News & Media

07 October 2008 Illustrious Career Coming to a Close

Leading Western Australian trotting commentator, John Hunt, has announced his retirement from race broadcasting.

Hunt announced his decision during RWWA's Harness Awards ceremony at Government House ballroom last Saturday night.

After 32 years of broadcasting Hunt will call his last race at Gloucester Park on December 12.

"John Hunt is the ultimate professional who will be sadly missed by the patrons of Gloucester Park, Sky Channel viewers and Racing Radio listeners, said John Burt, President of the Western Trotting Association.

"As a race caller John added romance, colour, glamour and excitement to his every race call and the depth of his statistical knowledge is matched by few.

"He is a respected harness racing form analyst, statistician and historian of the West Australian trotting industry.

"He is simply the best in his field."

Although one of Australia's leading broadcasters Hunt could easily have been one of Australia's leading tennis prospects if serious injury hadn’t curtailed a promising career.

He was Australia's leading junior player for three years and represented WA in the Linton Cup for four years.

"Tennis was going to be what I wanted to do with my life but I received a back injury as a seventeen-year-old and by the time I was nineteen I was put in a brace which effectively ended my sporting career," said Hunt.

"After bumping into Trevor Jenkin's one afternoon at the races I enquired how to become a commentator and what started as an interest turned into a passion.

"I hope I have been able to convey to listeners some of that passion and the beauty and majesty of harness racing.

"However, after 32 years it's time to look at other interests and I very much look forward to the next phase of my life."