With Mirahmadi at Saratoga, Buchdahl steps in at Santa Anita

With Frank Mirahmadi set to call next week’s Belmont Stakes racing
festival at Saratoga, veteran announcer Alan Buchdahl will be on the microphone
as the substitute caller at Santa Anita for three days starting next Friday.

Mirahmadi, 56, who became the permanent voice of Saratoga last
year after the retirement of John Imbriale, was named to step in for the short
meet this week that was transferred because of grandstand construction at
Belmont Park. He has been Santa Anita’s full-time announcer since the 2018-19
winter season.

Buchdahl, 67, was the track announcer at Hollywood Park and
the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. He also served as the backup for decades
at Santa Anita, where he supported the likes of Chic Anderson, Dave Johnson and
Trevor Denman.

“Since Alan began his career as a track announcer nearly 50
years ago, his voice has become synonymous with so many of Santa Anita’s great
moments,” Santa Anita senior vice president and general manager Nate Newby
said. “It is fitting to welcome him home to the announcer’s booth while Frank
is out of town, and we thank him for accepting the assignment.”

Buchdahl, who was born and raised in Pasadena, Calif., called
his first races at the Oak Tree meet in 1974 while still in high school. The
following year he became the full-time Oak Tree announcer, a post he would hold
for the next eight seasons. In 1981, Buchdahl succeeded legendary Harry Henson
as the track announcer at Hollywood Park.

“It is a privilege and an honor to be in that announcer’s
booth at Santa Anita,” Buchdahl said Thursday. “I’m thankful for any time I’m
calling races but especially at Santa Anita.”

Buchdahl will be in action next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
It will be his first-time calling races since a three-day stint at Santa Anita
in April 2022.

“I’ve been watching more races with an announcer’s eye over
the last week to 10 days,” Buchdahl said. “I’ll be at Santa Anita this weekend
for some practice runs as well.”

The Belmont Stakes racing festival is Thursday through next Sunday
at Saratoga. It will be highlighted by the Belmont Stakes next Saturday.