He has called nearly 176,200 races in his career, but only 12 in the last month. And four of those were qualifiers broadcast on Facebook Live. For Roger Huston, aka ‘The Voice’, the shutdown of racing at the Meadows due to an equine herpes outbreak has been a tough adjustment. “When I came here in 1976, it was because they had year-round racing,” he says. “We had a two month break one year, in the late seventies or early eighties, but that was planned. I took a midnight to 8 AM shift at WJPA radio. This time I have been twiddling my thumbs. “Seriously, I’ve kept busy. I come into the track every day from 8 AM to about 2. Mostly I have been working on my stakes book, updating the 2017 races with winners, times, drivers and trainers. I have answered e-mails. It is amazing how many phone calls I get.  I gave some thought to this weekend’s Dan Patch awards.” Huston will be co-hosting the event with Jason Settlemoir, meaning that he will miss the first weekend back to racing at The Meadows. Jeff Zidek will cover the races and Huston will be back in the booth Wednesday. Even so, Huston says he is eager to get back. “It was a great pleasure handicapping the Friday card,” he said. “It helped me feel like I was getting back into the swing of things.” Huston has also been studying a plethora of proposed United Sates Harness Writers by-law changes, too.  “Lots of times we don’t look at those until we are on the plane down,” he quips. “This year I had the time to really study them.” Last weekend he took a trip to Northfield Park. “Mike Wilder has been driving there on Saturdays, so rode up with him. I was only in the grandstand for a couple races and to see my friend Michael Carter, who is winning a major award this weekend. But I really enjoyed being in the paddock. As an announcer you are sort of locked away in your booth. To talk to Aaron Merriman, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Greg Grismore and all the other horsemen . . . the caretakers and trainers . . .is really enjoyable.” But it has not been all harness racing for Huston. He has seen a number of movies at the theater and as a Screen Actors Guild member he also gets a package of about 20 films each year to be considered for major awards. His top theater experience has been The Commuter with Liam Neeson. Asked if he did anything to keep his voice in shape, he surprisingly answered no. “My doctor once told me that I had the vocal chords of a body builder, that they were that big and strong. I will be a little hoarse by the end of the card Wednesday, but with my Halls Cherry Eucalyptus cough drops, I will be fine.” And so will the return of racing at The Meadows. It will be fine. [Editor's Note: The Meadows sent the following release on the return of racing.] The Meadows Racetrack & Casino will resume live racing tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 23, at 5:30 p.m. We have submitted a proposal to the Pennsylvania Racing Commission to replace lost racing days by increasing the schedule from three days per week to four days per week in October and November, and by eliminating previously scheduled breaks in May, July and September. “We are eager to return to the rhythm and excitement of our year-round racing season, and to welcome the horses and their drivers back to the track,” said Allie Evangelista, Vice President and General Manager of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino. “There is nothing like the thrill of live racing and no place more beautiful to experience it than right here at The Meadows.”