COVID-19 Forces Imbriale to Miss First Week of Belmont

New York Racing Association announcer John Imbriale will miss the first week of the Belmont Park fall meet after testing positive for COVID-19, according to NYRA senior director of communications Pat McKenna.

"Following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, NYRA track announcer John Imbriale received a positive COVID-19 test result after experiencing mild symptoms," read a statement from McKenna. "As a result of the mandatory 10-day isolation period, Imbriale will miss the opening weekend of the fall meet and is scheduled to return on Thursday, Sept. 23. In his absence, Frank Mirahmadi will handle the race calling duties on Thursday, Sept. 16. Chris Griffin, who was named the lead race caller at Parx in March, will call Friday-Sunday.

"Imbriale is fully vaccinated, doing well, and looking forward to returning to Belmont next week."

Mirahmadi, the announcer at Monmouth Park, and Griffin, the announcer at Parx Racing, are filling in on days when there is no racing at their regular tracks.

Imbriale joins NYRA television commentators Andy Serling and Anthony Stabile as having tested positive in at least one COVID-19 test this summer.

New York, like many states, has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent months, which experts partially attribute to the more contagious Delta variant and an easing of health and safety restrictions. More than 1 million fans visited Saratoga this summer, reflecting an average daily attendance of more than 26,000.