Aiello brings youthful enthusiasm to Oaklawn announcer's booth

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park’s new announcer, Pete Aiello, was wrapping up his first week at the local mic on Monday. He is the fifth announcer in the history of the 112-year-old track and, at the age of 30, has brought a fresh energy into the booth. Aiello said he’s been thrilled with his new assignment in Hot Springs.

“I don’t want to sound cliché, but it’s been pretty amazing,” Aiello said. “Lots of horses, lots of new horses! But I think I got through it pretty well. I’m pretty happy.”

David Longinotti, the director of racing for Oaklawn, said he has been pleased with the accuracy of Aiello’s calls. Longinotti, at the time Aiello was hired, called him a young talent with one of the brightest futures in his field. Aiello takes over for Frank Mirahmadi, who vacated the booth in December to participate in a meetlong audition for the Santa Anita announcing position in his home state of California.

Aiello comes to Arkansas from his native Florida, where he is one of the announcers for Gulfstream Park. He will call at Oaklawn through the end of the season April 16, then start his duties at Gulfstream on April 22 and call there and at Gulfstream Park West through November. Aiello also is the simulcasting manager for Hialeah. (Larry Collmus is the announcer for the current championship meet at Gulfstream.)

Aiello said he has been impressed with the atmosphere at Oaklawn, which had an estimated crowd of 17,500 for its opening card Friday and an estimated 18,500 patrons ontrack Saturday.

“The crowds,” he said. “The enthusiasm from the crowds!”

Aiello was introduced to racing by his family. His grandfather was a professional dog player who also played horses. Aiello often hit the track with his father and got into announcing in an unusual manner.

“I was a huge fan, and when I was 14, my dad bought me a horse-racing computer game,” Aiello said. “It’s a great game. I still play it now. It’s super intricate, but there was no announcer, and it bothered me.”

So, to entertain himself, Aiello, who knew the rhythm and banter of a race call from his trips to the track, used to create his own calls. “I just used to mumble the races to myself,” he said. “I got louder, louder, and louder, and I guess I got more confident in it. That’s kind of how it started.”

It led Aiello down a career path, and to Hot Springs.