John McGary will be the new announcer for Zia Park, according to Matt Crawford, manager of racing operations and racing secretary for the Hobbs, N.M. track. McGary also will continue to serve as the announcer at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., but will vacate his position at Mahoning Valley in Ohio.

Zia opens for a mixed meet on Sept 9. McGary will begin calling the races at Zia on Sept. 16 in order to call the biggest race of the meet at Louisiana Downs, the Super Derby. The race runs Sept. 9. McGary said Robert Fox will call the Zia races for the first week of the meet, while Mike Persichino will fill in for the final two weeks of the season at Louisiana Downs.

McGary also will call the Quarter Horse meet at Louisiana Downs. He said part of the appeal of Zia was the ability to stay year round in the Southwest.

“I loved Mahoning Valley,” McGary said, noting that he now has a home in Bossier City, La., after getting married in 2016.

“I get to stay home,” said McGary.

McGary, 51, starting calling races in 1993. He said his first full time job came at Arapahoe Park. McGary also has called races at The Downs at Albuquerque, in Nebraska, on the fair circuit in his native California, and at Evangeline Downs and Retama Park. He is in his third season at Louisiana Downs after spending a decade with Evangeline.

More to come at www.drf.com