Harness: Prewitt to call races at Cumberland Run

It will be a new track for horsemen but a familiar voice calling the races when Cumberland Run’s harness meet begins Sunday.

Gabe Prewitt, the announcer at The Red Mile along with serving as the Lexington track's vice president of racing operation and sports wagering, will be behind the mic for Cumberland Run's 12-day meet that runs Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays through Nov. 7.

Admission and parking are free at Cumberland Run, as is Sunday's carnival featuring rides and games to celebrate the opening card. All ages are welcome to attend the races and the carnival. However, The Mint Gaming Hall building that houses electronic gaming, simulcasting of horse racing at other tracks and sports betting is restricted to those at least 21 years old.

Prewitt, 40, is not only a Red Mile veteran but was the voice of Pompano Park for nine years before that prominent south Florida track closed last year. He is a regular fill-in calling Gulfstream Park's thoroughbred races when Pete Aiello goes on vacation.

Asked the difference between calling harness and thoroughbred races, Prewitt said, "I think anyone who does one more than the other always says the other one is harder. Myself included. You talk to Pete or Larry Collmus (announcer for Kentucky Downs, Del Mar and NBC), they always act like harness is so much harder, the way the race sets up - this, that and the other. Myself, I'm more familiar with harness so calling thoroughbreds is a little more of a job for me. It's all about what you're used to. Thoroughbreds, the movement is a lot more sudden. Horses can make a sweeping move or change positions in a lot faster manner. With harness, you see the setup of the race coming and developing."

Prewitt, a University of Kentucky graduate who was raised in Mount Sterling, said, "I grew up on thoroughbreds, just going to the track. Then I moved right across from The Red Mile when I went to college. The first two, three weeks I was there, I had a buddy go, 'Hey Gabe, you want to go to The Red Mile to bet the horses?' I said, 'They race horses there? Yeah, let's go.'"

A job as a mutuel clerk selling and cashing tickets led to Prewitt calling the first couple of races on nights when the announcer at the time, Kevin Mack, got hung up working in the racing office. Mack now is Cumberland Run’s racing secretary.

"I was horrific, never thought about doing it," Prewitt said laughingly of a career as an announcer. "Eventually (Mack) left and moved on to full time at Hoosier Park. Just out of being the only guy on the property who had announced a horse race, they kind of pushed me into that position."

Now Prewitt is an industry fixture with a large social-media presence. Follow him on X/Twitter @Gabe_Prewitt.

Prewitt said he heard a lot of enthusiasm for Cumberland Run among horsemen during The Red Mile's prestigious Grand Circuit meet that concluded last week. He said standardbred horsemen are increasingly purchasing farms in Kentucky, including some who plan to build training tracks where they can base their stables.

"It's a good solid circuit where people can live here and base here," Prewitt said of Kentucky, adding of Cumberland Run's purses, "It's a good amount of money, a meaningful amount of money. I think you'll see that with the horse population that shows up there.

"… To see where (the Kentucky standardbred industry) has come now, a renaissance so to speak, it's really cool and exciting. I think it's great for the breeders, the owners, trainers, drivers, everyone. I talked to guys during the Grand Circuit, some pretty big names, asking me about the location of the track, saying, 'I'm thinking about moving down here. Race at the Kentucky tracks, base out of here and travel.' You're hearing things like that that you wouldn't have thought of a few years ago."

Ten races on tap for Sunday's opener

Racing secretary Kevin Mack carded 10 races for Sunday's opening program, including four Kentucky Sire Stakes carrying purses of $30,000. There are two Sire Stakes apiece for 2-year-old filly pacers and 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Total purses for the opening card is $198,000, including a $20,000 Open pace.

-edited release (Kentucky Downs Publicity)