Evangeline Downs hires Chamberlain as announcer

Michael Chamberlain has been named the announcer at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., according to a release issued by the track Tuesday. The meet opens April 8. Evangeline also announced that Corey Veazey has been promoted to racing secretary, while Ramiro Flores has been named track superintendent.

Chamberlain comes to Evangeline from Turf Paradise in Phoenix, where he has called races since 2008. He is a 44-year-old native of New Jersey and holds a degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University. Chamberlain will call both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets at Evangeline.

“I think that Evangeline Downs has a tremendous future ahead, and I am looking forward to being an integral part of it,” Chamberlain said in the release. “Louisiana is a great state for horse racing, and I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career there.”

Chamberlain started calling races in 1996 at Phoenix Greyhound Park. He then became the announcer at Sam Houston Race Park in 1997 and remained at the Houston track for 11 years before joining Turf Paradise.

Chamberlain takes over from John McGary, who in November became the announcer at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio.

Veazey, a native of Lafayette, La., has worked at Evangeline for nearly 10 years, starting as a placing judge before becoming assistant racing secretary in 2009. Flores is a native of Guatemala and the brother-in-law of Juan Meza, a track superintendent based in California. Flores has 15 years of experience in racing, working in track maintenance at Del Mar, Pomona, and Golden Gate Fields.

The upcoming meet in Opelousas will be the 50th anniversary season for Evangeline.