The news Saturday that the affable and fan friendly Michael Wrona had been suddenly and unceremoniously released by Santa Anita as their Track Announcer was a shock move by track management and a highly puzzling one. With his succinct and accurate race calls, Michael had greatly impressed many and won over most initial doubters in the two years since he had won the job in a highly competitive auditioning playoff with other top announcers. Trevor Denman was always going to be a tough act to follow, but Michael was welcomed and considered to be the new long term voice of Santa Anita by California racing fans.
Michael Wrona is Santa Anita’s loss. His race calls have been consistently fast, informative, concise and professional, injected with wise wit and humor when appropriate. A master race reader, he rarely missed any move of significance in any race. Regardless of which horse you bet in a race, you would know where it was and how it was running if you couldn’t see the race – and that can’t be said of a lot of callers.
Michael was hoping to end the often nomadic lifestyle of a race caller and had recently bought a home near the racetrack, with the not unreasonable expectation, after two highly successful years, that he would retain the Santa Anita job for a good few years to come.
I can’t believe it will be long before another big track snaps him up for the long term and welcomes him with open arms – and considerably more grace – than Santa Anita.
— Carl Wilson