lDFSBorn in Melbourne in 1901, Eric Welch was educated at Melbourne HighSchool and Melbourne University, he also served in the First World War.
It was while working as a journalist with the Argus that Eric Welch was asked by radio station 3AR to call races. He soon gave up writing to become a full-time broadcaster. Welch had to teach himself the art of race-calling, but he was aided by a photographic memory and a fine radio voice. His first Melbourne Cup call was Trivalve’s victory in 1927.
In the early 1930s race-callers were forbidden by the Victorian Racing Club to operate from within racecourses as it was feared that their broadcasts were encouraging SP bookmakers. Radio stations therefore negotiated with property owners to broadcast from just off course. At Flemington, the Pioneer Hotel on Ballarat Road was a favourite broadcasting site and Welch used to call races from the back veranda, which was in direct line with the back of the winning post.
By the 1940s Welch was without peer in Victoria as a racecaller. He was also actively involved in community and charitable affairs, and served as a Justice of the Peace. Problems with his eyesight forced his retirement in 1954.
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