Nathan Klein, who was diagnosed with autism at age 5, became the youngest race caller in North America when he took over as the full-time track announcer at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course June 3, 2026, at 21 years old.
America’s Best Racing is producing a 2026 video series highlighting autism acceptance and inclusion within the sport of horse racing, and Klein welcomed the opportunity to tell his story.
Klein said starting in third or fourth grade it became apparent that he was different than other people and it affected how he behaved throughout elementary and middle school and even now. A graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, Klein said autism impacts his job as a race caller through his ability to use association, such as remembering the right colors and different equipment of the runners. He described putting the binoculars up to his eyes as the equivalent of putting blinkers on, indicating his focus becomes razor sharp once the binoculars come up for the start of a race.
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