‘You couldn’t script it’: Mooroopna local prepares to call Melbourne Cup

And the same can be said for racing.

Even if superstar mare Winx, legendary greyhound Fernando Bale or even old-school champion pacer Gammalite were in action, predicting what is about to transpire in a race is never a sure thing. You can’t script what is about to happen.

And the same can be said when summing up the extraordinary career path of race caller Daniel Hibberd.

It has been a remarkable rise through the grades for the Mooroopna local.

From calling maidens at the Cobram Harness Racing Club, to the upcoming bright lights of Group One racing at Sandown Park on Friday night — where he will call the “the world’s greatest greyhound race”.

“It’s been a crazy 12 months,” Hibberd said as he recalled his journey.

“I’ve been really blessed and lucky over the past two years. You couldn’t script the journey I’ve been on.”

When tracing back over his career, Hibberd’s love for racing was sparked in his junior years.

Hibberd, who hails from the southern Riverina region, spent his early life learning the ins and outs of harness racing.

“I grew up involved in trots and I guess that’s where my passion for race calling started,” he said.

“But I never pursued my ambition.”

Years went by before he finally grabbed the binoculars and stepped behind the microphone.

In his late 20s, Hibberd got the chance to dip his toes in the water at the annual Melbourne Cup Day meeting at Cobram.

After spending almost a decade calling the one-off meeting, it wasn’t until 2019 when Hibberd finally locked in a regular spot calling harness trials at the track.

His script was starting to gain traction.

Hibberd, who works in administration at Goulburn Valley Health, caught his big break last year when he was asked to race call an official TAB-listed meeting.

That was followed by a greyhound meeting at Shepparton and from there, his career flourished at a remarkable rate.

“I started off calling the Melbourne Cup Day meeting, which was just one day a year and then I did the Cobram trials for 11 months and then I got my first TAB meeting at the track,” Hibberd said.

“That came in November last year and then I got asked to do the greyhounds at Shepparton on New Year’s Eve and it just sort of went from there.”

Hibberd, who celebrates his 40th birthday on Thursday, November 25, now finds himself on the cusp of calling history.

He will jump behind the mic for the 66th edition of the G1 Melbourne Cup (515m).

“To be able to call one of the biggest greyhound races on the planet is a dream come true,” Hibberd said.

“I called the Bendigo Cup in October and that night was when I was told I would be calling the Melbourne Cup. It was a complete shock to be honest.”

Hibberd has been able to get a feel for his Sandown Park surroundings in the past fortnight by calling the heats for the cup.

His ear-catching tone was on full display in the opening heat as drama unfolded on track.

An incredible dead heat was called and Hibberd’s talent behind the mic was on full display.

Hibberd’s commentary matched the electrifying 29.40-second thriller, as he gradually reached a hair-raising crescendo when the winners hit the line.

“First and foremost, you have got to be accurate,” Hibberd said.

“But you have got to have some fun and have a bit of flair.

“Ian (McDonald) has been a massive help; he helped me improve my skills. And if I didn’t have the support of the Cobram Harness Club none of this would have happened.

“Everyone has been really supportive over the journey.”

Although the Melbourne Cup will be Hibberd’s grand final, it is by no means the end of his story.

Just like his meteoric rise in the past 12 months, Hibberd said he would let his race calling career go unscripted.

“I’m looking forward to where it ends up. I’m open to anything really.”