Espinosa New Track Announcer at Charles Town
Description:
Paul Espinosa will become the full-time track announcer at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races when the 2016 meet begins Jan. 7.
According to the West Virginia track, Espinosa, 26, a Charles Town native, has been an occasional fill-in behind the microphone at Charles Town over the past two months while a search was conducted for a new full-time announcer.
The graduate of West Virginia University has appeared on camera while serving as the paddock show host and analyst for Charles Town's event days since 2009 and also as a sports reporter and later sports director for NBC's Hagerstown affiliate, WHAG, according to a release. In his most recent racing endeavor, Espinosa worked for the Horse Racing Radio Network on its coverage team for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
In Del Mar's "America's Next Race Caller" contest earlier this year, Espinosa was the unanimous winner in judgding by a four-person panel consisting of Trevor Denman, John Lies, Travis Stone, and Vic Stauffer. After getting to call the final race from Denman's booth at Del Mar on Aug. 15 as a result of winning the contest, Espinosa has been able to parlay that into a fill-in role at Charles Town and, now, the permanent position.
"We consider Paul to be a talented individual whose presence and enthusiasm is easily discernable through a microphone," said Charles Town's vice president of racing operations Erich Zimny. "With the hard work and willingness to put in the time to improve that he's already displayed, and we're confident he'll continue to display, Paul certainly figures to get even better with experience and contribute significantly to the enhancement of our track's presentation."
Espinosa's grandfather, Victor, still trains horses at the track and his father, Paul Espinosa Sr., was Charles Town's former director of marketing and publicity.
"I'm not only passionate about horse racing, but I'm passionate about horse racing at Charles Town," Espinosa said. "Coming back to a track that I've called home virtually my entire life to become its announcer is a dream come true and I look forward to embracing both the opportunity and challenge."
Charles Town's 2015 season concludes Dec. 23.