Whether he’s speaking of the long journey to realize his career dream, or the approach he takes to his role, Robert Geller, Woodbine’s newly-anointed thoroughbred announcer, has come to appreciate the benefits of patience.
His affinity for the sport of kings is well documented. Born in Birmingham, England, Geller, at the age of three and a half, moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia, a thoroughbred mecca that captured his attention as a young boy. His love for horse racing is rooted in the family tree, with one grandfather a former bookmaker who plied his trade in Brighton, England.

In his teen years, he pined for the chance to call races. There were moments to come where it seemed an elusive goal, but one the convivial Geller simply wouldn’t give up on.

“Over time, I’ve learned to be patient,” he said. “I needed to learn how to be that way. There are things in life that you have to wait for, but when they do come, it makes you a stronger person. There are times when you can’t help but feel, ‘I want this now.’ But, as time goes by, you understand why you need to exercise patience and why it is helpful.”

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