Racing will be held Fridays through Sundays, June 18 to July 18, including Monday, July 5.
The California Authority of Racing Fairs, CARF, will have a new voice when the Alameda County Fair meet opens on June 18. That voice belongs to Craig Braddick, who will step into the announcer’s booth for races at Pleasanton, Ferndale, and Fresno this coming summer and fall.
“I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity,” Braddick said when reached by phone in Arizona. “It’s a brand new experience for me, not only as a race-caller, but also as a horse racing fan. It’s an entirely new culture. I’ll be learning from the fans, and I hope they’ll learn from me, too.”
Originally from Cambridge, England, Braddick called his first race as a teenager in the early-1990’s and has since plied his trade all over the world. Most recently, he’s served as the Announcer and Social Media Coordinator at Turf Paradise in Arizona, and American fans may also know him for his work at a variety of other venues, including Rillito Park and tracks affiliated with the National Steeplechase Association.
Braddick’s first races in Northern California will come at the track with the oldest one-mile dirt oval in America. He says he’s excited to work with CARF and the Pleasanton community, which possesses a unique, deep-rooted interest in the sport.
“Racing at Pleasanton goes back a long way,” he said. “I want to learn more about the history of racing at Pleasanton and add to the enjoyment of fans, many of whom have been coming to the track for decades. There aren’t many tracks like that in America.”
Braddick adds that he’s laid out a defined set of goals for himself as he prepares to call races in the Golden State.
“I want to help everyone have an enjoyable time,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to making new friends, and, of course, calling the races as best I can!”
Pleasanton will run through mid-July, with CARF action picking back up from Ferndale in August. The 2021 CARF racing schedule concludes with the fall meet at the Big Fresno Fair. Stay tuned to calfairs.com for news, updates, and analysis from Northern California’s historic circuit of racing fairs.
Craig Braddick joins the Pleasanton Race Track Team to announce the races for the five week run in Pleasanton. Racing will be held Fridays through Sundays, June 18 to July 18, including Monday, July 5.
