Vic Stauffer no longer will call races at Oaklawn

After 6 1/2 years, Vic Stauffer is no longer calling races at Oaklawn.

Stauffer posted in a Tweet Friday morning that he was no longer at Oaklawn. He said that he and the track "disagreed about the severity of a tweet" he posted. The Twitter exchange to which he was referring has since been removed. Jennifer Hoyt of Oaklawn confirmed to Horse Racing Nation on Friday morning that Stauffer is no longer working for the track.

Jim Byers will call races at Oaklawn for the immediate future according to a report from Mary Rampellini of Daily Racing Form, who also first reported that Stauffer would no longer call races at Oaklawn. Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith told DRF, "At least in the short term, Jim is going to assist us until he has another engagement." Byers is the regular race caller at Lone Star Park, which opens April 13.

Rampellini reported that Oaklawn will not begin a search for a new permanent race caller until after the meet ends. Closing day at Oaklawn is May 6.

Stauffer began calling races at Oaklawn in 2017, and was the sixth full-time track announcer in the track's history. In a racecalling career that dates back to 1985, Stauffer had called races at tracks including Hollywood Park, Gulfstream Park, Hialeah, Golden Gate Fields and Garden State Park.

On arrival in Las Vegas to compete in the National Horseplayers Championship, Stauffer told HRN he wanted to focus on his handicapping for the contest, and he politely declined requests for an interview.