Emerging race-calling talent, Ethan Mills, is poised to step into the broadcast box at Kranji, where he will showcase his skills as a race caller as Singapore heads into its final year of racing in 2024.
Since the recent departure of caller Pat Comerford to the United Arab Emirates, assistant-trainer-turned-broadcaster Scott Bailey has primarily managed the race day commentary on his own. The search for a suitable partner to join him at the helm has been ongoing.
"I started to realise that 'hey, you might be able to race calling as a full-time job'."
Racing is well & truly in @Millse_101's blood 😍 pic.twitter.com/Lhz77K3R6H
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 20, 2023
Enter Ethan Mills. At just 17 years old, he embarked on his race-calling journey, starting with practice sessions in front of the TV. He gradually progressed to calling official trials and jumpouts from the spare broadcast boxes at metropolitan tracks across Melbourne.
“For the last 18 months, I’ve been putting my hand up for everything in terms of racecalling and commentating,” Mills said in an interview with Ed Sadler for Racing.Com.
“A big part of that has been the official barrier trials with Racing.com, calling a few jumpouts here and there at Cranbourne and doing some other sports like athletics and calling a little bit of amateur football.
“Basically, just throwing myself in the deep end to give myself as much experience and confidence to continue to do it. I’ve put my heart and soul into it, I’ve tried my absolute best for the last 18 months to take every opportunity.
“It’s been pretty exciting so far.”
Hailing from a family rooted in jockeying, Mills brings an undeniable passion for both racing and broadcasting, making him a valuable addition to the English commentary team. Mills is poised to dive head-first into broadcasting action starting this weekend. He will commence by calling some of the races before taking charge of the final two meetings of 2023 on his own, allowing Bailey to take a breather.
