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We rarely refer to someone as the voice of racing or recognise their voice before anything else. Most people have heard him but not seen him, but George Simon has been perfecting his craft of race calling for over forty years now. Behind the Stable Doors caught up with George and his wife Maryanne in “Iggy’s bar” at their Mana Park property to learn about their involvement in the industry. Maryanne has been involved in many facets contributing to the industry through preparing horses for sale, breeding and working with New Zealand Bloodstock in Hong Kong and Singapore. Two incredibly important people in our industry. “there’s two of us in the relationship and thank god she knows what she’s doing. “
George grew up in Ngāruawāhia and often went to the races at Te Rapa with his father as a young child. He fondly recalls hearing the voice of Sid Tonks calling the races and attributes hearing Sid’s voice to what drew him into being a race caller. On his path to becoming a race commentator, he encountered Keith Haub at seventeen, who gave him much advice and taught him much about the art of race calling. Forty-two years on, George is still commentating and one of the most recognisable voices in the industry.
For Maryanne, it started on her family farm in Te Kowhai. The farm’s primary function was pedigree jersey cows and a piggery which they often took to shows. Maryanne’s father, Jim Mead, often had a racehorse or two as an owner/trainer; while growing up, she attended a pony club. Maryanne’s family, primarily led by Jim, were very passionate about showing animals, and Maryanne continued the affair with thoroughbred horses. Jim purchased a horse to pinhook from the Trentham yearling sales that he could train to sell on, and they bought a filly ‘Final Destination’, whom he sold for $20,000 after purchasing her for $9000; later, she won the 1000 Guineas and the G1 Bayer Classic in 2001. and was subsequently sold to America for US$1,500,000. Maryanne continued her passion for showing by helping out with NZB in Singapore while she lived there with George and then continued for four years in Hong Kong with drafts. Following this, they purchased Mana Park, and she put together drafts for Trelawney.
While George explained it in a calming and easy way, the daunting task of being a race caller involved a lot of muscle memory. He starts preparing when the nominations come out for the meeting and learning names and colours. George often will be able to connect names to colours after a few starts. Although there are occasions when trainers or owners will have several horses in the same colours, which can make him cringe, he states it is essential to remain professional and ‘get on with the job’. George has also had the chance to commentate worldwide during his career, including in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. Still, Ellerslie remains the best course in the world from a commentator’s perspective.
George spent three years commentating in Singapore between 1999 and 2001. This was at the start of their wave of becoming an international racing destination, which calls it an honour to have been there commentating. The first year he was there, he commented on a 3 Million dollar race and attracted the world's media and the best jockeys, including the likes of Frankie Dettori.
With another arrow to his bow, George was involved in the set-up of Tracside, or ‘Action TV’ as it was initially called. He saw an ad for presenters for the show and flew to Wellington for the audition, later becoming the show’s filming location. It involved much change as he spent less time focusing on commentating and his property and moved to Wellington to commit to filming the tv show. They were on the rags, so to speak, and had no budget and did what they could with the means they had. The show had gone so well and was well received that the Hong Kong Jockey Club sent over a few people to watch and observe the creation of the tv program, and upon their return to Hong Kong, they created a replica show called Tracside. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
On breeding, George called himself an accidental breeder and was somewhat reluctant and referred it to the ‘Maryanne’s area’. They leased a mare called Indomitable from Sir Peter Vela; her 3rd foal by Ifraaj was named Iggy and was the first branded horse of Mana Park – George and Maryanne’s farm. Iggy went on to race and was later known as Turn Me Loose, sold for $52,5000 as a yearling, won $1,700,000 in stakes, and is now standing at stud at Windsor Park. George added that one of his highlights for the year was calling Lickety Split home in the Group One Sistema Stake becoming Turn Me Loose’s first group one winner. His phone went off as soon as the horses went past the post. He received a text from Sir Peter Vela, who congratulated him. They both credit Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for doing such a tremendous job. However, beginners’ luck, you might think? The second horse-branded MP was multiple Group One winner Volkstok’n’barrell. George and Maryanne added how special it was to breed and raise any horse, but these good ones are what it is about. It is a circumstantial game, and while you’re always looking for the one that will be the next champion with your brand on it, they take pride in every horse you breed, raise, race or sell.
A highlight of their success is Turn Me Loose, who poignantly started breeding under their Mana Park brand. They decided to fly to watch ‘Iggy’ run in the $1 Million Emirates Stakes at Flemington with the owners because George knew he would win. George and Maryanne were very humbled by the experience and highly complimentary to everyone involved. As they described, they were treated like owners too. Maryanne was also blessed with the massive honour of strapping Turn Me Loose for the race; the experience they both note has brought them the most joy during their involvement in the industry. Their success has provided them with a gratifying lifestyle, and they’ve put every cent and energy back into the farm, which shows in the love and success you feel while visiting the property. George and Maryanne take great pride in the success of their brand Mana Park, the farm itself and how they’ve built it from the ground and everything they’ve achieved individually and together.
George and Maryanne work tirelessly in the industry; without them, it would leave a considerable gap. While they’ve enjoyed the success of breeding superstars like Turn Me Loose and Volksok’n’barrell, they’ve put enormous energy into perfecting their craft, giving back to the industry, and helping others. You would struggle to find more dedicated people who, when I asked what changes they might want, said they wanted to focus on the positive things—a testament to both of their characters. The industry is forever in debt to George and Maryanne Simon.
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