Woodbine Plans Events to Send Off Loiselle

Track announcer Dan Loiselle will call his last race at Woodbine May 31, bringing a 29-year career as Thoroughbred race caller to a close.

"Woodbine Entertainment Group has been blessed with the distinctive tones of Dan Loiselle, truly the voice of Canadian racing, for nearly three decades," said Woodbine Entertainment Group chief executive officer Jim Lawson. "Dan has added color to countless great racing moments through the years and we invite you to join us on Sunday and celebrate the career of a great Canadian that I'm proud to call my friend."

A number of events are scheduled to honor Loiselle's final afternoon of calling the races, including a commemorative program highlighting many of the track announcer's special moments, featuring an insert penned by former Toronto Star sports columnist and editor Dave Perkins.

Loiselle's good friend Tom Durkin, the recently retired "Voice of New York Horse Racing" will be in attendance and appearing on Woodbine's in-house simulcast show with announcers Jim Bannon and Jeff Bratt in advance of the day's second race.

The final call will come in Race 4 (2:32 p.m. EDT), the Lady Angela Stakes, a $125,000 sprint for Ontario-sired sophomore fillies. Loiselle will then make his way to the winner's circle to present the trophy to the winning connections and pose for a photo with Woodbine's jockey colony.

Following the running of the Lady Angela, fans are welcome to meet and greet with Loiselle on the second-floor grandstand for a ceremonial cake cutting.

A special video presentation, chronicling Loiselle's favorite calls and moments over a career that has spanned three decades, will play ahead of the day's fifth race.

Loiselle's career highlights include calling home five Canadian Triple Crown champions—With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990), Dance Smartly (1991), Peteski (1993), and Wando (2003).

"Danny's Wando call for the Triple Crown sticks in my mind the most," Durkin said. "His race calls are just spot on, especially in the big races. He just strikes that perfect tone between being totally non-partial and being a fan. That's a delicate balancing act and Danny has always been able to strike the perfect chord."

Loiselle's voice has travelled across the continent, adding a Canadian accent to five all-star announcer days having stepped into the booth at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park (twice), Arlington Park, and Monmouth Park.

In addition to calling the races, Loiselle has played a vital role as master of ceremonies for a myriad of functions including the Sovereign Awards, O'Brien Awards, Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Awards, and LongRun Galas.

While hosting post position draws for Woodbine's marquee races, Loiselle has interviewed a number of high-profile guests, including Gordie Howe, Alex Trebek, and Mickey Rooney.

"Dan is not just a great announcer, he's a great man. I'm going to really miss him. It saddens me that he's leaving, and it's going to be difficult for a long time to watch the races and not hear Dan," said Mark Casse, perennial leading trainer at Woodbine in a recent At The Races interview. "My son Colby, he's 12, and he calls the races all the time and does all the Dan Loiselle calls. He's never heard anybody else at Woodbine. For that matter, I don't think I have. It will be a sad day."

Robert Geller, formerly the track announcer at Emerald Downs, will call his first race at Woodbine June 13.  

Woodbine racing analyst Dawn Lupul will call the remainder of the May 31 card, with backup announcer Greg Blanchard filling in on an interim basis until Geller's first foray into the announcer's booth on the eve of the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser.