Popular race caller Dave McDonald is out of Dunedin Hospital following a health scare.
Mr McDonald was scheduled to commentate today’s Forbury Park race meeting, but became unwell after arriving on course and was taken to Dunedin Hospital.
Though St. John spokesperson said that a 60-year-old man, believed to be Mr McDonald, was in a serious condition Mr McDonald’s wife, Linda, described her husband’s condition as far from serious.
Instead, she told the Otago Daily Times that her husband was simply feeling unwell and had been released from hospital and was returning to his Southland home.
‘’It was really precautionary, because they didn’t know what they were dealing with.’’
“He is on his way home – he is driving himself home.’’
‘’He pulled over and he rung me after he left Dunedin and he sounds perfectly fine.’’
Mr McDonald’s exact diagnosis was unclear, but it was not believed to be serious, she said.
In Mr McDonald’s absence, the first race of the Forbury meeting was commentated by the on-course commentator at today’s Te Rapa racecourse, George Simon.
The call was fed by satellite link to the Forbury course to be broadcast on course, as well as being aired on Trackside television.
That resulted in a delay of up to seven seconds between the horses’ progress and the commentary for both on course patrons and television viewers.
Trackside television officials then arranged Canterbury commentator Matthew Cross to call the rest of the Forbury Park programme from its Christchurch studios.
Though Cross delivered polished commentaries under trying circumstances, which initially came through unclearly for on-course patrons, however, those audio improved on as the meeting went on.
Dave McDonald is a highly popular Southern racing identity that holds legendary status in racing circles for his vibrant commentaries and long service to the industry.
He was formally recognised for registering 40 years of race calling in September of last year.
