Aiello lands Oaklawn announcer job

Pete Aiello has been named the new announcer for Oaklawn Park, the Hot Springs, Ark., track which opens Jan. 15. He replaces Frank Mirahmadi, who said on Tuesday he had resigned to call races at Santa Anita. Mirahmadi hopes to land a permanent position at Santa Anita in the wake of Trevor Denman’s retirement from calling races there.

Aiello, 30, comes to Oaklawn from Florida, where he serves as announcer for the Gulfstream Park summer meet and at Gulfstream Park West. Aiello also has called races at Hialeah. Other positions he has held in racing include serving as a director of simulcasting, director of marketing, assistant mutuel manager and assistant racing secretary. Aiello is a Florida native and a 2007 graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program.

“We’ve had our eye on Pete for quite some time,” David Longinotti, director of racing for Oaklawn, said in a release. “We are always tuned in to young talent in our industry and Pete was at the top of our list. We believe he has the brightest future of any track announcer in the nation and couldn’t be happier to welcome him into the Oaklawn family.”

Oaklawn had a large number of applicants for the position, said Longinotti. Aiello said he is looking forward to the opportunity at Oaklawn, where he will be just the fifth announcer in the more than 100-year history of the track.

“I've always heard Hot Springs has some of the best racing fans in the world, and now I get to experience it for myself,” Aiello said. “I'm truly honored to be joining the team and appreciate the entire Oaklawn family for giving me this opportunity."

Aiello also said he is grateful to Hialeah, which races in the winter, for giving him the opportunity to pursue the position at Oaklawn. Aiello will continue to call races in the summer at Gulfstream and at Gulfstream Park West, according to a spokesperson for Oaklawn.