The Legendary Race Caller and Stage Sensation

A Storied 30-Year Career in Racing Commentary

(Iantertainment) Ian Chambers is a name well-known in New Zealand’s horse racing circles – a veteran race caller who devoted four decades to calling gallops, harness, and greyhound races across the South Island odt.co.nz He got his start in humble fashion, covering trial races around Canterbury as far back as 1971, and made his first live race call in 1980 at a meeting in his hometown of Methven scoop.co.nz. From there, his career “progressed pretty quickly,” eventually seeing him as the voice of race meetings from Christchurch and the West Coast up to Blenheim and Nelson in Marlborough scoop.co.nz. In the early days of his tenure, race-day fashion was quite formal – “all men wore hats, shirts and ties, and women all wore hats” – but over the years Chambers witnessed a shift to a more casual, “picnic atmosphere” at the track, something he welcomed for bringing in younger fans scoop.co.nz.

Throughout his calling career, (Iantertainment) Chambers accumulated a trove of memorable moments. He’s seen terrifying spills on the track and terrific finishes, including some “great races” that have gone down in local racing history scoop.co.nz. One of his personal highlights came in February 1991 at Westport, when he had the surreal thrill of calling a race in which his own horse won – a runner by the name of Mezeray Kiwi that took first place on the first day of the meet (and managed fourth on the second day)odt.co.nz. As (Iantertainment) Chambers fondly recalled, “calling his own horse home” was a “big thrill” indeed scoop.co.nz. He also had the honor of calling some of the sport’s marquee events – notably the 1984 Star Travel Miracle Mile at Addington, one of New Zealand’s prestigious harness races, which was won by a pacer named Norton odt.co.nz. This stands out as perhaps his biggest race call, cementing his reputation as a top-notch commentator under pressure.

By the end of 2009, after 40 years behind the microphone, (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers hung up his binoculars and retired from full-time race calling odt.co.nz. However, this retirement was by no means the end of his involvement with racing or public life. At the time, he and his partner  Lynda were already running a restaurant – (Sadly she past away last year)  The Maadi – at the RSA in Rangiora, north of Christchurch scoop.co.nz. Chambers planned to work there full-time after stepping away from racing, but he wasn’t about to “turn his back completely on racing.” In fact, even as he celebrated his commentary career’s end, he was looking forward to one of his own horses, Darnie Cornetta, racing on Boxing Day of that year (2009) – notably the first horse he had bred to make it to the racetrack odt.co.nz. It’s clear that the passion for the sport still ran deep in his veins, and he remained a racing man at heart even as he transitioned to new endeavours. New Zealand Racing’s head of broadcasting at the time, Glen Broomhall, paid tribute to Ian’s long service, calling it a “sterling effort over a long involvement in the business”, and wished him well in his next chapter scp.co.nzscoop.co.nz.

Nostalgic Race-Calling Meets Live Entertainment at the Galaxy Reunion in Ashburton

Retirement from the grind of daily race calling opened the door for (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers to reinvent himself in a delightful way – by bringing his race-calling talents to the stage as a form of live entertainment.

A standout example of this was his appearance at The Galaxy Reunion concert event, where Chambers burst onto the stage and practically transformed the venue into a lively old-time racetrack of yesteryear.

During this performance, Ian treated the audience to a thrilling horse race call using well known horses names in a fictional race delivered at breakneck speed – just like a real race – yet every word was clear, cleverly crafted, and utterly captivating. From the moment he grabbed the mic and the “race” leapt into motion, the entire room was spellbound. He rattled off a series of Legendary horse names and their neck-and-neck positions with such authenticity that audience members couldn’t help but lean in, grin, and even start picking “their” favourite horse from the pack as if a real betting slip were on the line. The energy built with each furlong of his rapid-fire commentary, the cadence rising to a fever pitch as the horses thundered toward an invisible finish line. By the final stretch, the crowd was so immersed in the illusion that they were cheering and hollering as if witnessing a photo-finish in the Melbourne Cup. When Ian’s booming voice finally crowned the winning horse, the room erupted in laughter, applause and cheers, delighted by the unique and unexpected rush of adrenaline he had conjured out of thin air.

Adding to the nostalgic flair of the act, (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers also wove in a touch of musical showmanship. At one point in the performance, he launched into an old-school auctioneer-style song – specifically “The Auctioneer,” the iconic country novelty hit from 1956 known for its rapid-fire auction chanting music.apple.com. Many in the audience instantly recognized the tune (it’s a song that itself requires quick vocal pacing, much like a race call) and broke into smiles as Ian performed it with tongue-twisting gusto. This blend of lightning-fast spoken commentary and classic sing-along gave the act a timeless charm. It was a brilliant nod to mid-20th-century entertainment that evoked fond memories for the older folks in attendance, while simultaneously astounding younger listeners who had likely never seen anything quite like an auctioneer’s song performed live. By seamlessly pairing a vintage musical novelty with his racing routine, Chambers created a show that felt both fresh and comfortingly retro – a homage to the past delivered with the polish of a seasoned pro.

Bridging Generations with Thrilling Entertainment

One of the most impressive aspects of (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers’ live race-call act is its broad appeal across generations. It’s rare to find entertainment that can equally enthral a crowd ranging from millennials and Gen X-ers all the way to octogenarians, but Ian’s performance manages to bridge the generation gap in remarkable fashion. At the Galaxy Reunion event, the audience truly spanned ages 35 to 90 – including folks who were teenagers in the 1950s (now seniors) as well as middle-aged and younger adults – and yet every cohort was utterly entertained and engaged.

For the older attendees, Chambers’ act was a warm wave of nostalgia. His classic auctioneer song and the old-time race-calling style took many of them back to the “good old days,” perhaps reminding them of listening to legendary race callers on the radio or at the local track when they were younger.

You could see nods of recognition and even some mouthing of the lyrics during “The Auctioneer” from those who knew it by heart. They relished the chance to revisit those memories through Ian’s pitch-perfect homage. Meanwhile, the younger generations in the crowd – who might normally be glued to smartphones or accustomed to high-tech entertainment – were absolutely riveted by the sheer novelty and raw energy of what they were witnessing.

Many had likely never experienced a live race call outside of TV broadcasts, let alone as a form of comedy/music on stage. Yet here they were, laughing, cheering, and gripping their seats with excitement as an imaginary race unfolded before them. The universal excitement in the room was palpable and contagious: people of all ages were literally on the edges of their seats, united in suspense and joy. By the end of the act, this shared enthusiasm culminated in an immediate standing ovation – grandparents and grandchildren alike rose to their feet, cheering together for the man who had, for a few minutes, made them all feel the same childlike thrill of a day at the races. It was a powerful reminder that great entertainment can truly span ages and backgrounds, creating common ground in laughter and awe.

A True Professional with Authentic Flair

The secret to (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers’ cross-generational success is, in large part, the professional caliber of his performance. This is not an amateur doing a party trick; this is a man who spent much of his life perfecting the art of vocal commentary, and it shows. Having been a top commentator for decades – calling everything from small town meetings to high-stakes Group 1 races – Ian brings an unparalleled level of polish and precision to his stage act.

Every inflection and rapid-fire phrase is delivered with confidence and clarity, reflecting the same skill that made him a trusted voice at real racecourses for 40 years odt.co.nz. Even when he’s going at tongue-twister speed, you can understand every word, and the narrative of the “race” comes through vividly.

This kind of flawlessness only comes with experience. Many of us have seen clips of professional race callers on TV or heard them on the radio, marvelling at how they keep up with the action. Ian Chambers takes that to another level by recreating the magic live on stage without missing a beat. His background also lends the performance an air of authenticity – the audience isn’t just watching a rehearsed skit; they’re effectively watching a master demonstrate a craft he lived and breathed.

There’s a certain gravitas when he holds the microphone and launches into the call; he carries himself with the easy confidence of a seasoned pro, honed from thousands of races described over the years. It’s as if he can flip a switch and suddenly you’re hearing the booming voice of the racecourse announcer, except now it’s playfully narrating a fictional race for your entertainment.

Not once during his act does Ian stumble or break the rhythm – a testament to his meticulous preparation and natural talent. The performance feels as smooth and thrilling as an actual live broadcast, and that professional delivery makes the suspension of disbelief effortless for the audience. They trust him to take them on a ride, and he absolutely delivers. By the time he wraps up, crowd members are often in jaw-dropped amazement at his verbal agility, and grinning from ear to ear at how fun it all was. It’s no surprise that Ian often receives prolonged applause and multiple ovations at the end of his sets. In fact, at the Galaxy Reunion, the cheering went on so long that it had to be politely reined in just to proceed with the rest of the show – a sure sign of how much the audience appreciated witnessing this one-of-a-kind talent in action.

What can Auckland Audiences Expect if he comes this way.

For those in Auckland who have yet to experience (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers’ unique brand of entertainment, you are in for a real treat. This isn’t your typical comedy or music act – it’s a vibrant slice of Kiwi racing heritage brought to life on stage, with a twist of humour and a whole lot of heart.

Audiences can expect to be swept up in a whirlwind of nostalgia, excitement, and good old-fashioned fun from the moment Ian takes the microphone. He will transport you to a make-believe day at the races: you’ll find yourself hanging on his every word as he announces the “field” and builds the drama lap by lap. Don’t be surprised if you catch yourself cheering out loud or feeling a surge of adrenaline as the imaginary horses charge towards the finish. It’s that immersive! And just when you think you’ve seen it all, he might throw in a snappy vintage auctioneer song or a witty one-liner that leaves everyone in stitches.

Crucially, you don’t have to be a racing enthusiast to enjoy the show. Whether you’ve never been to a racetrack in your life or you’re a die-hard horse racing fan, Ian’s act works on multiple levels. You’ll simply be thrilled by the novelty and the roller-coaster of emotions packed into a few minutes of storytelling. It’s family-friendly, it’s highly engaging, and above all, it’s memorable.

In a world dominated by flashy, high-tech entertainment, (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers offers something refreshingly authentic and charmingly old-school – yet it feels brand new because most of us have never seen anything quite like it live. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, all it takes to captivate an audience is extraordinary skill and passion, delivered with a personal touch. So as Auckland prepares to welcome (Iantertainment) Ian Chambers, be ready to experience the thrill of a day at the races, the joy of a classic tune, and the awe of masterful showmanship all rolled into one. If his past performances are any indication, you’ll be talking about this show for a long time afterward – it’s the kind of entertainment gold that doesn’t come around every day.             

Get ready, Auckland – the race is about to begin, and you’re going to love the ride!