Episode 584: Michael Wrona - Queensland race caller who dared to dream in 1990 still going strong in USA racing.

Michael Wrona, an Australian race caller who arrived in the U.S. in 1990 with little more than a dream, has become one of America’s most respected voices in horse racing—despite being fired from five different tracks over three decades. His journey, chronicled in a heartfelt reunion with John Tapp, reveals a career defined not by stability, but by relentless resilience. From his iconic call of the 1990 Hollywood Gold Cup—where he famously used the phrase "soul-stirring deal"—to calling the Breeders’ Cup and even a Seinfeld episode, Wrona has left an indelible mark on American racing culture. Yet his story is also one of repeated heartbreak: job losses due to corporate politics, a stalker obsessed with his predecessor, and a final, humiliating termination at Santa Anita in 2018, where he was replaced without warning or opportunity to adapt. Remarkably, 2019 became his most prolific year—traveling across five countries and calling races from Qatar to Oregon—before landing his dream role at Los Alamitos, where he now calls quarter horse racing with dignity and joy. His secret? Staying open to the next opportunity, preserving his Australian accent like a badge of honor, and refusing to let setbacks define him. Wrona’s career is a masterclass in perseverance.