Mirahmadi in film role

NEW YORK - Frank Mirahmadi, the racecaller whose uncanny impressions have earned him a host of admirers, received the biggest accolade of his career last week when the producers of the movie "Seabiscuit" had him re-create the calls of the 1937 and 1940 Santa Anita Handicaps for the upcoming film.

Mirahmadi said he did not mimic Joe Hernandez, who called those races at Santa Anita, but instead said he created a voice, in concert with producer Gary Ross, that was "inspired by the styles of Joe Hernandez and Harry Henson." Henson's gravelly voice was heard at Hollywood Park for three decades.

"When I finished, Gary Ross said, 'Congratulations, you're in the movie,' " Mirahmadi said. "This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

The voice-over work was done in a studio in New York. Mirahmadi is based at Louisiana Downs, where he calls the races. He also has worked at Hialeah and Fair Grounds in recent years.