Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie has hired John Lies as its track announcer for the 2005 Spring Thoroughbred Season that runs April 14 through July 17.

Lies, a broadcast publicist for Santa Anita and Hollywood Park since 1999, made several guest appearances in the announcer's booth at Santa Rosa last summer on the Northern California fair circuit. His race calls impressed Churchill Downs' track announcer Luke Kruytbosch so much that he offered Lies a job as his substitute at Ellis Park in August. He also was the backup announcer to Vic Stauffer at Hollywood Park's 2004 Autumn Meeting.

"After listening to numerous tapes from race callers across the country, we immediately recognized John Lies as a future star among track announcers," said Lone Star Park's Vice-President and General Manager Jeff Greco. "John has a precise, straight-forward delivery that we think will appeal to both the everyday horseplayer and the casual fan. We look forward to John becoming the new voice of Lone Star Park."

Lies (pronounced Lees) also has experience as an assistant trainer, racing official, writer, handicapper, television analyst and radio personality. In addition to announcing at Lone Star, Lies will host the track's replay show, provide handicapping analysis and write a weekly column.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be given an opportunity to call races at a racetrack like Lone Star Park," Lies said. "I've been around horse racing my entire life and this is what I've always wanted to do."