Final Wellington Cup call beckons for iconic commentator

[Wandering Eyes]

Racing commentator Tony Lee is set to call his final Wellington Cup meeting following a long and iconic career behind the microphone stretching back to the 1980s.

Dunedin-based race caller Justin Evans is preparing to move north where he will take over the reins from Mr Lee as Central Districts commentator in the New Year.

Entain Managing Director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger, said he wanted to acknowledge the enormous contribution Mr Lee had made to Trackside’s broadcast team over the years, which will conclude at the end of the Wellington Cup meeting on 20 January next year.

“Tony has produced some incredible calls in the commentary box, like Castletown’s three Wellington Cups and his description of the flying megastar Xcellent in the 2005 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings,” Cameron Rodger said.

After four years based in Dunedin as a commentator covering all racing codes, Mr Evans will take over the thoroughbred mantle from Mr Lee and will also call harness racing and back up Central Districts greyhound commentator Mark Rosanowski.

“Justin will also be an integral part of the studio team with more programming and initiatives being introduced under the Entain broadcast banner,” Cameron Rodger said.

Trackside’s latest commentary box recruit, 20-year-old Dan Fogarty, will take over as the regular Southland greyhound commentator, while Craig Rail will look after both harness and thoroughbred meetings in the Otago/Southland region.

“Dan is a great success story from the Trackside internship programme and in just 12 months has called all three codes at a standard well beyond his years,” Cameron Rodger said. 

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