For many horse racing fans, the voice of the track becomes just as memorable as the races themselves. University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program student Nathan Klein will take the next step toward becoming one of those voices when he begins his new role in June as a track announcer at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

New Penn National race caller Klein (Tashua Antoinette Spiess photo )

For Klein, 21, the opportunity is more than just a job, it is the realization of a dream he has carried since childhood.

“What excites me most about taking the microphone at Penn National is finally getting to live out my childhood dream of becoming a racetrack announcer,” Klein said. “This is the life I’ve wanted since I was 6 years old. Penn National offers a large number of race days, which gives me the opportunity to gain serious experience and continue improving. Balancing school with race calling in the past made it harder to consistently call races, so I’m excited to see how much I can grow in this role.”

Klein’s journey to the announcer’s booth has been shaped heavily by his time in the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, where students are exposed to nearly every corner of the racing industry. While his original goal entering the program was clear, RTIP helped him discover how broad the industry truly is.

“When I came into RTIP, I had the same goal of becoming a racetrack announcer, but I really didn’t know how to achieve it or what other areas of horse racing I might want to pursue as part of my career,” Klein said. “RTIP helped expand my goals by exposing me to the many different career opportunities within the industry. My interests in marketing and content creation, for example, came directly from experiences and connections through the program. While my main goal is still the same as when I started, it’s become much more expanded and nuanced over time.”

Klein with fellow RTIP students (Tashua Antoinette Spiess photo )

Those who know Klein through RTIP have watched his passion for calling races grow through class projects, networking opportunities, and hands-on experience around the industry. His enthusiasm for the sport, paired with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn, made Penn National a fitting next step.

The move also represents an important milestone not only for Klein personally, but for RTIP students pursuing careers in media and communications within horse racing. Race calling remains one of the sport’s most recognizable and competitive positions, requiring preparation, timing, accuracy, and the ability to connect fans to the action in real time.

As Klein prepares to head to Pennsylvania, where he will be the youngest full-time race caller working in the Thoroughbred industry, he carries with him both the support of the RTIP community and the excitement of finally stepping into the role he envisioned as a child.

Now, instead of dreaming about the announcer’s booth, he’ll officially be calling the horses home.