Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personality
of the Month
for October 2005

Scott Ehrlich

Chicago native Scott Ehrlich, 45, has one of the most recognizable voices in harness racing today. The lifelong fan of harness racing and long-time Windy City race caller recently packed up his microphone and headed to Sacramento, California to ply his trade on the Pacific Coast.

Scott Ehrlich

Scott says he was influenced by great announcers such as Phil Georgeff, Tom Durkin and Gil Levine.

"The ability to announce well isn't the easiest thing to do," Scott says.

"The best part of my job is that I get paid to do something I love," Scott continued. "As well, I believe that you should never be complacent in whatever you do. You have to give 110% each time and don't cut corners. I try to bring that attitude to my race calling."

Scott is the proud father of sons Michael, 23, Steven, 6 and Kevin, 4 and is married to wife Lisa.

Scott previously called at Quad City Downs in Moline, Illinois for many years, before coming to Chicago to announce in the late 1990s. He says he never tires of the unusual experiences that come with the sport.

"Early in my career, at Quad City Downs, an accident occurred at the quarter-pole in which a horse had fallen. Since QCD was a 5/8’s oval, the field had one more time around. The ambulance was on the track in front of the downed horse, and people were trying to untangle the equipment. The outrider was at the top of the stretch directing everyone to go right.

"Everyone did, except for one young driver. He just kept on going straight. As I saw this, my call kept getting slower & slower. He clipped the back of the outrider’s horse (which slowed him down), then proceeded, while on one wheel (sideways) to crash into the side of the ambulance. As I look back on it, it’s hilarious to recall, especially since everyone came out of the entire incident okay. At the time, it was a sight that had to be seen to be believed."

Another bit that strikes Scott's fancy is when he announced races in poor weather.

"When you're calling in the slop every driver after a few races looks like they’ve been dipped in chocolate. They all look alike," Scott mused.

Developments within the sport have made significant changes to the game, Scott says.

"Equipment & breeding are a couple of developments that have intrigued me," Scott noted. "Look how much faster our sport is with the advancement of equipment, be it race-bikes, harnesses, etc. Unlike thoroughbred racing where the only equipment to improve is a saddle; and how can you improve a saddle? Hence why our times have gotten much quicker, where as with the flats, they really haven’t. And the breeding too. Take a look back at the breeding of the 70’s & compare it to today. Much, much better! It’s hard to believe that a 2:00 mile was what all owners/trainers set their goals at for their horses back then. Now, basically every race easily goes in better than 2:00 minutes. Some in better than 1:50! Who would have 'thunk' it?"

"By far, however, the pylons has been the most major development in harness racing over the past decade. The safety factor is increased by 200% when pylons are used instead of a rail."

Scott says that there are a number of changes he would make in racing, if he had the authority.

"Remove the open-stretch! It takes the strategy out of racing, especially on the half-milers. It creates way too much complacency! Also makes for more favorites winning, which actually hurts the handle in the end, because most of your veteran/smart players will stay away from a track where a lot of favorites win.

"Somehow, someway, find a way to get our sport publicized more! We get virtually no press," Scott added. "Also, we need to have all stewards under the same jurisdiction & rules! The same rule, in many states, differs. In today’s day & age where simulcasting is a way of life for the handicapper, how can you say they’re not feeling they’re getting a fair-shake, when the same on-track incident at one track is ruled differently then the same identical incident at another track (pylon rule is one great example). Also, stewards should be supervised/critiqued/graded more than they are! Umpires & referees are, why shouldn’t stewards be?"

Where does Scott see himself in ten years?

"I hope to be providing the very best I can for my family, and if announcing allows me to do that, that would be great.