Transported in an instant

As a performer, you expect rhythm, music, and applause. What you don’t expect is to be transported in an instant — not to another country, but to another world. That’s what happened when Ian Chambers, the legendary race caller turned stage performer, took the mic at The Galaxy Reunion.

The room shifted. One moment, we were an audience; the next, we were punters on the rails, hearts pounding as the thunder of hooves came alive through Ian’s voice. For thirty years, he was the soundtrack to New Zealand’s race days — from Canterbury to the West Coast, Nelson to Marlborough. He’s called them all: the gallops, the harness, the greyhounds. He’s seen crashes and photo-finishes,

called his own horse home in Westport, even been awarded the Pater Award as Australasia’s best racecaller.

But what he delivered that night went beyond commentary. It was performance, theatre, and music rolled into one. At breakneck speed, he rattled off imaginative horse names in a fictional race, the cadence rising until the room was roaring. People subconsciously picked “their” horse. Strangers leaned forward together. By the final stretch, the tension was so real you could almost hear the hooves, and when Ian declared the winner, the eruption of applause and laughter was immediate, electric, unstoppable.

Then came nostalgia — Ian

pivoting seamlessly into “The Auctioneer”, the 1956 Leroy Van Dyke hit with its lightning-fast auction chant. Older faces lit up with recognition, mouthing along. Younger ones stared in awe, caught between disbelief and delight. Grandparents and grandchildren, united by one man’s voice.

That’s what makes Ian special. He bridges generations. His skill is unmatched, his authenticity undeniable. He’s not an impersonator — he is the real thing, a man who lived the highs and lows of racing and now channels that passion into art.

As a fellow performer, I left humbled. Ian reminded me that the greatest shows don’t need smoke or screens. They need

connection. They need mastery. They need a heart. And Ian Chambers delivers all three.

If you’ve never seen him live, prepare to be transported. He won’t just entertain you — he’ll make you feel alive.

2. The Galaxy Reunion Rave Review

I thought I’d seen it all — until Ian Chambers walked on stage at The Galaxy Reunion.

The moment he spoke, the room turned into a racetrack. Thirty years of race calling experience

thundered through every word. He rattled off clever horse names at impossible speed, building suspense until we were all leaning forward, cheering imaginary horses as if money was on the line. By the finish, the eruption of applause and laughter was deafening.

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, he broke into the classic 1956 Leroy Van Dyke hit “The Auctioneer”. It was dazzling — older fans sang along with nostalgia, younger ones sat slack-jawed at the sheer speed and clarity. Grandparents and grandchildren rose together in a spontaneous standing ovation.

As a fellow performer, I can say this: Ian’s act is flawless. It’s authentic, professional, and

electrifying. He doesn’t just perform a race call — he transports you into it. That night, we didn’t just watch. We lived it.