Santa Anita had another winner

Although I agree completely with Larry Stewart’s assessment of Trevor Denman as an outstanding race caller, we old-timers know that there is only one track announcer who belongs in the same category as Vin Scully, Chick Hearn, and Bob Miller -- and that would be the longtime voice of Santa Anita, Joe Hernandez. Joe began his career at Santa Anita in 1934 and compiled a streak of 15,587 races called before his death from heart failure while in the middle of a race in 1972.

Although his calls of Seabiscuit’s Santa Anita Handicap wins are legendary, I always think back to his calls of the ultimate come-from-behind router, a mediocre horse named Malicious.

“And here comes Malicious!” Still gives me goose bumps.

JOEL RAPP

Los Angeles