Rick Mocklin

Rick Mocklin

Rick Mocklin has been involved in the Thoroughbred racing industry for 39 years in a number of capacities. In 1974, he was the youngest track announcer in the country when he announced his first race at Jefferson Downs in Kenner, Louisiana at the age of 17. "I had just graduated from Chalmette High School in May and got a chance to announcer a few races the first week in September. “I was hired as the full time track announcer on September 10th, 20 days shy of my 18th birthday. I'm proud to say that I was a member of the Jefferson Downs family until it closed in November of 1992." Since then, Rick has announced at a number of race tracks around the country, including the New Orleans Fair Grounds, and has also worked as a Director of Communications, on-track television host, handicapper and odds maker. Currently Rick is working as a jockey's agent and manages the careers of jockey Richard Eramia and formerly had the book of Leandro Goncalves. "The race track has given me a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things and meet a lot of different people. Working for Richard and Leandro has allowed me to stay in Louisiana on a year-round basis while they ride at the Fair Grounds in the winter and Louisiana Downs in the summer." Rick Mocklin is returning for the fourth consecutive year to emcee and host the Louisiana Italian American Sports Hall of Fame banquet and awards presentations to be held this January. Mocklin, 56 years-old, is a native New Orleanian with deep Louisiana - Italian family heritage. "It is a privilege to be the host of this prestigious event which honors a number of Italian-Americans that have achieved great success in their respective professions, whether it be civic, musical, social or sports." Rick was recently inducted into the St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments, contributions and dedication to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. Rick was officially inducted in March of 2012, and for only the second time in the history of the St. Bernard Sports Hall of Fame, was the lone inductee.