Scioto: Play that funky music Vicroy

Amid changes in management and COVID-19, Eldorado Scioto Downs is having a banner year. A clear rock on the team continues to be track announcer Barry Vicroy, whose strong vocals behind the microphone and quick wit as master of ceremonies to the on-track audience and simulcasting world shine on a daily basis.

Of course Vicroy gets paid to call the races, not just at Scioto but also Miami Valley and Dayton Raceway in Ohio, but as good as he sounds during the almost two minutes from start to finish of each race, his work as track DJ is spot-on as well.

Scioto is one of the tracks, along with MGM Northfield Park and some others, which have taken to entertaining the audience with music between the races. Some traditionalists hate the music and perhaps other more casual fans love it, but at least at Scioto they are treated to an interactive experience with Vicroy as the guide.

"I worked as a nightclub DJ for 20 years before this," said Vicroy, who started in the sport as a groom and has been calling races since 2007. "I was awful at first, but I would go in on my off nights and listen to the other DJ and I would go into other clubs and listen to their DJs, and I would mimic what I heard while driving in my car."

That music involvement has led Vicroy to choose his post-race selections quite carefully. When Little Rocket Man recently won at Scioto, the veteran announcer played "Rocket Man" by Elton John.

"Driver Brady Galliers' nickname is Rocket Man, so that song used to be for him. I guess I'll have to find him a new song," said Vicroy. "I try to come up with a song for any horse but if I can't I come up with one for the driver."

Other recent winners with songs you've certainly heard include: "Come from the land down under" when Cyclone Kiwi N won or "Black Hole Sun" for the top 4-year-old Bllack Hole. On the driver front, Brett Miller gets "Kryptonite" since his nickname is "Super" Brett and Shawn Barker II's song is "It Takes Two" since, well, he’s the second.

Like a true professional, Vicroy mixes his music appropriately by genre. If a winning horse comes with a Rock song, the playlist will remain Rock until the next winner. If it is an Oldies song, he'll ease into some Frank Sinatra as his next selection.

"I like all types of music, so you really could hear anything," said Vicroy.

One big change at Scioto in 2020 has been less music and more handicapping. That change was put in place by now Director of Racing for Caesars Entertainment Gabe Prewitt, and Vicroy feels it is a good change-of-pace. After the post parade, Vicroy will discuss his top picks or banter with Prewitt about the upcoming race in the few minutes prior to post time.

"It is harder when I'm by myself. It is easier when there is a conversation and you can go back and forth," said Vicroy about the handicapping segment.

In addition to calling good races and spinning some top music, Vicroy has been picking plenty of winners using a unique strategy. "I've always been a 'think long, think wrong' guy, I work a lot on memory. I show up to the track about an hour before the races and I'll spend about 45 minutes looking over the program. I usually know all of the horses and drivers' styles, so I can put it all together in my head and it doesn't take me long to work through a card," said Vicroy.

On Sunday, Vicroy will get another opportunity to call the Ohio-bred Championships for 2- and 3-year-olds. The 17-race program gets underway at 6:00 PM and the announcer is most looking forward to calling the 3-year-old colts, especially the speedy Ocean Rock, and the new $100,000 #SENDITIN Invitationals, which drew split divisions.

The first division (race 12) features Midwest standouts Bllack Hole, Southwind Amazon and Little Rocket Man facing off against the likes of Hurrikane Emperor, Springsteen and others.

Off a win last weekend in the Roses Are Red, Warrawee Ubeaut will take on the boys in the second #SENDITIN (race 14). Her main competition includes None Bettor A and Workin Ona Mystery.

The action at Scioto should last close to midnight and when the music is over, as Jim Morrison said, they'll "turn out the lights."