Forbes’ own race caller Colin Hodges narrowly missed out on winning the opportunity to call Sky Racing’s $300,000 Country Championship Final in Randwick but said he was thrilled with the support he got from people all over NSW and Victoria in the Country Caller Championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hodges was one of five country NSW race callers in the running for a chance to call the $300,000 Country Championship Final in Randwick and needed to get the top three most votes via Facebook to be put to a panel of racing experts to decide the overall winner.
Hodges ended up with the second most votes on Facebook with a total of 182 likes, just behind Tamworth-based caller Bob Poetschka who received 187 votes.
However 26-year-old Mitch Manners ended up being chosen by Sky Racing to call the championship race, despite only just scraping through with the third most votes.
Manners is a full-time race caller and presenter with Sky Channel and Hodges congratulated him on his win.
“He’s an up and coming young caller who was the recipient of the John Tapp scholarship and I’m sure he’ll work his way right up the ranks,” Hodges said.
Despite missing out on the chance to work at Randwick, Hodges was very grateful to everyone who supported him in the competition.
“I’d like to thank everyone for the support I got, not simply from the local area but around NSW and Victoria and for some very nice comments,” he said.
“I was happy to be supported by that many people and appreciate the people who took time out to make comments.”
Hodges can now focus his attention on the Forbes Camel Races this Friday and Mudgee Races on Sunday, which follows on after a busy three weeks calling races at Broken Hill, Bathurst, Tottenham, Dubbo and the Wellington Boot.
