By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Playing chess back in the early 2000s would have taken on a whole new dimension for the grandmother of Queensland race-caller, Jarrod Wessel.
Sitting down for a game back then, his mother’s Mum – Mrs Linda Lester, would have either had most if not all of her pieces missing, especially all four of her knights (horses). Then they would have likely been returned to her donned in racing colours, cut from the family’s ‘Form Guide’.
“I came from a galloping family and horses have always played a big part in my life. I also love sport, and I love to win, so the industry excited me, and wanted to follow Dad into it. I actually wanted to be a jockey when I was about 10 or 11, but got too big, and then decided to embark on my first love, and follow my dream.
“I’ve been calling races since I was in primary school. My grandmother must have wondered where her knights were, and little did she know they were lining up in my very own ‘Melbourne Cup; in the next room,” said Wessel, who is also a four-handicap golfer.
Wessel called his 25th meeting (approx.) at Redcliffe Paceway last Wednesday night (September 27). He’s been coming to ‘The Triangle’ for the last six months.
“I really like it at Redcliffe. It would be the most unique track I’ve ever called at. Down the backstraight they half go away from you, and then down the side they half come at you. I’ve probably called at Redcliffe once a week for the last six to eight weeks. Coming from a galloping background this is something I really enjoy. You have to be tri-coded in my industry, and I like that,” Brisbane-based Wessel said.
“I’m back at ‘The Triangle’ on Monday night (October 2),” he added.
He said he vividly remembered his first Redcliffe Paceway call on Tuesday November 20, 2018.
“When I first started out I used to follow the other commentators about to learn the ins-and-outs of the trade. I remember I called race two that day, and Chris (Barsby) called the rest.
“I’ll always recall the name Newmerella Sharkie because that was the first winner I called on the track. There were seven in the race, and he (and Brett Towns) flew late to get over the top of them. It seemed very first race I was given the finish seemed to be a close one,” Wessel said.
The 24-year-old Bundaberg native, is the eldest of two of Chris and Tina’s two children. They also have a 21-year-old son named Hayden.
“Dad is the Director of Archer Park Racing and has owned horses for as long as I’ve known. I’ve grown up with them and really enjoyed the industry as a kid. I always wanted to earn a living from racing, and now here I am at 24 living my dream,” Wessel said.
The former St Lukes Anglican School (Bundaberg) student got his big break when he was 16 when he got to call at the Bundaberg Racing Club. He impressed and before long he was also calling the greyhounds in that town too.
Then when he was 17, Radio TAB in Brisbane noticed his talents behind the microphone.
“I couldn’t believe that I was being given a crack. I’d just finished my school year in 2016 and then in February 2017, I was being recognised by the national body. But because I was just 17 at the time, I had to get my parents to come to Brisbane with me to look over the contract. It was all very surreal,” Wessel said.
“There were some little concerns at the time, like a 17-year-old being allowed to read dividends etcetera, but we got around all that, and three weeks later I was calling races at Ipswich,” he added.
Wessel said he had learnt to master his craft via Barsby, David Fowler, Paul Dolan, and Terry Spargo – all while following them around during his apprenticeship.
“They are all very talented callers, and ultimately I would love to be as good as them one day, and eventually have my own gig as the number one caller. Ultimately I want to get to the top of the tree, but for now I’m happy to go do my very best at whatever meeting comes my way
Wessel’s Wessel’s first call at Redcliffe Paceway – Race 2 (3.22pm) on Tuesday November 20, 2018 can be viewed and heard here:
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=RE201118
The photo finish of that very race:
