by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor

Columbus, OH — It was 1960, in May of that year to be exact, when a young man from Xenia, Ohio, was fetched by his uncle to fulfill some unspecified task at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Wilmington. Although the moment seemed innocuous, it actually was laden with significance as it was the very first time the voice of the most renowned announcer in the history of harness racing would emanate over a public address system.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Roger Huston will relish the opportunity to return to the scene of his first race call on Sunday (July 10) at The Clinton County Fairgrounds.

“My uncle, Don Huston, called the races at Lebanon Raceway from 1953 to 2008,” said Roger Huston, who is known affectionately as “The Voice.” “He also announced at the fairs and when he came and found me, he told me he just had something to take care of so I needed to help out. He never told me how long he would be gone for or even what I would be doing, but that was when I was told I was going to call the races. I didn’t even know if it was just for that race or for the rest of the card, but it turned out to be the all of them. My hands were so sweaty I could barely hold onto the mic and I was shaking. That first race was tough, but as the day went on it got better.

“It had never even been discussed about me calling races and I had never expressed that was what I wanted to do, but that was how it all started. I never imagined then I would call nearly 170,400 races and travel to countries like Sweden, Finland, Ireland and Australia, or be preparing for my 50th year at Delaware. I sure did not plan on it, but I was asked to fill in at The Red Mile, then it was on to Pompano Park and The Meadows. The ball just kept rolling and here we are.”

On Sunday (July 10), the hometown hero will return to one of the most sentimental sites of his career to call the 12-race card at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Wilmington, Ohio.

The festivities begin with a 4 p.m. post time and feature OCRA stakes events for 2-and 3-year-olds colts and geldings. Entries for the races can be viewed here: https://racing.ustrotting.com/goto.aspx?target=12,58055.

“The Clinton County Harness Horsemen’s Association and Agricultural Society is welcoming Roger back this year to call the races where it all started,” stated a press release by that organization. “It is more to Roger than just announcing a homecoming, as he has many friends and family still in the area, so in many ways Roger is coming home this Sunday. Roger will be at the race office meeting and mingling with fans on Sunday before the races.”

Huston, who has undoubtedly spent more time on live television than any other broadcaster in any discipline, intended to become a teacher while attending Wilmington College as he majored in education and minored in biology. He, however, cast aside his pursuit of a teaching certificate for the above-mentioned employment in the Bluegrass State and his prolific career has not only established him as one of the most highly recognized announcers of all-time, but has produced a litany of awards and distinctions.

“The Wilmington paper also called me about my appearance this weekend at the fair,” Huston said. “I think that is interesting because I worked for that very paper while I was in college. I also worked as a disc jockey for WHBM in Xenia doing news, sports and announcing. I planned on teaching all year and only doing announcing during the summer part-time.”

In addition to being in the harness Communicators Hall of Fame, Huston is a member of six regional Halls of Fame; earned the publicists’ Allen J. Finkelson Golden Pen Award; was honored with a Proximity Award by the United States Harness Writers’ Association; was leading driver in the C.K.G. Billings amateur series; is a trustee of the Hall of Fame and has been a director representing Pennsylvania for the United States Harness Writers’ Association for a number of years.

Despite his lofty stature within the sport, Huston’s effusive, amiable and humble personality is refreshing and extremely insightful. In fact, he is quick to provide the knowledge he is not the only announcer that began their career at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.

“(Meadowlands announcer and Communicators Hall of Famer) Sam McKee called his first race there when he was 14-1/2 years old,” Huston said. “I recommended him for the job and his mother had to drive him out there for the week because, obviously he did not have a drivers’ license at that age. They asked me what they should pay him and I said, ‘$100 each night.’ Well, they didn’t like that and responded with, ‘Why should we pay a 14-year-old kid that kind of money?’ I explained that Sam deserved it and they would not have to pay any expenses for him because he could stay at my in-laws. So they hired him and the Clinton County Fairgrounds is where he got his start as well.”

Although, Huston will only be in town on Sunday, there will be live harness racing on Monday (July 11) as well. The first race on that day also begins at 4 p.m. and entries for those races can be viewed here: https://racing.ustrotting.com/goto.aspx?target=12,58056.

“It will be a very emotional moment for yours truly,” Huston said. “I hope to see many friends and family there this Sunday.”

The Clinton County Fair runs from Saturday (July 9) through Saturday (July 16) with daily admission of $7.00 and children ages eight and under free.

“The weather looks amazing so come out enjoy harness racing and get to meet and hear The Voice, Roger Huston, back in Wilmington, Ohio,” the Clinton County Harness Horsemen’s Association and Agricultural Society release stated. “As Roger would put it, “BE THERE!!!!!”