COLOURFUL race caller Ric McIntosh refers to the iconic Warrnambool May Racing Carnival as his Melbourne Cup and grand final.
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It's his time to shine.
The Bendigo-based racing identity's calls have become synonymous with the three-day carnival, which has this year been condensed into two days.
Catchcries such as: "How bloody good is the Bool?", "Back Weir, drink beer!" and "Go hard or go home!" have become the stuff of legend, endearing him to legions of racing fans and casual and one-off racegoers alike.
No other race caller in Australia has proven himself as accomplished at feeding off the crowd than McIntosh.
Which will make his annual pilgrimage to 'The Bool' this week, where the carnival will be run behind closed doors, a unique and strange one, with an added degree of difficulty.
But if you're looking for a sure thing, over the two days, count on another epic performance from McIntosh, in much the same vein as Zed Em's colossal effort in lumping a record-setting 70kg to victory in last year's Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m).
"It's going to be different," McIntosh said in reference to the absence of crowds.
"It will be interesting to see how it goes, Warrnambool without the crowds is hard to imagine.
"I've still got an audience, I will be doing my best to try and bring people there, that goes without saying.
"It's no doubt going to be difficult, the people drive it (the calls). Even my highs and low with the (Grand Annual) the people come with me.
"If there's something going on in the race that I don't see, the crowd will soon let you know because it's an almighty roar if something's happened.
"I won't have that. There's a lot about the carnival that will be different."
McIntosh's passion and enthusiasm for jumps racing and the Warrnambool carnival are unbridled.
He has made the calls of the Grand Annual Steeplechase and the Brierly Steeplechase on the opening day of the carnival very much his own.
"It's my Melbourne Cup, my grand final, the week that is the highlight of my year," he said.
"Hopefully the product is still going to be good, I'm sure the racing will be.
"The jumps people have just been amazing the way they have continued on and adjusted to the changes.
"They have still produced all the good horses and good riders and trainers, so there is no reason why the racing won't still be exciting."
Despite significant changes to the way racing is run and presented in Australia since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, interest in this year's Warrnambool carnival has not diminished a bit, according to McIntosh.
"It hasn't seemed to have stopped anyone's interest in it - it's been massive," he said.
"That augers well for the club in 2021 to be honest.
It's my Melbourne Cup, my grand final, the week that is the highlight of my year.
- Ric McIntosh
"Even down there (in Warrnambool), 3YB, the local radio station has got an interactive fashions on the field happening, it's quite bizarre.
"The police stepped up their warning last week to say stay at home because there are people trying to get out and about to catch it through the fence or over the road.
"It would be a good time to own bit of real estate there."
Testament to his popularity, Warrnambool Racing Club ran a competition in the lead-up to this year's carnival, inviting fans to submit their best impressions of McIntosh.
The prize? A visit to the commentary box for this year's calling of the Grand Annual.
McIntosh rated the performance of Racing Victoria and industry participants during the COVID-19 pandemic as nothing short of exemplary.
"We (race callers) have got the best seat in the house at a race meeting and I have been amazed," said McIntosh, who has notched up more than 30 years in the profession.
"I couldn't tell you who is running the show from Racing Victoria's regard, but it's safe to say, whoever it is, has been absolutely superb.
"They have been a jump ahead on everything.
"Racing has been the trendsetter in all of this right since day one, the politicians are announcing a change on TV at night, well racing made the change two days ago.
"They have done amazing job keeping us ahead of the game."
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