Peter Aiello lights up Caymanas Park
Millions of horse racing and sports enthusiasts across the world tuned in on Saturday, November 11, 2023, to witness and hear Gulfstream’s well-known track announcer Peter Aiello call races at Caymanas Park for the first time.
During the 10 races on offer, Aiello, who has established himself as one of the world’s finest race callers, brought a high degree of accuracy, excitement, and clever phrases to his calls.
The feature race, The Jamaica Cup, had Aiello calling the first part of the race before handing over the commentary to local ace commentator Brian “Spuddy” Rickman as the horses headed toward the half-mile turn.
“It was amazing. I think we had a heck of a fun time. The key was the hand-off like in American football, from the quarterback to the running back you have to get it smooth and we got it smooth.
“I was pumped up for Spuddy to go into the far turn, and I could hear it in his voice, he was pumped up as well. We were making history and that was pretty cool,” Aiello said.
Aiello got things going in the second race of Saturday’s Jamaica Day race day, producing a 4-1 betting option Fastnfuriouslinks (Robert Halledeen) winning the BGLC/TOBA Jamboree Sprint in his maiden commentary.
Aiello also used his two classic catchy phrases: “Easyyyyy Money” when Talona won the third race at odds of 3-5, and “Who do you like from here?” when Here Comes Doc snuck up on rivals in deep stretch, joining a wall of horses spread across the course.
“I was under strict orders to get both signature lines in. Thanks to Talona for winning as I got the ‘Easyyyyy Money’and then the other race with Here Comes Doc down on the insides and a couple of horses across the track, ‘Who do you like here?’ and so I got both of them in. Spuddy was mad at me because he wanted to do ‘Who do you like from here’,” said Aiello, who had celebrated one of his many birthdays at the Park on Saturday.
Aiello, who had departed the island on Sunday, said that it would be a pleasure for him, if given the opportunity, to return to Jamaica as his first experience in the island was happy ground for him.
“I fell in love with Jamaican racing probably two or three years ago. I am a huge fan as I watched it every day. I have the Caymanas Park’s feed on my TV at Gulfstream. I got two TVs, one over here on Gulfstream and the other one with Jamaican racing.
“I love Jamaican racing and I am fortunate enough that I got to meet Chris [Wills] and Solomon [Sharpe] and they got me in contact with Michael Cain and Spuddy [Brian Rickman].
“Spuddy and I hit it off and we are friends and I am here just enjoying myself and I am glad to be here and hopefully I get to come back soon. It has been amazing. Everybody has been impressed by how much of the Jamaican food I like. I think I need to go home and get me some callaloo and bammy. I like bammy and I can eat bammy all day,” Aiello told the Jamaica Observer‘s The Supreme Racing Guide.