working on the backside. It made me feel like a real member of the team working together to keep a racetrack’s operations running smoothly. – Nathan Klein