Quote:
Originally Posted by MooseDog
CJ -
Don't know if you remember him, but we had Dick Riley on the California Fair circuit for forever...Dick was absolutely the worst race caller in the history of race calling, and he was clueless as to why people were critical of him.
Dick did everything CARF asked of him, morning line, announcing, fan events and he really was one of the nicest guys you would ever meet and maybe Everett Nevin (long-time CARF head) just never had the heart to replace him.
There really isn't any one guy doing the fairs now but back in the day when you heard Riley calling in "deep, deep stretch" you know it was the CA Fair circuit.
Like Grunder, I think after awhile they kind of grow on you...
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True story. I was hired by CARF to call all the Fairs. Everett Nevin was so loyal to Dick he had him call live over the speakers at Ferndale. While I was calling for the rest of the simulcast world. Two announcers at FERNDALE of all places. Also happened at Sacramento with Joe Alto. At Vallejo the Fair Manager Bob Dunham was going to do the same thing with his guy. The legendary Craig O.K. Ingram but changed his mind when he found out how much it would cost to build a 2nd announcers booth. Gave Craig a job taking tickets at the Fair gate. He wasn't pleased.
