by Melissa Keith

March weather is traditionally said to be “in like a lion, out like a lamb.” March 25, didn’t follow the usual trend. Saturday night races at Woodbine Mohawk Park were canceled because of high winds. The New Holland Pacing and Trotting Series finals originally scheduled for that card have been moved to Saturday (April 1), with a special post time of 6 p.m.

When live racing resumes after the one-week break for annual spring maintenance, it will be without the familiar presence of Chad Rozema. The Woodbine Entertainment racing analyst/co-host of WMP’s simulcast show had also been filling in for racecaller Ken Middleton throughout March. Now, he’s moving on to Grand River Raceway in Elora, ON to begin in his new position as racing manager.

Rozema said that although his role will be different, relocating brings his career full circle.

“I grew up in Elmira, ON and we had our half-mile racetrack that was the big attraction in town,” he said, indicating the local precursor to Grand River Raceway. “You either delivered newspapers or worked at the racetrack and I did both. I started at Elmira Raceway in 1990 when I was 10 years old, following my mom and two brothers who all worked there prior to me, doing various jobs. That’s where I first fell in love with the game.”

He did not fall in love with the notion of the media side of the sport, at least initially.

“I never aspired to be an on-air commentator,” Rozema said. “I’ve wanted to do many things growing up, from being an accountant to a stand-up comedian, with lots of dreams in between. During my time at Elmira Raceway, I met and became good friends with Ken Middleton. He always tried to push me to take up announcing and I never did until I was about 21, when Ken got me a spot calling some qualifiers at Flamboro Downs.”

It was also Middleton who suggested Rozema approach his future employer.

“In early 2007, [Ken] informed me that Woodbine Entertainment was looking for an on-air commentator and encouraged me to apply despite having no on-air experience,” Rozema said. “I did and was hired that February as a host on HPItv, that’s where it all started for me.”

Rozema’s race calling experience came in handy over the next 16 years with Woodbine Entertainment, although he has remained modest about his ability.

“I like to think of myself as a capable race announcer,” he said. “Ken [Middleton] is the best in the business. When he got me started, I called a little at Flamboro and Kawartha, along with some fair tracks in the area. When I applied at Woodbine, I had mentioned I can call races if needed and became Ken’s back-up relatively early in my career, so I’ve had plenty of opportunities over the years to fill in for him when he’s been away and I’m thankful they gave me a shot.”

Observers on social media have made frequent comments about Rozema’s ability to correctly call a close finish. In one memorable example from last October’s Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Superfinals, Hall of Fame driver/racing analyst Randy Waples convincingly argued that 32-1 longshot Snowpiercer had won a photo finish over quick-closing DWs Point Man in the 2-year-old male trotting event. Rozema, alongside Waples on the desk that night, disputed the close call.

“You don’t need confirmation, Chad,” Waples said with a laugh. “I just told you, I said the horse [Snowpiercer] won the race. I’m a driver, you’re an announcer. I mean, come on.”

When the result went official, Rozema was proven right.

“DWs Point Man got up, Randall,” he said with a laugh. “It keeps my Pick-5 hopes alive.”

Rozema said making such close calls involves risk-taking rather than perfectionism.

“I wouldn’t call it a skill, I think you just have to be confident in what you’re doing, and if it’s a tight photo then it’s your job to call it the way you see it. If you’re wrong, then you’re wrong: at least I took a shot.”

The popular racing analyst made a name for himself working alongside Jason Portuondo, who left Woodbine Entertainment last year to train towards a career as an AGCO racing official. A 2019 TROT magazine article by Rob Longley, Chemistry, Charisma & Trying to Cash Tickets, attributed some of the WMP simulcast show’s success to their entertaining and real rapport.

“Jason and I are as good of friends off the air as we are on the air and he helped me develop into the commentator everyone sees today,” Rozema said. “I loved every moment I worked alongside him but most of our memorable moments were off-cam, as we both had the ability to make each other crack up, sometimes losing our composure on-cam. There’s always lots of laughs when he and I are together.”

Rozema defined his career with Woodbine in terms of the exceptional horses he witnessed at their best.

“Somebeachsomewhere and I both started the same year,” he said with a laugh. “To watch him up close for two seasons was something I’ll never forget. I love the fan favorite horses like him, Bulldog Hanover, and So Much More. Hannelore Hanover was also very special. For being a U.S. based horse, she accomplished so much here in Canada, earning her Horse of the Year honors in 2017. Her owner Frank Baldachino and I met when she won her first of three straight Armbro Flight titles and we’ve been good friends ever since. I’ve covered plenty of thoroughbred racing too at Woodbine and I’d have to say getting to see Wise Dan win back-to-back Woodbine Mile trophies was incredible.”

It’s more difficult to narrow down his personal milestones.

“That’s a very tough question to answer as there are many highlights popping into my head right now,” Rozema said. “Although I prefer TV over announcing, one highlight for sure was when I got the opportunity to call the 2020 Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot card with ‘J Mac’ [driver James MacDonald] upsetting again aboard Dorsoduro Hanover and the great Atlanta beating the boys. That night gave me chills upstairs in the booth.”

Whenever a well-known racing personality steps away from the spotlight, there is a sense of public curiosity about their decision. In Rozema’s case, a rare hometown opportunity just came along at a perfect moment for career progression.

“I love broadcasting and still hope to be visible from time to time, but I’m at a point in my life where I wanted a new challenge,” he said. “I’ve expressed an interest in wanting to transition to a management role for a few years now. I was offered a pair of executive positions within the industry over that period, but they weren’t what I was exactly looking for; the racing manager role at Grand River was the right fit for me.”

Rozema officially starts at Grand River Raceway on April 11, well ahead of the track’s return to live racing on Friday, June 2.

“I got to experience so many different aspects of the business and learn from many great leaders over the years,” he said. “I’m also very proud of the relationships I’ve built during my time there and I know that will serve me well going forward. I’m forever grateful for all my time at Woodbine Entertainment. They are the industry leaders for a reason, and I can’t wait to work with them and all the other racetracks in my new role.”

At publication deadline, no announcement had yet been made about who will be the new racing analyst filling Rozema’s role at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Note: Live racing returns to WMP Saturday (April 1) with a “super-sized” card that Woodbine director of standardbred racing Bill McLinchey called “as close as we get to an opening day at Mohawk” and “a great kickoff to our stake season, headlined by the two New Holland finals.”

It’s the first 15-race card in Campbellville since June 15, 2019.

Post time is 6 p.m. The regular post time of 7 p.m. will return on Monday, April 3.