'I've finally made it'; Aiello settles in as Gulfstream Park announcer

As a 3-year-old kid, Pete Aiello remembers donning jockey silks his grandmother bought him from the Hialeah Park gift shop and running around the Citation statue in the paddock. His love for horse racing started that day in 1988 and continues now, 31 years later. Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., Aiello seemingly always knew he wanted to be a track announcer.

As a University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program graduate Aiello eventually worked his first full-time announcing gig at Cincinnati’s River Downs. He’d often get asked: “Is your dream to call the Kentucky Derby or Breeders Cup races?” Aiello would respond: “I want to call races at Hialeah Park.”

In 2009, after the track was closed for eight years, the dream came true. Aiello got a job at Hialeah Park doing a little of everything except calling the races. But as luck would have it, their announcer wound up with a scheduling conflict on opening day. Aiello took the mic for Race 1.

“You’re joking, right?” he remembers thinking. “Hold on, you’re going to let me call the first day at Hialeah after being closed for eight years? I’m like, OK, and it turned out to be one of the greatest days of my life.”

Aiello continued in that role for seven years, serving in other capacities at the track when racing wasn’t in season. He also began to work Gulfstream Park’s summer meet.

In 2016, Aiello received a call from Larry Collmus, announcer for Gulfstream Park’s renowned Championship Meet.

“I don’t think I’m coming back to Gulfstream,” Collmus told him, and that’s what led to Aiello landing the full-time role in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Months later, he was in the booth for the inaugural edition of the Pegasus World Cup, a lucrative event featuring the likes of California Chrome and Arrogate. He remembers being a nervous wreck.

Aiello had only called one Grade 1 race before, and it didn’t go as he had hoped. It was Oaklawn Park’s Arkansas Derby the year before, and there were six gray contenders in the race.

“Cupid was the favorite, but I was sure Creator was going to win,” Aiello said. “The race set up well for him. Turning for home, Cupid was on the lead but tiring, and Creator was flying and going to win. I wanted to say Cupid’s done and Creator is going to win, but when I went to articulate my thoughts, I said Creator is not going to get the job done. It was a miserable feeling.”

And with that memory, he was preparing to announce a race on an even bigger stage.

“I was calling Larry Collmus, Frank Mirahmadi, every announcer I knew panicking, asking them for advice,” Aiello said. “They just told me to be yourself and stop worrying.  Everything will go great.”

It wasn’t until the Wednesday night before the Pegasus that Aiello remembers finally calming down. He attended a Don Henley concert, and during“The End of the Innocence,” the lyrics hit him: “You can lay your head back on the ground; and let your hair fall all around me; offer up your best defense; but this is the end; this is the end of the innocence.”

I was at Gulfstream Park for that inaugural Pegasus, a $12 million event that required its entrants connections stake $1 million to run. It was a great day of racing overall, and I told my friends as we walked out that this Pete guy could really call a race.

“Eddie,” Aiello told me, “I remember getting through the call and not (screwing) it up, and as I turned off the mic all the emotions hit me at once and I broke down crying like a baby.”

Aiello told himself, “I’ve finally made it. I never thought I would be the track announcer at Gulfstream Park. It’s the premier meet in the country with the Pegasus, the 3-year-olds and all the other great racing. I never thought it attainable, and I’m so appreciative of Gulfstream Park management and The Stronach Group for the opportunity. This is a dream.”

Aiello’s voice also took him to Finger Lakes in New York, to Canada and Tampa Bay Downs. In his fourth year at Gulfstream, he’s settling in closer to home.

“I owe so much to John Brunetti Sr.,” the late owner of Hialeah Park, Aiello said, “who gave me the chance and treated me like a son for so many years. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”

I’d never met Aiello before our recent conversation, and I’m sure glad I did. To speak with him was so simple, or as Aiello would say, “Easy money.”

A Maryland native, Ed Cofiño moved to Florida 25 years ago as a golf professional but has spent time around horses his entire life. His exploits in racing include sitting on the backs of greats such as Secretariat, Spectacular Bid and Barbaro. Follow Ed on Twitter at @ItsMeEddieC.