Brett Moody to raise the bat in style at Nanango

By Jordan Gerrans

Popular bush race caller Brett Moody will raise the bat for a well-deserved half-century when he calls the Nanango meeting on Easter Saturday.

The easily recognised voice of racing in regional Queensland has been stranded on 49 tracks he has broadcast at in recent years.

When officials from the Nanango Race Club approached him about calling at their venue, he quickly agreed.

It all started way back in 1982 for the likeable Moody as he has called across the Sunshine State and into New South Wales in his lengthy career behind the binoculars.

The Wyandra product was only a teenager in those days when he called his maiden meeting.

The broadcaster would prefer to fly under the radar than receive the limelight for his calling achievements, but he is chuffed to reach the half-century.

“It is a personal milestone,” he said.

“And, once it got a bit close, I was keeping an eye on it. I know there are lot of other blokes who call races and are well over 100 tracks.

“But, for me doing a lot of bush meetings and that being almost all in Queensland, I treat it as a personal milestone, anyway.

“It is a nice little box to tick because I'm sort of getting to the twilight of my career now.”

Moody has become a well-known voice within the wider racing game in recent years with Dalby, which is one of his main tracks, receiving more midweek TAB programs.

The 58-year-old is known for calling with his own style, regularly throwing in a few catchphrases with some humour.

Dalby, Esk, Jandowae, Tara and Chinchilla are in Moody’s regular rotation these days and he will often pick up other meetings along the way, such as Nanango. 

He will head to Cunnamulla on Anzac Day later this year, as well.

Moody’s milestone will coincide with the debut of boom apprentice jockey Archie McColm at Nanango on Saturday.

In all likelihood, the long-time caller will be the voice of the talented teenager's maiden victory as a jockey.

There are several regional towns that no longer hold race meetings in Moody’s list of 50 tracks he has called at.

Looking back on his journey, the Toowoomba-based Moody says he would love to have a few more pictures of him calling in the early days in the bush, but it was just not the done thing many decades ago before mobile phones.

Moody has been recognised for his calling in recent years by being called up to broadcast feature country races such as the Battle of the Bush Final in Brisbane.  

Brett Moody’s hitlist in alphabetical order: Augathella, Barcaldine, Bedourie, Bell, Betoota, Birdsville, Blackall, Bowraville (NSW), Bundaberg, Burrandowan, Charleville, Chinchilla, Clifton, Cunnamulla, Dalby, Doomben, Eagle Farm, Emerald, Enngonia (NSW), Eromanga, Esk, Flinton, Gatton, Gayndah, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Grafton (NSW), Gympie, Jandowae, Kilcoy, Miles, Mitchell, Morven, Mount Perry, Nanango, Noccundra, Noorama, Quilpie, Roma, Stanthorpe, Tambo, Tara, Taroom, Toowoomba, Torbanlea, Wandoan, Warra, Warwick, Windorah and Wyandra.