Q&A With New Emerald Downs Announcer Matt Dinerman

Matt Dinerman announces a race at Emerald Downs. (Photos courtesy of Matt Dinerman unless otherwise noted)
Over the past few years, horse racing has worked to attract younger fans and fresh faces to the sport at every level. The youth movement in racing is nowhere more apparent than at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., where Matt Dinerman took over as the track’s announcer last week.
Dinerman, a recent graduate of Chapman University in Orange, Calif., has made a seamless transition into the announcer’s booth at Emerald. Although he’s just 22 years old, Dinerman has already held a variety of jobs within the racing industry. In an extended interview with America’s Best Racing ambassador Dan Tordjman, Dinerman reveals the secrets to his success, his advice for other people trying to break into the racing industry and shares some of his favorite racing memories.
1. So you're an actual, real life, racetrack announcer and you're just 22 years old. How cool is that? Tell us a little about this all happened? 
I started practicing race calling last summer while I was working in the Del Mar press box for Mac McBride and Dan Smith. Then, while I was still in school, Mike Willman and his team at Santa Anita let me have access to a spot on the roof. I would drive to Santa Anita on weekends and practice. 
When I saw that Emerald Downs needed an announcer, I figured the worst thing that could happen if I applied was that they would know my name. A few days after sending in my tapes and a resume, I got a call asking for me to come up and audition by calling a couple races. The next day, I was offered the position. It’s been amazing and I feel very, very lucky.
DINERMAN CALLS HIS FIRST STAKES RACE

Video courtesy of Emerald Downs
2. You took over officially as the announcer at Emerald Downs the day after Belmont Stakes. What has life been like since then? 
Life has been great! I have met so many great people here. The atmosphere is fun and people get really excited about their racing. Emerald Downs is a track where things are on the upswing. The horse population is going up, the field sizes are increasing, and there is a good chance the purse money will increase in the future as well. The people here really care about the track and want to see it succeed.
I LOVE my job … although it sure doesn’t feel like a “job.” I am having a lot of fun. Every morning, I get up excited about my day. There’s nothing better than that.
3. Take us back to the beginning. Where are you from? 
I was born and raised in San Diego. My home in San Diego is one exit south of Del Mar. I played baseball for 15 years, so when I wasn’t at school or the track, I was on the pitcher’s mound or in centerfield. I also love going to the beach. Going to Del Mar Beach was a common practice in the Dinerman family and when I hung out with my friends.
4. What are your earliest memories of racing? How did you end up getting involved in the game? 
My dad is a big fan of horse racing. He loved to go to Del Mar. When I was 10 or 11, he started to take me to Del Mar with him. I got really interested in racing very quickly. One of our neighbors at the time and a good friend of ours, Gayle Van Leer, is a bloodstock agent. I remember waking up early and tagging along with Gayle when she took trips to the backside during morning workouts. The more she took me to the backside, the more amazed I was by it all and the more I wanted to learn. The first big race I ever saw was Candy Ride beating Medaglia d’Oro in the 2003 Pacific Classic. That race really hooked me on racing.
5. Did you always have aspirations of becoming a track announcer? Where did that come from? 
I have always wanted a job where I could be at the racetrack and watch the races, and I enjoy analyzing the races and helping describe to people what is going on. Plus, I have always wanted to help make the experience for the fans better and have wanted to be an ambassador for racing. When I first started going to the track, I was very interested in the track announcer position. I would always ask my dad questions about the track announcer. But I never really “wanted” to do it until three years ago. However, I never had the guts to start seriously practicing until last summer. I did not like my voice and thought people would laugh at me. 
6. Talk about your progression and the various roles you held in racing leading up to now. 
When I was 11 or 12, Gayle Van Leer took me to a yearling sale at Del Mar. She had me open the stall door for the grooms to bring out the yearlings when buyers wanted to look at them. I also did a lot of sales prep for Gayle, helping her document information about pedigrees before she went to sales. That’s where I learned how the sales work and how the breeding industry operates. When I was 16, I got a job with John Sadler and worked in his barn for four summers, learning about the horses, how much is put into getting horses ready to race, and how the backside operates. This is the foundation of racing. Then I worked in the press box at Del Mar for two summers and learned about the media, how they distribute information, and how the frontside operates. I even made my own blog. I’m happy I’ve gotten experience in frontside and backside operation as well as sales and breeding.
DINERMAN WITH GROOM VICTOR AND SADLER TRAINEE SWITCH

7. How big of a role did social media play in your ascent? How have you utilized Twitter, for example, to connect with people in the industry, horseplayers and regular race fans, in general? 
Social media is an amazing tool if it’s used the right way. It’s a really good medium for our sport at every level. People who are passionate fans, casual fans and even the new fan can find out about things that only the insiders used to know about. Now just about anyone can find out about things they might not hear otherwise. I’ve connected with people in the industry at every level through Twitter and Facebook, whether it’s opinions about industry issues or opinions on the races themselves. I also like to tweet my opinions and give out useful information that maybe other people can learn from or are interested in knowing. Being respectful of everyone’s view is also very important, and it makes for better conversations.
8. You're a young guy and a lot of young people reach out to me and say the same thing: I love horse racing, I want to get involved in the sport but it seems so hard to get a foot in the door. What would you tell them? 
Do not be afraid to contact people in the industry and express your interests. This business wants and needs young people to get involved and if you are willing to do the work, there will be a place for you. Take any opportunity you are given. Be respectful of everyone’s role in the business and take in as much information as you can. Be open to learning and don’t be afraid to ask questions!
I would also encourage every person who wants to get into the industry to get a job working directly with the horses, whether it be on the backside or on a farm. Everyone should learn firsthand how much work it takes to get horses ready to race and to appreciate the people who work with the horses, like grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders, who do so much hard and vigorous work but do not get a lot of recognition.
9. What should racing do to get and keep young people engaged? How can the sport get them excited about not just spending a day at the races with friends but also to take that next step and try to make this a career, as you have? 
Social media is already playing a big role, as should using the newest technology applications. It’s great that we have all this at our fingertips, and that’s what younger people expect. That said, there is nothing like being at the track. I’d like to see things like a “college day.” I know some tracks already do that and it’s very good.
STUDENTS AT KEENELAND'S COLLEGE DAY

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Handicapping seminars given by younger people would be nice to teach our younger generation how to read a racing form and handicap a race. Naturally, we as humans relate to people like us, so younger people will relate and probably feel less intimidated if they can learn from other people that are young like them. Handicapping contests for young people would be fun too. Backside tours would be beneficial, where the people on the tour can pet the horses and meet jockeys. I’ve had so much fun as a fan and getting into this business that I can’t imagine how anyone couldn’t if they knew just a little more about it.     
10. As for this job, what has been like taking over for such a well-respected veteran like Robert Geller? 
Robert is an ultimate professional. He did his job tremendously well in his time here at Emerald. Robert really helped me settle in and has been a great mentor. That said, he set the bar pretty high, that’s for sure, so all I can do is have a positive attitude, work hard and do the very best I can. Hopefully, someday, I’ll earn a place in the business like he did.
11. What kind of advice has Robert given you, if any? 
Robert has given a lot of great advice, but one subject we have talked about a lot is transitioning into a new job. He is in the same situation as I am, going to a new place and taking over for somebody who is extremely well-respected in their community (Geller recently took over at Woodbine Racetrack for longtime track announcer Dan Loiselle). He has told me to be myself and use my own style. Don’t try to be him just because I am at Emerald now. “Bring in your own shoes, rather than try to fill in my shoes,” he said. “That’s when you will succeed.”
12.  Who are some of the biggest influences in your life? Have they told you anything that you've used as motivation to get to this point and beyond? 
My parents are my biggest influences. They taught me to work hard, not give up, have a positive attitude, and above all, respect other people and treat others the way you want to be treated. When I was very young, they taught me the value of a dollar and never handed me things. I had to earn my own money. When I got lazy or acted like a brat, my mom would let me know real quickly that I needed to change my attitude. Learning all this at a very young age has helped shape who I am today. I owe it all to them.
13. What do you hope people who hear about your story take from it? 
If there is something you really want to do, go for it when an opportunity arises. You never know when you will be given an opportunity to show the world your talents and do something you love, even if it looks like the chances of you getting a certain opportunity are slim.
Rapid fire round: 
14. Who is your favorite horse of all time?
Candy Ride. He got me hooked to the sport when he won the 2002 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Not only did Candy Ride have an immense amount of talent as a racehorse, but he has also turned out to be a terrific sire. I helped with many of his stakes-winning babies when I worked for John Sadler. Sidney’s Candy, one of his sons, is my favorite horse I ever worked with. So there is sentimental value with Candy Ride for me too.
SIDNEY'S CANDY WINS AT SARATOGA

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
15. What’s your favorite track?
Besides Emerald Downs of course, I would have to say Del Mar. It’s a beautiful place with an amazingly fun atmosphere and top class racing. You won’t ever regret going to Del Mar.
16. Thoughts on our industry rockstar, American Pharoah? 
American Pharoah is unbelievable. One thing that is really cool is that he is being “shared” with the public by the connections. He has such a kind demeanor, so when people come by and want to see him, there’s no hesitation for Bob Baffert to let people meet him. It’s always a wonderful thing when the equine athletes can be shared with the public. Our sport needs superstars, like a Lebron James or Tiger Woods, where people will come out just to see them. It will help us attract new fans. He is our Lebron James right now.
17. Three must-follow horse racing accounts on Twitter? 
It’s hard to name just three because there are a lot of great Twitter accounts. A lot of people give out great opinions and are a pleasure to interact with. Here are three good ones though:
Candice Hare (@chare889)- has great analysis on both American and international racing. Twittcapper (@horseracing4beg)- another one with awesome race analysis. Jose Contreras (@LosPonies)- a great guy who is a terrific ambassador for the sport and will keep you up to date on all the major events in horse racing.
18. Three accounts to avoid on Twitter? Just kidding! Anything you want to add? 
If there is anybody who would like to contact me for anything, they can email me at mattd@emeralddowns.com. Questions, comments, thoughts on anything, things I can do to help somebody break into the industry, feel free to contact me at that email anytime!