Winning Ponies: Recent Episodes
John Engelhardt
On the show we will talk about the Sport of Kings. We will delve into the different features of the WinningPonies.com website. John Engelhardt will talk about the issues of the day that affect horse racing, such as synthetic surfaces, medication rule changes, the fate of the industry as a whole, VLTs and Casinos, and human interest stories of triumph and defeat. You will also hear our spot play of the week, where John will handicap the feature races for the upcoming weekend, and will give out his best plays. We will keep you abreast racing’s big events. Featured on the show will be guests (trainers, jockeys, owners, celebrity handicappers and industry insiders). Promotional giveaways will be featured, such as brand merchandise and free WinningCredits. Winning Ponies is broadcast live every Thursday at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
Jay Privman joined Daily Racing Form in 1998, covering the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. After establishing himself as one of the sport’s leading writers, his association with racing will change dramatically as Jay recently announced his retirement with DRF. Normally during Breeders’ Cup season, we would seek him out for a guest appearance in between deadlines or television rehearsals. This year we had to wait until the Padres/Phillies game was over as he was taking in “America’s Pastime” rather than the “Sport of Kings.” We’ll let Jay take us down memory lane, lined with outstanding horses, races and horsemen he got to cover over his decades. Jay is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions, and is a six-time winner of the Red Smith Award for best Kentucky Derby story, among numerous other writing honors. Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey, has been a racing fan since the mid 1970s. He graduated from Rutgers University, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually landed at Daily Racing Form. He and his wife, Karen, moved to Lexington, Ky. in 1994, and have been there since. Mr. LaMarra had been the News Editor of The Blood-Horse magazine for more than 10 years. He is an award-winning writer and is currently Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Director of Communications and Backstretch Services. As we parse the possibilities for the Breeders' Cup, the graded-stakes calendar, Keeneland and the Belmont at Aqueduct meet offer a handful of graded stakes this weekend. Front and center this week is Laurel Park as they host the Maryland Million Classic, the second biggest race in the state. This day is filled to the brim with full fields competing in 12 races, eight of them stakes, starting at 11:30 a.m. – an opportune day to cash in a Big ‘Un with your E-Z Win Forms! Tom will select his favorite races of the day and join John to analyze each on the show.
Our first guest is Nick Tammaro, who is announcer and morning-line odds maker at Sam Houston Race Park. This season he has added the morning line at Keeneland. Tammaro is very familiar with Keeneland racing, having won a handicapping contest there and placing in its Grade 1 Gamble. In addition to making the line at Sam Houston, Tammaro consulted with BetMakers on setting its fixed odds for Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey. There may be no greater challenge in setting odds than the boutique meets at the historic Lexington track. Overflow fields come from every region of the world to compete for the rich purses in various divisions on turf and dirt. It will be interesting to see how Tammaro approaches such a mind-boggling task. Tammaro, 38, a contributor of handicapping content at TwinSpires, replaces long-time odds-maker Mike Battaglia, who had made the line at Keeneland since 1974. Battaglia is still the morning-line maker at the Churchill Downs Inc. owned Kentucky properties of Turfway Park and Churchill Downs Racetrack. Vance Hanson has been an associate editor with TwinSpires.com and Brisnet.com since 2008. A member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, he previously served as a handicapper with Daily Racing Form and began his career in racing as a publicity assistant at Canterbury Park. His focus has been on Keeneland of late and the Lexington, Ky. Track will feature three graded stakes races over the weekend – a rare sight during this pre-Breeders’ Cup lull at major tracks. Vance and John will look for the horses to watch – the Keeneland payoffs have been generous. On Friday we’ll see the Grade 3 Sycamore at 1 1/2 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up. Seven runners from the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2) are entered in this overflow field, including winner Red Knight, who’s 2-for-2 this year, and Arklow, who rallied to finish second in the July 31Bowling Green (G2) in his first start of the year before finishing sixth in the Turf Cup. Saturday features the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup a G1 at 1 1/8 miles over the greensward for 3-year-oldfillies. Depending on who shows up, the invited field includes McKulick, who is 5: 2-3-0 this year with wins in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) last out and the Belmont Oaks (G1) in July. Bellabel’s second-place finish in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) was her first loss of the year after wins in the Blue Norther and San Clemente (G2). Cairo Memories is looking for her first win since back-to-back victories in the Providencia (G3) and Honeymoon (G3). On Sunday fast fillies go on the grass in the Franklin (G3), at 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. Major players include Change of Control who had finished no worse than fourth in her last nine wins before her ninth-place finish last out in the Presque Isle Masters (G2) and Twilight Gleaming, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner, who has an 8: 5-3-0 career record and is coming off 2 straight wins.
The Record-Setting Keeneland Fall Meet Begins Friday with Fall Stars Weekend and laying out the schedule for us all is Amy Owens longtime veteran as Keeneland Communications Associate. Get out your calendars as Amy will layout the highlights and wagering options for Keeneland’s Fall Meet, which opens Friday for 17 days through Saturday, Oct. 29. The season precedes the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which Keeneland will host Nov. 4-5 for the third time. Get out your E-Z Win Forms because during the Fall Meet, Keeneland will offer 22 stakes worth a record $8.9 million! Big bets are not going to hurt your odds. The season opens with the three-day Fall Stars Weekend, which features 11 stakes, including nine “Win and You’re In” events, with total purses of $5.45 million. Post time for the first race each day of the Fall Meet is 1 p.m. ET. As Keeneland Communications Associate, Amy Owens assists Keeneland’s Communications Department with a variety of projects related to races and sales. Her days start early and she does an outstanding job giving us the inside scoop on all of the top connections. Owens, who hails from St. Charles, Missouri, is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. She most recently worked as a freelance writer and editor, handling a variety of assignments for publications, organizations and farms in the racing industry. She has assisted in managing Keeneland’s press box since 2006 and serves as editor of the track’s race-day program wrap. Byron King is currently the Associate Editor at the Blood-Horse. He will become a very familiar face around the track as Keeneland will present its star-studded fields competing on “Fall Stars All Stars Weekend.” No sooner will he hit the “send” button on his last weekend story, will he head out the door to start on the Breeders’ Cup preview coverage – it all happens at Keeneland. Byron will join John in analyzing a few select races from an extensive menu of quality competitors.
Kentucky Derby winning trainer Eric Reed will once again join the show. He’ll tell us about the challenges that Rich Strike has taken on since his triumphant Run for the Roses. “Richie” has left the comfortable confines of Reed’s Mercury Training Center and is bedded down at Churchill Downs to take his game up a notch facing older horses for the first time. Eric will talk about the progress “Richie” has taken since his return to Louisville and the deep field he will be meeting in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic on Saturday that includes the extremely talented Hot Rod Charlie and Happy Saver after their solid efforts in the Whitney. Eric Wing is not only the Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, but a man who has been known to cash in on a few tourneys himself. We’ll be putting him to the test in our handicapping segment. It looks like a great weekend for tourneys and an excellent time to go for the “Big ‘Uns using the WinningPonies E-Z Win Forms.
Richard Eng covers the Horse Racing industry. Handicapping for Dummies is one of the many handicapping books he wrote. He also is a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form. Rich will give us a “final edit update” on his revisions of the popular “Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies,” a must-have book he penned for teaching anyone about the basics of the racing game. Rich will join John to review the unbelievable card that Parx will present on Saturday. You'll need your E-Z Win Forms as opportunities abound. The 13-race day kicks off at 12:05 pm and features 10 stakes races! There will be five consecutive graded stakes headed up by star-studded line-ups in the afternoon’s feature races. Cyberknife and Taiba, separated by a head in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park, head a field of 11 3-year-olds entered Monday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. In addition to Cyberknife and Taiba, the field includes two additional Grade 1 winners - Zandon and White Abarrio. Secret Oath, the Kentucky Oaks winner, will face eight opponents but will not have to face her recent nemesis, Nest in the Grade 1, $1million Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies. Secret Oath, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, is coming into the race off back-to-back runner-up finishes to Nest in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama. The connections of Nest did not want to cut back to 1 1/16 miles and are looking at either the Grade 2 Beldame on Oct. 9 or training up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 5. Joe Nevills, Bloodstock Editor of The Paulick Report, will take a well-deserved break from the seemingly endless stream of eye-catching thoroughbreds making their way to the Keeneland Sales Pavilion over the past week. With 2,180 yearlings sold so far, we’ll just ask Joe to weigh in on a few of the many million-dollar babies. Cumulatively, 2,180 yearlings have sold through the ring for $389,605,000, an increase of 14.69 percent over the same period last year when 2,125 horses sold through the ring for $339,691,500. Average price of $178,718 is up 11.80 percent from $159,855 in 2021, while the median of $100,000 is 11.11 percent above last year’s $90,000. This year’s sale has 12 sessions compared to 11 sessions in 2021, and it ain’t over yet folks. The September Sale runs through Saturday. Those who follow Joe on Facebook are often treated to his real-life adventures. One that caught our eye was his search for an aging horse called Mary Murphy, named after his grandmother. After reading about the trail her life took after racing and the outcome of his search for her, has all the elements of an upcoming feature with the Joe Nevills byline.
The best racing on the thoroughbred calendar this weekend is north of the border at Woodbine. The 12-race action starts at 1:10 and will feature no less than four graded stakes. Talk about inside information, we will be joined by the Head Clocker, Ernie Perri. The horses going to post on Saturday have mostly been based at the Woodbine ovals where he has had the opportunity to intimately observe their morning routine. Ernie will share his observations and let us know how he settled on his morning line odds for these very contentious races. Ernie has been a horse racing enthusiast and handicapper most of his adult life. So, it was natural that he became a clocker over 15 years ago. He moved on to Head Clocker 10 years ago at Woodbine. He also has been the morning Line odds maker for over 10 years. Currently he is the official Racing Analyst for Woodbine Entertainment. We will again get a visit from one of the real, good guys in the game. After establishing the now landmark farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. Visiting the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland? Put “Old Friends” on your to-do events in Kentucky. Michael always throws a wonderful get-together open to the public the day after the BC and he will fill us in on the details. Old Friends' founder and President Michael Blowen discovered his unique bond with Thoroughbreds while working as a volunteer groom at Suffolk Downs during the 1990s, eventually buying and racing a small stable of claiming-level horses before leaving his position as Arts & Entertainment reporter and film critic for The Boston Globe to become operations director for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. That move to Kentucky gave Michael an even greater appreciation for plight of older, displaced Thoroughbreds and led him to the idea of creating a permanent retirement home in the Bluegrass for horses who need a place to go when their working days are over.
Our first guest is Robbie Davis' daughter jockey Jackie Davis (need bio which I will write.) Our second guest Southern California Railbird Tweeter Tom Quigley will be giving us the West Coast Update.
They say there is no such thing as a sure thing. One thing we are sure of, is that another historic meet at Saratoga, comes to a conclusion over Labor Day. And with that closing comes the shuttering of the office door at the Saratoga Special and our annual “end of the meet” interview with Tom Law. The President of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters publishes the widely read publication with two other Eclipse Award winners – the Clancy brothers Joe and Sean. Tom will share his reflections on their favorite stories they gleaned from their early morning rounds on the backstretch and winner’s circle jubilations. It was a season that may have crowned a 3-year-old champion and saw Jackie’s Warrior sadly see his named added to the chapter of Saratoga lore titled, “Graveyard of Champions.” The show’s not over yet folks! Great quality racing opportunities abound through Labor Day at the Spa and Tom will join John to go over the top selections of the remaining stakes.
DRF’s Dan Illman will join us for Travers Day coverage. A popular Winningponies guest, Dan is one of the most widely watched handicappers on the internet through his drf.com platform. Almost daily, he matches wits with Mike Beer for interesting angles and observations of the Race of the Day. There is no doubt what the race of the day will be on Saturday as Saratoga presents the 153rd running of the Travers Stakes. Trainer Eric Reed joined us last week and wasn’t surprised that Rich Strike will be a longshot once again. The Kentucky Derby winner at odds of 80-1, Rich Strike drew post 2 and was made the 10-1 sixth choice in the field of eight entered Tuesday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers at Saratoga, a race where Epicenter, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up, was made the 7-5 favorite on David Aragona’s morning-line. “That’s fair,” Eric said of his odds. “His running style makes him hard to pick no matter what. He’s got all the speed in the world, but for whatever reason he wants to spot these horses.” Epicenter has already proven he can handle Saratoga’s main track, having taken the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here on July 30. Epicenter is still seeking his first victory in a Grade 1 stakes. Cyberknife, the lone dual Grade 1 winner in the 3-year-old division, drew the rail for the Travers. He had that same post when he won the Grade 1 Haskell, setting a stakes and track record for 1 1/8 miles. The Travers undercard includes four Grade 1's topped by the Sword Dancer and DRF’s David Grening posted this thumbnail outline of these top races. First contested in 1864, the Travers is the oldest race for 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the United States. It has been won by numerous immortals of the sport, including Man o’ War, Twenty Grand, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Gallant Man, Buckpasser, Damascus, and Holy Bull, among others. The race’s 150th renewal will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course. Brien Bouyea is the Hall of Fame and Communications Director at the National Museum of Racing and he will join the show again to put a spotlight on Saturday’s “Mid-Summer Derby,” the race that traditionally draws the best 3-year-olds in training to test their mettle again at 1 ¼ miles. Prior to joining the Museum, Bouyea spent 10 years working as a sports writer and editor at the Troy Record and The Saratogian, where he won numerous national and state writing awards. He is co-author of “The Travers: 150 Years of Saratoga’s Greatest Race,” along with Michael Veitch. “The Travers” was a finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. Bouyea is also the sports editor for Saratoga Living magazine, writing mostly about horse racing and Capital Region sports. He has also done work for New York Horse magazine and the Albany Times Union. He enjoys photography, is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, and basically lives at Saratoga Race Course from mid-July through Labor Day when he isn’t in the Museum.
Joe Kristufek is a self-proclaimed horse racing ambassador, and fan development has always been his passion. In addition to serving as the Churchill Downs paddock host, Kristufek is also the host for the Fair Grounds during the winter season. Joe will be making a rare mid-August appearance on Saturday as Churchill Downs is keeping the spirit of tradition alive by hosting the Arlington Million, a race that would have disappeared with the closing of Arlington Park. It will certainly be a rare and unique day as the virgin turf course will play host to the feature races of the day – The Grade1 $500,000 Beverly D. for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 on the greensward and the legend-making Grade 1 $1,000,000 Arlington Million for 3-year-old males at 9 furlongs on the turf. As always, both races have attracted a cast of international competition. Joe will share his thoughts on these races and any other catch his eye on this inaugural edition of the Arlington Million presented by and at Churchill Downs. Terry Meyocks is currently the National Manager of the Jockeys' Guild Inc. Saratoga is the “summer place to be for racing enthusiasts and that’s where we will find him this week. Terry will update us on current issues that the Guild is facing, including the maze of requirements HISA has invoked on the sport, particularly race riding. There is apparent nation-wide confusion as to how new rules of race riding under HISA restrictions are to be applied and enforced. We’ll see how the Guild is responding to this and a myriad of topics that effect the riders. Terry’s experience in the sport was garnered through almost every facet of the industry. In 2004 Meyocks was named Vice-President for the NTRA Racing & Industry Memberships. In December of 1996 he was named Chief Operating Officer of New York Racing Association and remained with NYRA until April of 2004. Prior to that Meyocks was hired in 1979 as Racing Secretary for Calder Race Course, then in 1991 was hired at Gulfstream Park to become Director of Racing and he stayed at both tracks until 1993. Other tracks where he served in different capacities include Oakland Park, Arlington Park, Hawthorne, Churchill Downs, Hialeah Park, Delaware and Liberty Bell.
Frank Angst is the features editor for the Blood-Horse. He also knows his way around the tracks he covers and the shortest route to a betting window. He’s not afraid to give his opinion on a horse and back it. Frank will join the show to give his analysis of another sensational card that will be presented on Saturday, with no less than five stakes races, four of them graded. The “main event” if there is one, would be the $1,000,000 Whitney for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. The obvious “good thing” would be now-trained Todd Pletcher charge Life Is Good, a freakishly fast son of Into Mischief who sports a near-perfect lifetime record and earnings of $3,551,700. But hold on a second you chalk-searching souls – this is a talented field and we are, after all, at Saratoga. A sizeable field will go on the greensward at 1 3/16ths mile Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational. The top four finishers of the Belmont Derby will enter the starting gate for a rematch. The front end of this all-stakes pick-3 is the Longines Test. It is hard to make a case against Matareya who is undefeated in four career starts this year. The Brad Cox trainee has made picture perfect progression in 2022 with an allowance win followed by wins in a Grade 3-2-1. Only the curse of Saratoga looks like it will stop this filly. Jockey Julio Felix is a name you should be familiar with if you have been a fan of racing in the Midwest over the past two decades. A natural born athlete from a family of ten, he was raised in the Virgin Islands – not the most smoothly paved road to success in the U.S. Growing up his sport of choice was baseball, where he rose to be the starting pitcher representing the Virgin Islands against rival Puerto Rico. That game outgrew him, and his size and athleticism fit the saddle perfectly. Julio has a wonderful story of overcoming challenges as a young rider, but with his talent apparent, he was chosen to ride in the most prestigious Governor’s Cup of St. Croix/St. Thomas for his first career victory! Since then, he has been looked upon as a beloved success story and sports hero by the people of the Virgin Islands. Felix was part of a three-man triumvirate along with owner/breeder Ron McKay and trainer Mike Nance that won over 100 stakes races among his 3,355 career victories and nine riding titles at Thistledown. Felix moved his family to the Chicago area where he made a good living riding primarily at Arlington Park. Julio will not only discuss his career in racing, but the impact the closing of Arlington Park has had on his life and many others in aspects of the game who called the Chicago circuit their home.
If you have ever glanced at a racing publication, odds are good you have seen some of the work of Barbara D. Livingston. She is the Chief Photographer for the Daily Racing Form, has won six Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Photography and is the author of seven books. As if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, she has taken it upon herself to preserve the historical photo/negative collection of some of racing’s earliest equine photographers. Barbara will join us after a day at her home base of Saratoga. She gets to the track before the sun rises and edits her work long into the evening. We’ll discuss her evolution as a photographer and the great collection of racing’s legends she has assembled. If you do take a trip to Saratoga this meet, visit the National Museum of Racing where Barbara has loaned her collection of the Jim Raftery for display. Raftery photographed many of the greats in thoroughbred racing during his career, including Hall of Fame members such as Bold Ruler, Kelso, Nashua, Swaps, James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, John Veitch, Bill Hartack, Bill Shoemaker, and many more. Ed Meyer is not only a professional odds-maker, he’s had a knack for finding a horse that is a money maker against his projected odds. We’ll let “The Fellow Who Bellows at Belterra” cherry-pick a few races that will have big pools where big bets won’t shift the odds much (Time to pull down the E-Z Win Forms). The Grade 2 Jim Dandy has a field that is just that. Three horses that competed well in the Kentucky Derby (Epicenter (2nd); Zandon (3rd) and Tawney Port (7th)) are in the field and set to meet them is Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting. The Grade 1 Alfred Vanderbilt should see champion Jackie’s Warrior cast in the role of the heavy favorite…which isn’t always a good thing at Saratoga.
Richard Eng is the author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies. For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Rich is a frequent guest on the show and was very informative over the months about the scene at his home base of Las Vegas. He vividly described the changes the town went through during the pandemic. Things are sunnier there now and the Del Mar summer meeting begins Friday. Del Mar is offering record overnight purses this year, as well as an enhanced bonus program for horses shipped to the state from other circuits. The boutique meet starts with the Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds trying the turf and it has drawn a full field. Rich will select his top contenders in this race filled with numerous betting opportunities. Back east it is Haskell Day at Monmouth Park, with a sensational card that features five graded stakes! Rich and John will discuss the Haskell itself that features two young eye-catching colts. The current “Best of the West” – Tiaba ships in to challenge “The Beast from the East” – Jack Christopher. It could be a race for the ages and will have championship implications. Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year and a leading sire, will begin covering mares for the Southern Hemisphere season. Three Chimneys is exploring the Southern Hemisphere market with its top sire, Gun Runner , without physically shuttling this year's leading second-crop sire overseas. Tom Hamm, director of stallion nominations for Three Chimneys, confirmed a report by Thoroughbred Daily News. He said Gun Runner will stand the season at the central Kentucky farm for a fee of $75,000. Tom will join the show to explain how this unique scheduling process works at the farm and what it is like to have such a valued stallion standing at Three Chimneys.
Who are we to break with tradition? Tom Law will make his annual rite of summer by appearing on Winning Ponies. It’s opening week of the long-awaited race meet at historic Saratoga! No team does a better job at creating the feel of a day under the ancient elms than Tom and the Clancy brothers – Joe and Sean. And no publication intimately tells stories about the people, their horses, the day’s racing amid the atmosphere of Saratoga than the “Saratoga Special.” Joining us immediately after the opening day of racing, Tom will discuss the on-going production and coverage planned for the meet. Known to make a wager on the speed of a steed, he will join John to look at the fields for the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple; Grade 3 Sanford and Grade 1 Diana Stakes featuring the undefeated Bleeker Street. Ron Flatter will be joining us to recall he life of the legendary broadcaster, gambler and horseplayer Hank “The Hammer” Goldberg I remembered in his special, pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Guests include former ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne, producers Steve Nagler and Kris Kugler and TV director Bob Fishman. Hank Goldberg was a bombastic and witty sports talk radio and television personality in Miami who became nationally known for handicapping horse races and N.F.L. games on ESPN, died on the 4th of July his 82nd birthday, at his home in Las Vegas. As a former resident of Las Vegas himself, Flatter has more than four decades of sports journalism experience spanning four networks on two continents, longtime national broadcaster and writer Ron Flatter came to Horse Racing Nation in 2020, and is now the managing editor with his move to Louisville in the spring of 2021. With horse racing part of his duties at nearly every stop of his career, Flatter has covered nearly every Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup since 2007, missing only the 2020 races because of the pandemic. He has also covered multiple runnings of the Pegasus World Cup, the Arlington Million and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in addition to assignments at the Dubai World Cup, British Champion Stakes and the Melbourne Cup.
J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, handicapper, and horse racing historian who counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite racehorse. He is an avid collector of horse racing books and writes regularly for Bloodhorse.com, TwinSpires, Horse Racing Nation, and America's Best Racing. He will be our first guest. Brien Bouyea is the Hall of Fame and Communications Director at the National Museum of Racing, a position he has held since 2010. Prior to joining the Museum, Bouyea spent 10 years working as a sports writer and editor at the Troy Record and The Saratogian, where he won numerous national and state writing awards. He is the author of two books: “Bare Knuckles and Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey” and co-author of “The Travers: 150 Years of Saratoga’s Greatest Race,” along with Michael Veitch. “The Travers” was a finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. Bouyea is also the sports editor for Saratoga Living magazine, writing mostly about horse racing and Capital Region sports. He has also done work for New York Horse magazine and the Albany Times Union. He enjoys photography, is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, and basically lives at Saratoga Race Course from mid-July through Labor Day when he isn’t in the Museum.
Kevin Kilroy is currently anchored in Louisville at Churchill Downs, where they will provide the on-track fireworks this Holiday weekend. The two-time National Horseplayers Championship qualifier will join John to analyze three stakes on Saturday. In the Grade 2 Stephen Foster, official 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun will return to the site of his greatest victory where he hopes to bounce back from a disappointing ninth-place effort in the rich Saudi Cup. Two of the most consistent distaffers racing today, will square off in the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis. The headstrong Shedaresthedevil ($2,513,458) will perform her “dare you to run with me” style, against the likes of Pauline’s Pearl ($1,504,200) who has already recorded a Grade 1 win at Churchill this year. With 15 graded stakes scheduled for the 4th of July weekend, we thought we’d bring in our favorite handicapper, Ed Meyer who monitors racing from the harness tracks of the Netherlands to the match races at Cajun Downs in Louisiana. Perhaps the marquee matchup of the weekend will take place in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park. The sensational Life Is Good ($3,414,200) is looking for a return to his winning ways after a fourth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. Waiting for him is Speaker’s Corner ($672,130), a grade 1 winner who is 3 for 3 at the 7-furlong distance. Also on the handicapping menu is the Grade 2 Princess Rooney and Grade 3 Smile Sprint from Gulfstream Park.
Our good friend Jennie Rees made the following observation about our first guest on winningponies, “Dave Basler sees betting on table tennis in Asia and envisions it being replaced with horse racing in America's burgeoning sports books.” “We can fill that void a lot of times during the day so that they don't have to play table tennis from China or cricket from Australia–things that people have no idea about,” Basler, the executive director of the Ohio HBPA, said in March during a session of the National HBPA Conference at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. “That's not just attractive to sports books, that's attractive to horsemen and racetracks for the opportunity to increase our revenue.” “Pari-mutuel wagering is not going to be in the sports books,” Basler said. “Fixed-odds wagering will be. So we need to take advantage of that ability to bring in customers and get our product in front of millions and millions of potential new fans.” Basler said fixed odds could make “an unbettable race now a bettable race.” “There's a graded-stakes race with six horses and a 3-5 shot in there,” he said. “There's a good chance the bookmaker will take the 3-5 shot out of the pool entirely and price everybody else as if that horse weren't in the race. There are a lot of things that we don't have the ability in parimutuel pools that fixed odds can offer and perhaps enhance our product.” In addition to Basler’s views on fixed odds wagering we’ll ask him about the horsemen’s reaction to the new Horsemens' Integrity and Safety Act. The National HBPA held a national zoom conference earlier this week concerning HISA and its looming registration deadline among other new rules they would expect to see in place. The Ohio Derby itself presents a great opportunity for handicappers, with no less than three horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby in the field. The cast of competitors includes jockeys Tyler Gafflione, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brian Hernandez. Jr., Raphael Bejarano and Kendrick Caramouche plus trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Brad Cox, Ken McPeek, Joseph Saffies, Jr. and Mike Maker. The supporting races on Saturday the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline (field of10) and two Ohio-bred stakes – the $75,000 George Lewis Memorial (field of 13) and $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup (field of 8). Saturday is the biggest day on the Ohio racing calendar as Thistledown presents the $500,000 Gr. 3 Ohio Derby, serving as the headliner for four consecutive stakes on the card. Rich Ruda will make his annual winningponies appearance. Rich is a familiar face to fans of Thistledown as he hosted the on-air handicapping show for over a decade and he is familiar to horsemen through his work in the racing office who put together a highly competitive racing program with betting angles galore (time to pull down our E-Z Win Forms)!
Our first batter will be Handicapper Eric Wing. We will discuss the eventful Triple Crown season. Now that the Triple Crown is over, Mark Gill, Dean of School of Business, Equine and Sport Management will be our second guest. His discussion with John will center around Midway U., historical connection to the Equine Industry and the new career program that Mark Gill offers.
It is a stellar Saturday at Belmont Park. There will be eight Grade 1 races with “The Test of the Champion,” the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes, serving as the headliner. Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of the 3-year-olds. He’s getting no respect from the majority of the East Coast media and was installed at odds of 7-2 morning line and may go higher at post time. We are bringing on an integral part of the story and the observations of a national handicapper to weigh in on the $1.5 million Classic. Eric Reed, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, was on “The Regular Guy Radio Show” on winningponies.com before and after the Kentucky Derby. A man of his word, Eric has returned to tell us about the rapid development of his muscular chestnut colt. After Eric’s post-Derby decision to rest his classic winner and point to the Belmont, Rich Strike has returned to training with vigor. We’ll get an up-to-the-minute report - straight from the horse trainer's mouth. We’ve engaged the handicapping talents of Byron King, Associate Editor of the Blood-Horse, who has been tracking the 3-year-olds through his “Derby Dozen” column. He’ll need only come up with a “Belmont Eight” on Saturday, but an interesting eight it is, with theories of the race pace scenario dominating press box conversation. We’ve engaged the handicapping talents of Byron King,Associate Editor of the Blood-Horse, who has been tracking the 3-year-oldsthrough his “Derby Dozen” column. He’ll need only come up with a “Belmont Eight” on Saturday, but an interesting eight it is, with theories of the race pace scenario dominating press box conversation. While the Belmont is “The Race of the Champion,” Byron will weigh in on several the championship match-ups that will take place leading up to the Belmont. We’ll see the multi-million-dollar earning mare Letruska take on the newly-turned 4-year-old Malathaatin the Ogden Phipps. Champion Echo Zulu faded to fourth in the Kentucky Oaks and will be shortening up to a mile in the Acorn, while 3-year-old sensation Matareya stretches out to the distance. Flightline will fly in for a rare appearance. The $1 million dollar baby has shown brilliance in every start, though he has only made three in his career. His speed figures have been through the roof, but the well-seasoned Speaker’s Corner comes into the race off three straight graded stakes wins while recoding 102+ Beyer Speed Figures.
All eyes will be on the Ohio Breds competing for a half a million dollars in the Best of Ohio Stakes. We brought back Ed Meyer the previous host of this show in a long career in Racing. He will give us his insight into the action tomorrow Friday at Belterra Park formally known as River Downs.
Ron Flatter has covered the Kentucky Derby since 2007 as a paddock reporter for ESPN Radio, which won an Eclipse Award (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_Award (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Derby)) for its 2009 broadcast. He’s been covering the Triple Crown this season and his observations can be read daily in Horse Racing Nation. We’ll ask Ron to share his most vivid memories of the first two jewels of racing’s 3-year-old season and how he sees things developing as we head for “The test of the Champion” in the Belmont Stakes. A man with international bloodlines that has covered famous sporting events from around the globe, Flatter will have plenty to share about his live in various aspects of the media. From Australia to America, his career has led him from homes in California, New York and now nestled in the hear of bluegrass country. He has also covered every Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup ( since 2007 and every Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Arlington Million ) since2008. Flatter also covered the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa (, both for ESPN Radio and RSN927.) Additional assignments for Flatter have included the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles (1984), and Winter Olympics both in Salt Lake City (2002) and Vancouver (2010) plus coverage of Usain Bolt ’s world records in the IAAF World Championships at Berlin (2009). Tom Dawson, our Quarter Horse specialist, will be our guest handicapper. Some of the season’s best action will take place this Saturday at Remington Park. They will be playing host to many of the “Stars of Tomorrow” presenting 10 stakes races worth $2.5 million, with purses ranging from $30,000 to $250,000. So pull down those E-Z Win Forms from winningponies, listen to the picks provided by “The King of the Quarters” and play your best bets with Bet-US.com for guaranteed payouts.
We have a plethora of Stakes races from Pimlico on both Friday and Saturday to handicap, so come on over and pull down your E-Z Win Forms, listen to the broadcast/podcast guests and dial up your Bet-U-S account and enjoy the action. The Grade 1 $1.5 million Preakness Stakes on Saturday is the focal point of the weekend. The 14 race card starts at 10:30 a.m. and in addition to the Preakness the afternoon offers three Grade 3 stakes, with the Preakness followed by the Grade1 UAE President’s Cup for Arabians. While Epicenter will be the center of attention at the betting windows, legitimate contenders will enter the starting gate including the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath. Whoever you land on, your wagering opportunities expand over the two day racing fest with the popular Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness Double. Friday showcases three Grade 3 races supporting the Grade 2 $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan. With thirteen 3-year-old fillies entered, there should be odds to your liking. They will be looking for a chink in the armor of Adore Manner, who is a Bob Baffert transfer that was most recently seen running a game 2nd in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. We are bringing in two award-winning racing writers to help unravel this ball of racing yarn – Tom Law and Bob “Railbird” Roberts. Tom Law Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times. He joined the team of Sean and Joe Clancy in early 2013. Law, a native of Saratoga Springs, is currently the President of the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters, which he served as president of from 2006 to 2012. The former longtime managing editor for Thoroughbred Times, Law was recognized in 2011 with the Eclipse Award in the Multimedia/Internet category for coverage of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup. Bob “Railbird” Roberts a native Clevelander who grew up in Willowick, an eastern suburb. He knew he wanted to be a sportswriter when his father took him to an Indians game and he asked who those guys were typing on a counter top behind home plate in the upper deck of old Municipal Stadium. “They’re sportswriters,” said his dad, “that's their job.” Roberts began his career at the Mentor Morning Monitor before heading over to The News Herald where he was named sports editor in 1970 at the age of 22. Roberts was hired by The Cleveland Press in 1973 and returned to The News Herald when The Press folded in1982. The Cleveland Plain Dealer hired Bob in 1985 and he remained there for over 20 years before accepting a buyout in 2006. Roberts is a multiple award winning writer who has covered racing for the Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer for over 40 years. His duties included his daily selections. Roberts covered every Kentucky Derby from Secretariat to Barbaro and is an avid handicapping contest participant.
Only one podcast featured trainer Eric Reed BEFORE the Kentucky Derby – Winninponies. After the Run for the Roses, Eric stopped his State Trooper escort to come over to our host John Engelhardt. Giving each other a big bearhug, Eric said, “My Man! I’ll be on your show this week too.” A man of his word, no matter how swamped he is with the media camped out along the entrance to his Mercury Training Facility, he will be our first guest. It's only a short time before movie producers are wrestling over the rights to “The Rich Strike Story.” We’ll let Eric describe his early years with his wife Kay and the building blocks to their success at blue-collar tracks to the creation of their Mercury Training Facility, the tragic fire where they lost 23 horses, and the shot in the arm they got from horsemen around to country to rebuild their facility. Oh yes, there’s a great story about winning the Kentucky Derby Eric needs to tell us about too! This year’s Kentucky Derby was a point in time for the spotlight to shine on many of “the little guys” that make the racing game a great one. Our second guest will be making a return appearance, Jeff Perrin is the agent for Derby winning jockey Sonny Leon. Relatively an unknown until Saturday, Leon, 32, is a native of Venezuela and rides regularly in Ohio at Belterra Park and Mahoning Valley where he has earned multiple riding titles. The Kentucky Derby was Leon’s first graded stakes win. Since coming to the United States in 2015, Leon has won 770 races from 5,176 mounts with purse earnings of more than $15 million. Jeff Perrin is an interesting story in himself. A native of Australia, we’ll learn how he became involved in the sport and his years long relationship with Sonny.
It's here! Kentucky Derby and Oaks days, let the racing begin. Two solid days of high stakes racing with the best competitors from around the world assembled beneath the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. Well, we have assembled a top trio of nationally recognized handicappers representing every region of the U.S. to weigh in on their selections. First up will be TVG’s west coast-based Rich Perloff, who will deliver his opinions with the succinct style he developed back in his days as a college professor. Not assigned to any specific geographic area of the racing circuit, Rich is called upon to cover racing from coast to coast and passes along his observations with solid rationale. His ability to put horses from all points on the map in a place where they will compete together will be put to the test in the days ahead. Dan Illman of the Daily Racing Form will not be sipping Mint Juleps from Millionaire’s Row while picking the ponies this weekend and will be our second guest. He will be piloting the DRF starship from his New York base where he produces an array of video analysis of all the major racing with his handicapping partner Mike Beer(seen on DRF.com). While he was raised on Big Apple racing, he has no problem taking a few bites off the buffet of healthy race action from around the country. We would be remiss not to include a Kentucky-based handicapper to round out our trifecta of prognosticators and former Winningponies host Ed Meyer will put on his hard boots and wade into the waters and come up with a few “big ones.” A player in the Bluegrass since he could steal daily double money from his father’s coat pocket, Ed will bring his many years of expertise to the table for these two huge days of betting opportunity. With the pools that will be overinflated from money around the world, there is no better chance to score on some real “value” odds that will be available throughout the two days of non-stop quality racing at Churchill Downs. So listen to the experts opinions, combine those with betting strategies garnered from the E-Z Win Forms at winningponies.com and play as you please with the proven mainstay in the industry, Bet-U-S dot com. You bet. You win. You get paid.
?Eric Reed is a lifetime horseman from a family of horsemen. His father Herbert trained for over 40 years apprenticing under the guidance of Mack Miller. Eric has trained since 1983 and has grown up with horses his entire life. The racing game has provided Eric and his wife Kay with unique, potentially career changing situations – none like the one they face in the days ahead. Like a kid waiting to get picked for a spot on the school yard baseball team, Eric is on the outside looking in, hoping to get in the Kentucky Derby game with his 3-year-old colt Rich Strike who sits three horses deep on the also-eligible list. What’s most amazing is not the fact that he has a Derby hopeful, it’s the fact that he is still in the racing game at all. In 2016, a devastating fire swept through one of the main barns at their Mercury Training Center and the Reed’s lost 23 thoroughbreds in the tragedy. Facing a mound of financial and emotional challenges after the gut-wrenching event, the Reeds had to give thought to changing careers paths. Horsemen from all parts of the country came to the aid of the Reeds in an overwhelming display of support. Mercury Training Center has literally “risen from the ashes.” Through the on-going backing of his loyal owners, Mercury is back in business. We will talk to Eric about the rebuilding that took place at Mercury and his hopes for his graded stakes-placed Rich Strike to work into a spot in the gate for the Kentucky Derby. Rich Eng is the author of 'Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies' and can be found almost daily on Race Day Las Vegas with handicapper Ralph Siraco, their programs are broadcast live on 1400 KSHPAM and streamed live on the internet. While Rich specializes in the west coast action, come Derby time he has an international view on cashing tickets. Rich will join us on the show not only to discuss this year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks, but to talk about the project he has in re-issuing 'Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies' with an updated look at the new basic tools one has to start at the betting window. For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. You can follow him on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick and on Facebook.
Matt Bernier's style and presence on “Horseplayers” led to a position with the Daily Racing Form, evolving into several on-air hosting appearances on major broadcasts ,including a recent trip to cover the rich Saudi Cup. Bernier’s meteoric rise through his appearances on DRF.com and television experience has grown into his own show on YouTube -“The Matt Bernier Show.” It’s hard to believe that he is currently airing his Episode 112! Matt’s delivery has really hit a comfort zone where he discusses intelligently and passionately the top races he reviews and previews. This week’s show highlighted his views on the Kentucky Oaks – and that’s where the discussion will begin. There has been some outstanding racing at the Oaklawn Park Meet in 2022 and there is a delicious, Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom awaiting an extremely talented field. Over half of the abbreviated field are millionaires including two champions – Letruska and Ce Ce. Nancy Ury-Holthus does an outstanding job of preparedness for each, and every race. We’ll reflect on the season in Hot Springs and see what races left the most impression on her. In addition to examining the Apple Blossom we’ll analyze the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap where the invader Fearless will take on the hometown hopes that last finished 1-2-3-4in the Grade 3 Essex Handicap. A native of Hot Springs, Ark., Nancy Ury-Holthus joined the broadcast team at Indiana Grand in 2014 as the on-air paddock analyst. She has served in that capacity for more than a decade, including a position as host and handicapper for TVG. She currently works as the on-air racing analyst and media coordinator at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas during the winter months. Holthus’ background in racing is very extensive, as she has also served in several key capacities at racetracks, including stall superintendent for 10 years at Hollywood Park as well as racing office positions at Arlington Park. Holthus and her husband, Paul, a Thoroughbred trainer, oversee a stable of a dozen horses, creating a racing circuit between Oaklawn Park and Indiana Grand. She has also served as part of the broadcast team at Arlington Park for the Illinois Derby in its final years
Jay Privman covers the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. He is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions, and is a six-time winner of the Red Smith Award for best Kentucky Derby story, among numerous other writing honors. He joined Daily Racing Form in 1998. He will join John with his opinion about this year's Kentucky Derby. Our second guest is a newcomer to this show. His name Tom Dawson quarter Horse expert. Tom was Racing Secretary at Ruidoso Downs, Albuquerque and Sunland Park from 1972 to 1978; then he was Analyst for live QH racing telecasts for All American Network from 1974 to 1980. From 1981 to 2002 he was Analyst and Co-producer for Syndicated and ESPN QH live racing telecasts. From 1998 to 2006 he was also Racing correspondent for America's Horse, Racehorse Digest and Wire to Wire on ESPN. From 1987 to 2009 Tom was Lead Horse Racing producer for ESPN Thoroughbred racing (over 500 network shows). From 2005 to 2013 he was Host of AQHA Live Racing Awards Announcements. From 2011 to 2018 he was Writer/Producer for AQHA Hall of Fame Kiosk. All American Futurity video history. in 2014-2015 Tom was an Associate Producer of Fox Sports 1 Thoroughbred Racing Series. From 2006 to Present Tom was segment producer for Breeders' Cup Coverage on ESPN and NBC. And from 2010 to Present Tom was Producer and host of various QH racing video projects and webcasts. From 2016 to 2020 Tom was Co-producer and analyst for Ride TV QH racing coverage. And from 2020 to Present he was Coordinating producer and Analyst for Cowboy Channel QH racing coverage. He will chat with our host on Quarter Horses.
Long a fixture on the rail near the paddock at Del Mar, Tom Quigley has parlayed his perfect attendance at the races into a full-time, year-round job. It became known as Quigley's Corner and now has a sign in place during the race meet. Santa Anita offers 12 races and 5 are graded stakes events highlighted by the G1 $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. We will see several horses that have entered “The Bob Baffert Transfer Portal” in action. In the Derby, two stablemates to square off are Messier, a 2-time graded stakes winner coming off his seasonal debut win in the R.B. Lewis vs. Tabia, a $1.7 million colt who popped some eyes with career debut 103 Beyer. They will have their work cut out with Forbidden Kingdom in the field after winning all of the major stepping stones to this race. The G2 Santa Anita Oaks offers 100-40-20-10 Ky Oaks points. Adare Manor, another transfer from Baffert's barn, broke her maiden on third try and then won the Las Virgenes (G3) by 13 lengths. Also formerly trained by Baffert, Under the Stars will try to punch her ticket for the Ky Oaks. She had a great prep with a closing rally to just miss in the Santa Ysabel. We were able to grab our favorite racing guru Ed Meyer in a rare scheduling lull as he transfers his talents from Florence, KY to Cincinnati, OH. He’s going to do a deep dive into as many stakes as he can, including several Derby/Oaks preps. The G2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct is offering 100-40-20-10 Ky Derby points. Morello won the Gotham (G3) by 3 1/2 lengths. Early Voting beat Un Oho by 4 1/2 lengths in the Withers (G3). Mo Donegal was third in the Holy Bull (G3) in his only start since winning the Remsen. Barese is 3-for-3, with wins in his last two starts. The Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct is offering 100-40-20-10 Ky Oaks points. Venti Valentine had her only loss coming by a neck to Nest in the Demoiselle. Last out, she beat Shotgun Hottie– also expected here – by 7 lengths in the Busher Invitational. Classy Edition also had her only loss to undefeated Kathleen O. in the Davona Dale (G2). Keeneland has a sensational Saturday program, headed by Smile Happy who rallied to finish second to Epicenter last out in the Risen Star (G2), his first start since scoring in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall. Zandon's third-place finish in the Risen Star was his first start since a runner-up effort in the Remsen (G2). D. Wayne Lukas' other 3-year-old, Ethereal Road, was beaten a half-length by Un Ojo in the Rebel (G2). Blackadder, a former Bob Baffert trainee, is expected here after new trainer Rodolphe Brisset scratched him from the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G1). The Ashland (G1), their Oaks points race will help open the Keeneland Spring Meet on Friday. Nest won the Demoiselle (G2) to close out 2021 and won the listed Suncoast in January. Happy Soul's win in the Dixie Bell at Oaklawn was her 1st start since June. Miss Mattie B was third in the Santa Ynez (G2) before her 5th place finish in the Rachel Alexandra (G2).
Pete Aiello is more than just the booming voice who has mastered the art of storytelling as a live event unfolds at Gulfstream Park, he is a keen student of the game. Pete will join us to pass along a few gems he may have unearthed through his binoculars while watching many of Saturday’s entrants in competition. Pete has a long day in store for him with the first of fourteen races starting at 11:30 a.m. There will be six graded stakes on the card headed by two 100-40-20-10 points races for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The post position draw for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby was very fair to the top contenders with the short run to the first turn in the 1 1/8-mile race at Gulfstream Park. None of the four morning-line favorites drew outside post 7, which is where Holy Bull winner White Abarrio will break. He was established as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind 5-2 favorite Simplication, who came back from his second-place finish in the Holy Bull to win the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth with authority, under Jose Ortiz four weeks later. Simplification, who has trained extremely well since the Fountain of Youth, drew post 3 with Ortiz again named to ride. Tyler Gaffalione takes his regular seat astride White Abarrio. Both multiple graded stakes winner Classic Causeway, the likely pacesetter, and last-out maiden breaker Charge It were set at 7-2 in the morning line. In the Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks Todd Pletcher-trained Goddess of Fire has been given morning line odds of 9 to 5 off her game second-place effort in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds. So, who is the second favorite, you may ask? SHE IS! Kathleen O has been instilled as the early favorite at odds of 4 to 5. Trained by Shug McGaughey, she is now undefeated in three starts, and has two stakes wins at Gulfstream Park, her last being an impressive effort in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. Byron King, Associate Editor of The Blood-Horse has been giving us updates on his weekly “Derby Dozen” and he will join us to talk about this week’s shake ups and this weekend's potential bracket busters. We’ll discuss Epicenter’s eye-popping performance while setting a track record in the Louisiana Derby. Saturday’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby features D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly Secret Oath taking on the boys and at Turfway Park a very talented group of synthetic and turf performers will vie to take the Animal Kingdom route to Louisville via the Grade 3, $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks.
Kevin Kilroy has been our “boots on the ground” reporter from the Fair Grounds this season as he performs his duties unearthing gems on the backstretch to share with the media. He’s been a busy man this week as the Fair Grounds will play host to 8stakes races on Saturday – 4 of them graded. Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls can garner plenty of points now that we have entered into the 100-40-20-10 points stratosphere. The $1million Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby is a race ripe for a new star to shine. Asmussen trained Epicenter has become the hometown hero. He closed ’21 with a win in the Gun Runner here and he has already recorded a head-bob defeat in the Grade 3 Lecomte and went wire to wire with an easy win last out in the Grade 2 Risen Star. Asmussen could pull a Oaks-Derby double as champion Echo Zulu makes her seasonal debut in the Grade 2, $400,000 event. Kevin Kilroy is the Publicity Specialist at Fair Grounds, working with Joe Kristufek doing racing analysis, notes writing, and social media. A two-time National Horseplayers Championship qualifier, he finished 21st in 2021. He specializes in trip handicapping, creative analysis, and finding reasons a horse will improve. His love of the sport began in Chicago at Hawthorne Race Course and Arlington Park. Prior to this, he taught for fifteen years, most recently at the Kansas City Art Institute. An author of three books, his novel The Chicago Window came out in 2020 from Spuyten Duyvil Books. Follow him on Twitter/Instagram@KilroyHorseFG. At this time of the season, T.D. Thornton gives out his observations on the top Kentucky Derby contenders each week in the Thoroughbred Daily News. There is not much in the world of racing that Thornton can’t speak pointedly about. He and John will discuss a myriad of topics leading up to Thornton’s latest Derby list. Here is how he describes himself and some of the books he has authored and positions he has held. I'm a Boston-based writer who aspires to give a voice to dark, edgy characters lurking far beneath the radar of mainstream media. Gamblers, grifters, hustlers, prize fighters and racetrackers are among my most appealing characters, and I have a keen interest in writing about “low” subjects with a literary twist. My Adventures with Your Money: George Graham Rice and the Golden Age of the Con Artist details the flair and showmanship of America’s greatest swindler. His first book should be on every racing lover’s reading list. Not by a Long Shot—A Season at a Hard-Luck Horse Track, chronicled a year at a blue-collar racetrack. In 2008 Long Shot won the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award and was named a Highly Recommended finalist for the Massachusetts Book Award.
National Turf writer Gary West will be joining us in the first segment. He recently penned an article about the growth of the racing and breeding program in his current home state in the Lonestar State. Through his years of writing about racing, he has always kept an eye on Kentucky Derby hopefuls and we will have him weigh in on this year's top contenders. We will also ask Gary about the ‘Baffert Boondoggle” created by his participation in the Derby points races and what the future path of his stable may be. HorseTourney’s Eric Wing will join us to share his experiences at the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas this year. He will also update us on this week’s Handicapping Contests offered (a great opportunity for finding hidden winners with our E-Z Win Forms.) Eric and John will join forces to find the contenders and pretenders in two graded stakes at Oaklawn Park. First up in the newly named $200,000 Whitmore, named for the local legend himself. Appropriately, the top contenders have a fondness for the Hot Springs oval headed by recent winner of the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes at the 6-panel distance – Bob’s Edge. The $500,000 Essex at 1 1/16 miles brought together a highly competitive field, and a local hopeful heads the field. Brad Cox-trainee Plainsman made his seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Razorback and proved he was ready to roll with a determined neck victory. “Horse for Course?” Plainsman has a 10-3-2-1 record at Oaklawn and has walked away with $521,992.
Eric Hamelback is the CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and will be our first guest. The annual HBPA Conference was recently held in Hot Springs and numerous topics that stand to affect the sport of horse racing for years to come. There was a thought-provoking opening speech by 86-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas that opened the event, stressing trainers to be “Ambassadors of Racing”. Key subjects that were addressed, that Eric will weigh in on include the status on the Horse Racing Integrity Act. Hamelback is the former general manager of Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm and resides in Paris, Ky. with his wife Debra and two children. Originally from Frierson, Louisiana Hamelback attended Louisiana State University where he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Systems. He and his family moved to Paris Kentucky in 2008 after living in the Versailles/Midway Kentucky area for 8 years and then in Ocala Florida for 5years. As CEO of the National HBPA, Eric serves as representative for the largest horsemen’s group in North America. Currently he represents the National HBPA and its member horsemen on several of industry boards which include the American Horse Council Racing Committee, the Unwanted Horse Council Education Committee, the RMTC, the NTRA Safety Alliance, the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, as well as the Racing Commissioners International. TVG analyst and on-air personality Matt Carothers will return to Winningponies to preview an outstanding card on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. Matt has made Tampa Bay Downs one of his key tracks to follow during the cooler months and he will be at the track to give his updated reports on TVG throughout the afternoon. Matt’s presence at the track on Saturday will be of special importance as local forecasters are calling for a 100% chance of rain. While there may well be scratches and surface changes due to the weather, it didn’t chase any horses out of the day’s headliner. A capacity field of 12 3-year-olds was entered here Wednesday for the Tampa Bay Derby, the only points qualifier toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby scheduled for this weekend or next. According to last week’s guest on the show, the Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee, Chad Brown was among the high-profile trainers phoning the Tampa racing office when making something of a surprise entry with the flashy debut winner Money Supply, who earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in winning a six-furlong maiden-special that opened the Sam F. Davis card here Feb. 12. Jose Ortiz, who rode Money Supply that day, will be back from Gulfstream Park to ride the Practical Joke colt when being flown in Saturday morning with his older brother, Irad, who has a return mount on the clear-cut race favorite, Classic Causeway. A 3 3/4 length winner of the Davis, Classic Causeway will take plenty of beating with a repeat effort in the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby.
Daily Racing Form’s Eclipse Award-winning Marty McGee will be our first guest. He’s been “boots on the ground” these past weeks on the backstretch of Gulfstream Park (when he’s not feet in the sand, drink in hand, outside of his bachelor bungalow in Hollywood. He’s seen most of the runners and spoken to the trainers and now he’s ready to tackle Saturday’s amazing card that offers eight graded stakes races including two important points races (50-20-10-5). The Gr. 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth has drawn an overflow field of 3-year-old colts and geldings. There are angles galore that await handicappers. Gr. 1 winner Rattle N Roll will make his long-awaited seasonal debut for trainer Ken McPeek. Three local challengers that should get backing at the windows are Simplification and Mo Donegal, the 2-3 finishers in the Gr. 3 Holy Bull and Dean Delivers who earned a hard-fought second in the Gr. 3 Swale. There does seem to be a clear favorite in the Gr. 2, $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes for the 3-year-old fillies. Girl With a Dream seems to check all the right boxes – has won over four different surfaces, including her last start in the Gr. 3 Forward Gal here; she has a top trainer with Brad Cox; excellent rider in Luis Saez; seems to relish the longer distances with a front-running style. The 1 Mile distance seems like a most logical and progressive step in her career. Byron King, Associate Editor at the Blood-Horse, is fresh off a “Road Trip to Hot Springs” to continue his quest for the very finest horses to include in his weekly “Derby Dozen” column for the Blood-Horse. From his clandestine view behind the grassy knoll at Oaklawn Park, King’s binoculars gave him a view of the opposite ends of racing’s predictability. In the Honeybee, a steppingstone to the Ky. Oaks, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Secret Oath smashed the field by 7 ½ lengths covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.74 (a full second faster than the boys would run the Rebel) to return $2.60 to her many backers. King may have to add her to his “Dozen” in the future as Lukas has left the door open for a potential Derby run…shades of Winning Colors. The $1million Rebel left plenty of questions unanswered and a little less cash in most pockets as one-eyed longshot Un Ojo popped to the wire in the final yards to record a $152.80 upset. Only ½ length behind was Ethereal Road, another D.Wayne Lukas-trained steed that could make a heavenly trip to Louisville. We’ll ask Byron to weigh in on two weekend Derby preps that could shuffle the “Dozen”– the San Felipe (G2), 1 1/16 miles, 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby points which is part of the sensational graded stakes Saturday at Santa Anita as well as the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct going a mile.
A native of Hot Springs, Ark., Nancy Ury-Holthus joined the broadcast team at Indiana Grand in 2014 as the on-air paddock analyst. She has served in that capacity for more than a decade, including a position as host and handicapper for TVG. She currently works as the on-air racing analyst and media coordinator at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas during the winter months. That pristine track in Hot Springs plays host on Saturday to two major Kentucky Derby and Oaks points races and Nancy will give us her “boots on the ground” insights. A $1 million purse and Derby Dreams has drawn a field of eleven 3-year-olds into the gate for the Rebel Stakes (G2). Trainer Bob Baffert has won this race eight times, including the last two with Concert Tour (2021) and Nadal (2020). The white-haired wonder appears to be holding all the cards once again as he comes into the race with the undefeated Newgrange. Derby points be damned, he’s running to collect the winner’s $600,000. The $300,000 Honeybee (G3) attracted a field that seems to have no clear favorite. A fan favorite will be D. Wayne Lukas-trained Secret Oath. Lukas won the first four runnings of this race from ’88-’91 and accounted for another score in 2007. Secret Oath has shown quite a fondness for the Oaklawn oval. She won with authority by 8 ¼ in her regional bow and followed that with a 7 ¼ victory in the $200,000 Martha Washington at the 1 1/16th mile Honeybee distance. Ury-Holthus’ background in racing is very extensive, as she has also served in several key capacities at racetracks, including stall superintendent for 10 years at Hollywood Park as well as racing office positions at Arlington Park. She has also served as part of the former broadcast team at Arlington Park for the Illinois Derby in its final years. Brian Zipse has been a frequent guest on the show. Formerly the Managing Editor of HorseRacing Nation, the fastest growing racing news site on the Internet, Brian also is the co-host with Matt Shifman of the weekly podcast “Horsecenter” on YouTube. Brian has been following the field for the $20 million Saudi Cup that will feature the newly-crowned 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun. The now 4-year-old Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon are expected to meet again here after finishing 1-2 in the Louisiana (G3) last out. Ireland-bred Mishriff won last year's edition and would become the highest-earning racehorse of all time with another win. He finished fourth last out in the Champion Stakes (G1), which was won by Sealiway, also expected here. Marche Lorraine returns here after her upset win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Mishriff landed in the extreme outside gate 14 at Wednesday's post position draw for the $20-million world's richest race. Juddmonte's Mandaloun, who won the Louisiana S. (G3) on Jan. 22, drew gate 6. He also won last year's Haskell Invitational S. (G1) through the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie due to interference, and thus Mandaloun looks to hit the wire first.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced Jan. 6 the winners of the 2021 Media Eclipse Awards in six categories. One recipient is BloodHorse's Eric Mitchell. In Tracks Join Rallying Cry to End Cargo Shipping, Eric Mitchell investigated the deplorable conditions of racehorses shipped by boat in steel container boxes from the United States to Puerto Rico, and the response of American racetracks to this much-criticized practice. The article was published on Aug. 24, 2021. Eric will join John to share with us the many paths he had to take to create his Eclipse-Award winning story and give us any updates on the practice of this shipping. Matt Shifman has been a devoted fan of thoroughbred racing and handicapping since childhood, going to the races with his father at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Monmouth Park from their home in Central New Jersey. Since 2011, Matt has been the New York and Monmouth Park Correspondent at Horse Racing Nation where he is currently a Senior Writer. He also co-hosts the popular weekly video show Horse Center with Brian Zipze, which can be seen on YouTube. The Fair Grounds will feature no less than five stakes in their full 13-race Saturday card. Matt and John will analyze several of the stakes including both of the “Points” races for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The points system bumps up a level in the scoring as the races are worth 50-20-10-5. The $400,000 G2 Risen Star for the boys has brought together a field of ten colts that have Derby Dreams stretching out to 1 1/8 miles. Early attention is going to the Ken McPeek trained Smile Happy, who was last seen winning the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on November 27. Trainer Chad Brown brings the highly regarded Zandon to New Orleans. In the G2 Remsen at Aqueduct, he lost by a head-bob after a strong stretch duel at the 1 1/8 distance. A field of eleven fillies will match strides at 1 1/16 in the G2 $300,000 Rachel Alexandra. Their resumes boast 4 stakes winners, 3 graded stakes winners and 3 that were graded stakes-placed. The connections of Dream Lith are hoping to return to Churchill Downs where she captured the G2 Golden Rod in her last outing. The mystery filly is Brad Cox trained Turnerloose who has never started over a dirt oval, while earning $351,300 from two wins, including the $500,000 Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs. You can follow Matt Shifman on Twitter@AndyScoggin. Matt is also a voter for the weekly NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll and a partner in the NY Hot List which provides handicapping services to ADWs around the country. Matt Shifman was recently named the winner of the 2021 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of the Haskell Stakes.
This week’s show has so much information we had to bring in three guests. Billy Reed, a well-known, accomplished sportswriter in Kentucky and a three-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer, died Feb. 5 in Louisville, Ky. He was 79. He served as president of the National Turf Writers Association (now the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters) from 1988-90. His three Eclipse Awards came when writing for the Louisville Courier-Journal (1979), Lexington Herald-Leader (1988), and Thoroughbred Times (2008). Multiple Eclipse Award winner Jennie Rees worked alongside Reed covering racing in Louisville for decades. She will join us to put Reed’s career in perspective. Leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Byron King updates his weekly “Derby Dozen” on bloodhorse.com every Tuesday. He will join us on a regular basis as the Derby Preps take more focus leading up to the 1st Saturday in May. According to King, “In years past, a 15-length score in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) from a horse like Messier (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/thoroughbred/messier/2019?source=BHonline) would have vaulted such a 3-year-old toward the top of the Derby Dozen, but not in 2022 with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. Barring a change in the status of Baffert trainees (i.e. barn switch, legal action), no cracking the 'Dozen for such types for now.” His current top three are: Rattle N Roll, Smile Happy and Zandon. Vic Stauffer has a long resume in the world of racing. While familiar to most as the current voice of Oaklawn Park, he’s called races at Gulfstream Park, Hialeah Park, Hawthorne Race Course, and spent 13 years at Hollywood Park in California. He has also earned two Eclipse Awards for radio and broadcast. He’s also served stints as a jockey agent and is an accomplished handicapper. Stauffer will join us to discuss his “Life and Times” in the sport and of his new home base in Hot Springs. We’ll ask him for his opinion of the Derby preps thus far and his impression of Newgrange, who remained unbeaten in three starts, when he forged past the leaders late for a 1 1/2-length win over Barber Road in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. There are two graded stakes carded for Saturday. Distaffers will match strides for $250,000 in the Bayakoa. Super Stock, the winner of last year’s Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, is on pace to launch his 4-year-old season Feb. 12 in the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback, said trainer Steve Asmussen. The Razorback will be run over 1 1/16 miles. Super Stock won the Zia Park Derby at the distance in November. The earner of $1.1 million races for Erv Woolsey and Asmussen’s parents, Keith and Marilyn Asmussen.
Have a seat, get comfortable, curb your enthusiasm, and tighten your seat belt as we start the roller coaster ride called “The Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.” This week, there are five “points” races (10-4-2-1) from coast to coast – no better time to pull down those EZ-Win Forms from winningponies.com. Brad Free is based in Southern California covering Santa Anita, Del Mar, Fairplex, and Hollywood Park. He joined Daily Racing Form in 1992 and is the author of Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets. Brad provides a daily analysis of the races. Each day during the meet, Brad Free offers his insight and analysis of the entire card. Santa Anita will offer points for both sexes on Sunday when they present the Gr. 3 Las Virgenes for fillies and the Gr. 3 Robert B. Lewis for colts and geldings. We’ll ask Brad to go outside his comfort zone and analyze the Gr. 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. Our second guest handicapper will be turf writer Bob “Railbird” Roberts who likes to take his mind off the Cleveland winters by focusing his sights on the warm Gulfstream Park meet. Roberts began his career at the Mentor Morning Monitor before heading over to The News Herald where he was named sports editor in 1970 at the age of 22. The Cleveland Plain Dealer hired Bob in 1985 and he remained there for over 20 years before accepting a buyout in 2006. Roberts is a multiple award-winning writer who has covered racing for the Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer for over 40 years. His duties included his daily “Railbird” selections. Roberts has covered every Kentucky Derby from Secretariat to Barbaro and is an avid handicapping contest participant.
The man behind the microphone at Gulfstream Park, Pete Aiello will join us to dissect their most outstanding day of racing. There will be six graded stakes races for Pete to put paint with his colorful litany of story lines and pinpoint race calls. In what may go down as one of the best races of the year 11 months from now, will pit two of the most talented horses currently in training against each other – probable 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go against the near-perfect Life is Good in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. Leading up to the day’s main event is a talent-laden undercard. The two turf tests are the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Grade 3 Pegasus Filly& Mare. The competition continues on the main track with the Grade 2 Inside Information; Grade3 Fred W. Hooper; and Grade 3 Wm. McKnight. Pete will familiarize us with the top competitors of each test. Byron King from the Blood-Horse will weigh in on the much-anticipated Pegasus World Cup and then take a turn on the weekend’s handicapping map and head for Hot Springs. Spotlight on the 3-year-olds will take place on Saturday in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Post positions were drawn Monday for the Southwest, along with two other stakes races Jan. 29. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby points races, offering 17 to the top four finishes (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Dash Attack, Barber Road, Ignitis, Vivar and Barber Road, the 1-2-3-5-7 finishers, respectively, in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 are expected to return for the Southwest. The 1-mile Smarty Jones was Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Derby points race. From there, Saturday’s 3-year-old action switched to Santa Anita. The Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente is a west coast “stepping stone” race that will be contested at 7 furlongs. What has come to serve as the norm in such events, Bob Baffert will enter three impeccably bred colts as they take their baby steps to the Santa Anita Derby.
Kevin Kilroy is the Publicity Specialist at Fair Grounds, working with Joe Kristufek doing racing analysis, notes writing, and social media. A two-time National Horseplayers Championship qualifier, he finished 21st in 2021. He specializes in trip handicapping, creative analysis, and finding reasons a horse will improve. His love of the sport began in Chicago at Hawthorne Race Course and Arlington Park. Prior to this, he taught for fifteen years, most recently at the Kansas City Art Institute. An author of three books, his novel The Chicago Window came out in 2020 from Spuyten Duyvil Books. Follow him on Twitter/Instagram @KilroyHorseFG. There are two graded stakes races at the Fair Grounds on Saturday and Kevin will join John in analyzing the races. The $150,000 Louisiana at 1 1/16 will feature two stars of 2021 that are making their 4-year-old debut. Brad Cox-trained Mandaloun and Steve Asmussen-trained Midnight Bourbon, two millionaires who relish the long stretch of the Fair Grounds where they traded wins in graded stakes last season. Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) can be earned in The Lecomte Stakes where the body of work achieved by Pappacap should earn him favoritism. From 5 lifetime starts he has earned $576,000. The Mark Casse trainee is a Grade 2 winner and a son of Gun Runner that just couldn’t get by the highly regarded Corniche in two Gr. 1 starts including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. There are several colts who look as though they are ready to take their game to the next level led by Epicenter and Cyberknife. The Winningponies fan favorite, Ed Meyer, will be our second guest. On a rare scheduling day he will join us between his duties as a Kentucky Racing Official and penning one of his regular blogs on the winningponies.com website. Among his varied duties he will play Media Urologist for us and keep an eye on the weather map in his selection of this week’s races. Oaklawn Park has the $150,000 American Beauty on Saturday that is a great betting race, as an evenly matched field of nine Fillies & Mares will line up for the 6-furlongs. On Ed’s homecourt Turfway Park, there are angles galore that await handicappers as the 3-year-olds will stretch to a mile over the Tapeta track.
Eclipse-Award winning writer Joe Nevills can be found observing the action at all of the sales and the action filled observatory of future stars from the pavilion’s “Back Ring.” We will be talking this week with Joe about trends in the breeding game and the landscape of the current state of horse sales in general. The latest issue of the Back Ring is now online, ahead of the Keeneland January Sale. The Back Ring is the Paulick Report's bloodstock newsletter, released ahead of, and during, every major North American Thoroughbred auction. Seeking to expand beyond the usual pdf presentation, the Back Ring offers a dynamic experience for bloodstock content, heavy on visual elements and statistics to appeal to readers on all platforms, especially mobile devices. Here is what's inside this issue… * Lead Feature, presented by Gainesway: Bloodstock editor Joe Nevills makes five fearless predictions for the bloodstock market in 2022 in his “Making Claims” column. * Stallion Spotlight, presented by New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.: The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. Stallion Season Auction is a crucial fundraiser for the breed organization each year, but the 2022 renewal reaches even further to help those recovering from the December tornadoes in Kentucky. * Ask Your Veterinarian, presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Dr. Craig Lesser of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital explains what horse owners should take into consideration to protect hooves during the winter months. * Pennsylvania Leaderboard, presented by Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: How Li'lbito'charm, a daughter of Smarty Jones, brought in six figures worth of Pennsylvania incentive earnings for her connections in 2021 without entering a single stakes race. * This weekend brings informal preps for Kentucky Derby points preps at Tampa Bay Downs and Santa Anita, plus older horses in the Sunshine Classic and Sprint at Gulfstream. For insight into these races we are bringing in Kentucky’s Finest – no, not a 12-year-old barrel aged Bourbon – handicapper extraordinaire, Ed Meyer. Here are a few of the races where we hope betting opportunities abound. The Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds is an interesting event for the boys. After two tries in the fall at Belmont Park, Provocateur broke his maiden with a 4 1/2 length win last month at Tampa Bay Downs. Cattin graduated on debut at Gulfstream in July then came up short in two Florida Sire stakes before winning the black-type Inaugural. The Gasparilla at Tampa Bay Downs, 7 furlongs, is for3-year-old fillies. After a third-place effort on debut in July, Outfoxed won two Florida Sire stakes at Gulfstream but hasn't raced since September. Bill Mott has had her in training at Payson Park since. Out west they will contest the California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-old fillies This field is expected to see four starters return from the black-type Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos.
Bob Roberts is a native Clevelander who grew up in Willowick, an eastern suburb. He knew he wanted to be a sportswriter when his father took him to an Indians game and he asked who those guys were typing on a counter top behind home plate in the upper deck of old Municipal Stadium. “They’re sportswriters”, said his dad. “That’s their job.” Roberts began his career at the Mentor Morning Monitor before heading over to The News Herald where he was named sports editor in 1970 at the age of22. Roberts was hired by The Cleveland Press in 1973 and returned to The News Herald when The Press folded in 1982. The Cleveland Plain Dealer hired Bob in 1985 and he remained there for over 20 years before accepting a buyout in 2006. Roberts is a multiple award-winning writer who has covered racing for the Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer for over 40 years. His duties included his daily selections. Roberts covered every Kentucky Derby from Secretariat to Barbaro and is an avid handicapping contest participant. Bob will join John to discuss “2021 Greatest Hits” and look at a Kentucky Oaks Prep and the graded stakes action at Gulfstream Park. Oaks points are offered in the Gr. 2 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita where the 3-year-oldfillies will slowly stretch out in this 7 furlong event offering $200,000. The Grade 3 Tropical Turf is the local prep at Gulfstream Park for the Pegasus World Championship Turf Invitational. Todd Pletcher sends out Largent, who has not seen action since finishing a neck behind Colonel Liam in the Grade 1 PWC Turf Invitational last January 23.
Rich Eng, noted thoroughbred author, columnist, on-air talent and a contributing writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form. Rich will join John for a “Year in Review” segment that should provide plenty of lively conversation. Richard Eng covers the Horse Racing industry. Handicapping for Dummies is one of the many handicapping books he wrote. Rich and John won’t be looking in the rear view mirror for the entire show as there are no less than three races over the weekend that have points toward the Kentucky Derby on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The newly-turned 3-year-olds will stretch their legs going a mile in all three – The Jerome at Aqueduct; Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita’s Sham Stakes. John Ball will be our final guest of2021. A horse lover through and through his career has taken many paths. He was a Naval Officer and is lifelong fan of racing who created Horserace Handicapping class @ University of Washington in Seattle back when Secretariat was sweeping the Triple Crown in1973. Retired from the Navy in 1989 in the winner's circle @ Churchill Downs. The University of Louisville Equine Management grad, founded Horse Star Cards Inc. that same year creating Kentucky Derby Trading Cards, Breeders' Cup and Jockey Star cards. He now serves as Commissioner for the online handicapping fantasy contest --- Thoroughbred Racing Challenge and will let the listeners know how they can join in with this FREE on-line contest. This year there is a special bonus prize – a Pat Day autographed card (which was a special insert in 1993). Players must participate each week and finish the competition with a positive ROI.
Our first guest will be Clint Bentley, the co-writer and director of “JOCKEY” which is scheduled for limited release at theatres over the Holiday Season. Filmmakers Bentley and GREG KWEDAR began their careers together in the early 2010s, having met after graduating from college and finding they had similar interests in telling stories. They began making shorts and documentaries, always having the goal of one day making narrative features together. Bentley’s father was a jockey. While he was born and raised in Florida, his father raced all over. “So I was raised behind the barns at horse tracks.” After his father’s passing, countless colleagues told Bentley stories of his dad’s career – how he had been kicked out of the house at age 17 and, with no money, became a jockey, living in barrack-like dorms on the backside of racetracks. Bentley himself recalled, while in college, helping his father, who by that time had become a trainer. “I remember, even then thinking, ‘This world of horse racing is so interesting, behind these barns. It was fascinating – and nothing like the way I had seen it ever portrayed in movies.” He took his creative partner, Kwedar, who knew nothing about horse racing, to a track in Houston. The two slept in a tack room, with all of the horse equipment, and spent time behind the barns. The little details began to come out – like the cheap coffee makers “full of some weird tar-like substance, that was like their homemade recipe for some way to win a race,”Kwedar laughs. And hearing the loudspeakers throughout the barns kick in as the sun rises, a morning prayer, walking to the rails on the track and hearing horses and jockeys, the whole place coming to life. “It’s just magic.” Kwedar saw what his colleague had in mind. “In that moment, I looked to Clint and said, ‘You’re absolutely right. This is a film. We have to do this.’ JOCKEY was filmed in 20 days, over four weeks from mid-October to mid-November 2019. Sean Beirne who is currently the Director of the Equine Industry Program at the University of Louisville will join us to discuss the success several of the program’s graduates who are making a name for themselves in the industry. Beirne is the right man for the position he holds as he has served in numerous positions in the world of racing.
Jay Privman will walk us through his experiences in the racing game fresh off of another national recognition of his talents. Daily Racing Form national correspondent Jay Privman and the late turf writers Walter Haight and Jack Mann have been selected to the National Museum of Racing’s Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor. Privman, 62, a resident of Carlsbad, Calif., covered his first race in 1980 — Spectacular Bid’s victory inthe Malibu Stakes — while in college at California State University ,Northridge, and working part-time for The Los Angeles Daily News. Privman served as a television reporter or handicapper for CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBCSN from 1998 through 2018 and host of “Thoroughbred Los Angeles,” a Saturday morning show on AM830 KLAA, from 2003 to present. He covered every Kentucky Derby from 1982 through 2019 (missing 2020 and 2021 because of covid and a health issue, respectively) and every Breeders’ Cup from the inaugural in 1984 through 2021 because of the pandemic). Author of the books “Breeders’ Cup Thoroughbred Racing’s Championship Day,” and “Del Mar at 75” and a contributing writer to the Daily Racing Form book “Champions,” Privman has earned numerous honors for his racing coverage. He is a six-time winner of the Red Smith Award (1989, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008) from Churchill Downs for the best Kentucky Derby story; a two-time winner of the David F. Woods Award (2002,2013) from the Maryland Jockey Club for the best Preakness Stakes story; and atwo-time winner of the Joe Hirsch Award (2010, 2016) from the New York Racing Association for the best Belmont Stakes story. Privman’s Breeders’ Cup awards include six Joe Hirsch Awards (2001, 2003, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2018) for news reporting and the Bill Leggett Award (2017) for feature writing. Other honors include the Old Hilltop Award from the Maryland Jockey Club (2005); Walter Haight Award, from the National Turf Writers Association (2005); induction into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2011); and the Charles W. Engelhard Award, from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (2016).. Brian Nadeau grew up minutes from Saratoga and has been a life-long horseplayer. He broke into the industry in 2006, working with NYRA as a press intern, and has worked in various industry capacities since, including the Saratoga Special,HorsePlayer NOW, and the Breeders' Cup. Brian currently does freelance work for Capital OTB and The best racing of the weekend will emanate from Gulfstream Park as they will play host to five graded stakes races offering handicap challenges at a variety of distances and is a television analyst and handicapper at Gulfstream Park. He is also a long-suffering New York Mets and Giants fan, and can be found on twitter @brian_j_nadeau.
Our first guest will be Clint Bentley, the co-writer and director of “JOCKEY” which is scheduled for limited release at theatres over the Holiday Season. Filmmakers Bentley and GREG KWEDAR began their careers together in the early 2010s, having met after graduating from college and finding they had similar interests in telling stories. They began making shorts and documentaries, always having the goal of one day making narrative features together. Bentley’s father was a jockey. While he was born and raised in Florida, his father raced all over. “So I was raised behind the barns at horse tracks.” After his father’s passing, countless colleagues told Bentley stories of his dad’s career – how he had been kicked out of the house at age 17 and, with no money, became a jockey, living in barrack-like dorms on the backside of racetracks. Bentley himself recalled, while in college, helping his father, who by that time had become a trainer. “I remember, even then thinking, ‘This world of horse racing is so interesting, behind these barns. It was fascinating – and nothing like the way I had seen it ever portrayed in movies.” He took his creative partner, Kwedar, who knew nothing about horse racing, to a track in Houston. The two slept in a tack room, with all of the horse equipment, and spent time behind the barns. The little details began to come out – like the cheap coffee makers “full of some weird tar-like substance, that was like their homemade recipe for some way to win a race,”Kwedar laughs. And hearing the loudspeakers throughout the barns kick in as the sun rises, a morning prayer, walking to the rails on the track and hearing horses and jockeys, the whole place coming to life. “It’s just magic.” Kwedar saw what his colleague had in mind. “In that moment, I looked to Clint and said, ‘You’re absolutely right. This is a film. We have to do this.’ JOCKEY was filmed in 20 days, over four weeks from mid-October to mid-November 2019. Sean Beirne who is currently the Director of the Equine Industry Program at the University of Louisville will join us to discuss the success several of the program’s graduates who are making a name for themselves in the industry. Beirne is the right man for the position he holds as he has served in numerous positions in the world of racing.
If there is a Santa Claus for thoroughbred horses, he/she/them/they would look a whole lot like Michael Blowen, founder and director of Old Friends Retirement Facility. Through his tireless efforts he provides a home for racing greats and not-so-greats where they can live out their lives in a warm, welcome setting where they receive the utmost in care. Fans of these stars of racing are allowed an up-close experience and can even join in ownership of one of Old Friend’s champions. Michael will join John to discuss what it is like to be the caregiver of the many storied horses who have been a part of Old Friends over the years. He will also let our listeners take advantage of a unique opportunity where they can buy a “share” in any of the classic winners or their fan favorite. Just in time for the Holiday gift with the horse lover in mind. One size fits all! Track announcer and radio host Bobby Neuman is another in the long line of successful Race Track Industry Program graduates that pepper the landscape of racing in every aspect of the game. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3-6PM Eastern Bobby hosts Race Day on HRRN featuring live racing from across the country, expert analysis, and special guests from inside the racing world. His broadcasts can be found at Sirius219, XM 201, or at horseracingradio.net (https://horseracingradio.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4e77801d87&id=d92cdbb45c&e=7557876f93) Bobby will reflect on his career in racing that included replacing Todd Shrupp as the paddock host at Calder and a track announcer. “I started calling at the Arizona fairs in the early90s.” he recalled. “I was at Thistledown for three years, at Calder for 15years, I called harness races at The Red Mile and Pompano Park, I had a fill-in stint at Churchill Downs, and I was in the booth at Los Alamitos for four Thoroughbred meets through 2019.” Neuman is currently the track announcer at Prairie Meadows. He will join John in handicapping the three graded races at Aqueduct on Saturday.
Hall of Fame rider Pat Day will join us in our first segment. The inspiring reinsman won 12 breeders’ Cup events, 4 Classics and 3 Distaffs during his storied career. In retrospect even Day himself is in awe how things came together in his life. “I came from an area where there was no horse racing. I knew nothing about the great sport of horse racing,” said the native of Brush, Colo. “I was an absolute natural. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just doing it.” Day earned his first victory on July 29, 1973 at Prescott Downs in Arizona, never imagining he would be a dominant figure in the game by the following decade. But he was, sweeping Eclipse Awards as the leading rider in North America in 1984, 1986, 1987, and1991. When Day retired on Aug. 4, 2005, he had earned a record $297,912,019. He ranked fourth in victories with 8,803. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. Not one to sit on his laurels ,he is as busier out of the saddle now, than when he was riding, as he spreads his message of Christianity throughout the racing community. We’ll discuss Pat’s favorite big wins and the spiritual victories he is having through his continued involvement in racing. If you viewed the coverage by TVG over Breeders’ Cup weekend you got to see plenty of Rich Perloff on-air. With this year’s annual championship in the record books, Rich and John will do their version of “Two Guys read the Racing Form.” They will go through a review of the action over the two-day handicapping fest that produced thrilling photo finishes. Champions were crowned and future stars found, tune in and listen to the duo’s take on the slam dunks and the near misses in the 2021 edition of the Breeders’ Cup from Del Mar.
Jockey T.D. Houghton is one of the most successful riders in the racing game, but he didn’t achieve that status without many hurdles to overcome. On more than one occasion, doctors have told him his riding career was over, but somehow he lays out a map of successful rehabilitation that has continually guided him back to the winner’s circle. Terry started riding in 1987 and has earned countless frequent flyer miles from the doctors and hospitals in the region while piling up the injuries in a 34-year riding career that has seen him win over 6,000 races and win over $65 million. On April 10 he was involved in a 3-horse spill at Mahoning Valley that put him in the hospital. His injuries were extensive to the point that he required an almost complete facial reconstruction. During his rehabilitation, he took advantage of the time away from the saddle to begin preparing for his life after competition on horseback to study to become a steward. Terry will discuss his most recent comeback that saw him victorious in the $100,000 Galbreath Memorial at Mahoning. He will also discuss the trials he has been through to continue in the sport he loves. While the Breeders’ Cup is over, graded stakes races haven’t gone away and we will be featuring three on the schedule this weekend. Handicapper Eric Wing from Horse Tourneys will be our handicapping guest to weigh in on the Breeders’ Cup and analyze this week’s races. The Red Smith (G2), at Aqueduct, 1 3/8 miles (turf), 3-year-olds and up - Trainer Jack Sisterson confirmed in a text message Sunday to Horse Racing Nation that Channel Cat would be entered in this race, making him the only millionaire among the horses otherwise listed by the New York Racing Association as probable entrants. The 6-year-old entire by English Channel never has raced at Aqueduct, but he has stakes wins at Saratoga and Belmont Park, most notably the Man O’ War (G1) in May. The Chilukki (G3), at Churchill Downs ,one mile, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up - Matera might be looking at a glorified workout in the 36th running of this race named for a 1999 Eclipse Award winner. The 4-year-old Tapit filly trained by Brad Cox had only three probable opponents listed by Churchill Downs stakes coordinator Dan Bork. Matera won listed stakes during the summer at Indiana Downs and Ellis Park. She carried a three-race winning streak into the Locust Grove (G3) on Sept. 18 at Churchill, but she finished fourth to Shedaresthedevil, CrystalBall and Envoutante. Native Diver (G3), at Del Mar, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up - Midcourt won this race in 2019. As an odds-on favorite last year he finished second to Extra Hope. The 6-year-old Midnight Lute gelding who is trained by John Shirreffs was one of 11 nominations for this year’s renewal of the Native Diver. Midcourt has raced only twice this year, coming off the bench to win a June allowance before being eased late in the Awesome Again (G1) last month at Santa Anita.
Hall of Fame rider Pat Day will join us in our first segment. The inspiring reinsman won 12 breeders’ Cup events, 4 Classics and 3 Distaffs during his storied career. In retrospect even Day himself is in awe how things came together in his life. “I came from an area where there was no horse racing. I knew nothing about the great sport of horse racing,” said the native of Brush, Colo. “I was an absolute natural. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just doing it.” Day earned his first victory on July 29, 1973 at Prescott Downs in Arizona, never imagining he would be a dominant figure in the game by the following decade. But he was, sweeping Eclipse Awards as the leading rider in North America in 1984, 1986, 1987, and1991. When Day retired on Aug. 4, 2005, he had earned a record $297,912,019. He ranked fourth in victories with 8,803. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. Not one to sit on his laurels ,he is as busier out of the saddle now, than when he was riding, as he spreads his message of Christianity throughout the racing community. We’ll discuss Pat’s favorite big wins and the spiritual victories he is having through his continued involvement in racing. If you viewed the coverage by TVG over Breeders’ Cup weekend you got to see plenty of Rich Perloff on-air. With this year’s annual championship in the record books, Rich and John will do their version of “Two Guys read the Racing Form.” They will go through a review of the action over the two-day handicapping fest that produced thrilling photo finishes. Champions were crowned and future stars found, tune in and listen to the duo’s take on the slam dunks and the near misses in the 2021 edition of the Breeders’ Cup from Del Mar.
NBC Sports will air coverage of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup on Friday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. EDT on NBCSN. On Saturday, programming will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN before jumping to NBC from 8 to 9 p.m. EDT. We will need every angle we can get to cash some big pool tickets and in addition to your E-Z Win Forms, we will be arming you with input from two of the most respected experts we have from the world of horse racing. Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the Daily Racing Form News Desk. He joined Daily Racing Form in 1998 and was promoted to handicapper two years later. Illman's “Spa Babies” and “Keeneland Babies” columns are also featured on DRF.com during the Saratoga and Keeneland meets. In 2005, Illman authored the book Betting Maidens and Two-Year-Olds. We’ll see who Dan feels are the top babies to watch on the turf and the main track at Del Mar in the four Grade 1 races on Friday along with his play in the evenly-matched Breeders’ Cup Classic. Jay Privman covers the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. He is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions, and is a six-time winner of the Red Smith Award for best Kentucky Derby story, among numerous other writing honors. Jay always brings unique observations of the Breeders’ Cup races and we will let him weigh in on his favorite races over the two days of top-level, international championship competition.
Before there were numerous television and on-line hosts of handicapping productions, there were two individuals chosen to be nation’s handicappers – Mike Battaglia and the recently deceased Bob Neumeier. The duo came from different directions to earn the respect of national audiences over the years. Together they entertained us through the national broadcasts of the Breeders’ Cup and Triple Crown for over a decade. Popular Boston sportscaster Bob Neumeier, a reporter and analyst on horse racing telecasts on NBC and ESPN for more than a quarter century, died Oct. 23 at the age of 70. Known as “Neumy” to friends and fans, Neumeier – a graduate of Syracuse University –he became a reporter and sports anchor for Boston's Channel 4 in 1981, a position he held for 20 years. In the 1980s, Neumeier – an avid horse racing fan and sharp handicapper – began working for Breeders' Cup on a newsfeed that distributed news and personality features nationally to local TV channels. In 1990. Neumeier joined the NBC Sports broadcast team for the Breeders' Cup. Mike Battaglia will share his memories of his days with “Neumy,” on and off the set while covering over a decade of racing’s top competition. Robert Forbeck is the Marketing Director for the Daily Racing Form, but he is far from a pencil-necked geek who sits behind a desk and studies the analytics of the information highway. He has been handicapping horses since he was a young man photo-bombing John Engelhardt and Kevin Goemmer on the set of “The Stretch Run” on the 1980’s. Over the years, Forbeck has refined his observation of the racing game and has played his way into numerous handicapping tournaments after gaining experience on the staffs of River Downs, Hollywood Park and Turfway Park. As a player and a longtime fan of the DRF, Forbeck, is perfectly suited to a position for the ongoing changes in the presentation of racing information to both the new and experienced horseplayer. He’ll discuss the growth and changes in DRF’s presentation in print and on-line, especially leading up to the Breeders’ Cup. As testimony to his handicapping skills, he will join John to examine the final two graded stakes of the Keeneland meet – the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes and Grade 3 Valley View.
Eurico Rosa de Silva is a Brazilian native who is best known for his outstanding career as a jockey in Canada where he won two Queen’s Plates and was the leading rider at Woodbine for seven seasons, including five consecutive years until his retirement in 2019. He is now a life coach for several professional athletes. There were many diverse roads and obstacles this talented reinsman took to the eventual successes of his career and they are revealed in his recently published book – “RIDING FOR FREEDOM.” John will re-visit with Eurico, the last interview about his life and times went too quickly. The book leaves no stone unturned regarding his tumultuous family relationship and his hard-earned achievements in racing. A definite read for your Holiday gift list! We have the opportunity to bring back former winningponies' host Ed Meyer to join the show while he is in between stints at Belterra and Turfway Park. As an odds-maker, he hasn’t thrown away his handicapping pencil and we will put him to work for his input on the weekend's graded stakes races (a rarity pre-Breeders’ Cup).
Matt Shifman will be our first guest, he co-hosts the popular weekly video show HorseCenter, which can be seen on YouTube. He has been a devoted fan of thoroughbred racing and handicapping since childhood, going to the races with his father at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Monmouth Park from their home in Central New Jersey. Since 2011, Matt has been the New York and Monmouth Park Correspondent at HorseRacingNation where he is currently a Senior Writer. You can follow Matt on Twitter @AndyScoggin. Saturday’s 38th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana will be the featured race of the week. Klaravich Stables’ two-time graded stakes winner Technical Analysis (IRE) and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta’s Shantisara (IRE) headline a field of 10 3-year-old fillies. The 1 1/8-mile grass test will go as the eighth race on Saturday’s 10-race program with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time. First post Saturday is 1 p.m. Chad Brown, who has saddled three winners of this race to match the feat of Jimmy Toner and John Veitch, trains both Technical Analysis and Shantisara. Headlining the European contingent Saturday is Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Empress Josephine (IRE) for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Empress Josephine is following in a trail blazed 10 years ago by Together (IRE) for the same connections. Together ran second in the First Lady (G1) and a week later closed her career with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Empress Josephine finished third in Saturday’s First Lady under John Velazquez, who retains the mount and will break from post position four. Velazquez has won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup a record five times beginning in 1995 with Perfect Arc. His other winners are Alwajeeha (2008), Crown Queen (2014), Time and Motion (2016) and Cambier Parc (2019). Edward Bowen grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was influenced by a father who liked horses. He rode ponies as a boy and became a fan of thoroughbred racing from watching races on television. In 1960 he attended the University of Florida to study journalism then in 1963 transferred to the University of Kentucky, a move that allowed him to also write for the Lexington-based The Blood-Horse magazine. The veteran turf writer and racing historian will join John to discuss the racing industry, touching on a variety of topics and weighing in on his favorite farms, horsemen and horses he has written stories on during his storied career.
With less than five weeks to go before the Breeders' Cup Championships, this weekend is busiest of the North American season for the win and you're in races. 11 qualifiers are on the calendar, mostly at Keeneland where we will put the focus of this week’s show. Amy Owens logs a lot of miles every morning traveling from barn to barn to find stories of interest and check in on the many stakes horses – before and after the races. As always, a new Keeneland meet brings in new creative ideas to the game and Amy will update us on all of them and the schedule of events for the Fall Meet. One eye-catching concept is the new Keeneland Turf Pick 3, for handicappers of all levels during the Fall Meet from Oct. 8-30. The Keeneland Turf Pick 3 wager will be offered on the final three turf races each race day. The minimum wager is $3 and will follow the same rules as the traditional Pick 3. The new wager has a 15% takeout, the same low takeout as Keeneland’s popular Pick 5 wager. As Keeneland Communications Associate, Amy Owens assists Keeneland’s Communications Department with a variety of projects related to races and sales. Kentucky native Byron King will be on-site at Keeneland to cover the action for The Blood-Horse and perhaps make a wager or two. He’ll be joining John to analyze as many “Win and You’re In” races as time allows. The action starts on Friday and features a packed field in the G1 $400,000 Darley Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies. This race not only delivers a Breeders’ Cup berth, but points for next year’s Kentucky Oaks. Previous to that race on the card the race will be to the swift in the six furlong G2, $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix. Saturday is a stakes-filled afternoon and will see the juvenile boys match strides in the G1, $500,000 Breeders Futurity with an overflow field. In addition to Breeders’ Cup invite, the race carries qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby. Thirteen outstanding fillies and mares will take to the turf on the card in the G1, $400,000 First Lady Stakes that should provide excellent betting opportunities.
This will be a huge weekend for handicappers to start lining up their Breeders’ Cup selections. There will be 9 Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” events from Friday through Monday contested at both ends of the map. We will be joined by two of the country's most experienced handicappers Ralph Siraco and Anthony Stabile. Ralph Siraco is a former track announcer who became a turf writer and broadcaster. He currently hosts the racing radio show Race Day Las Vegas, broadcast on KSHP AM 1400 in Las Vegas. Ralph will cover several races from Santa Anita over Friday and Saturday. 2-year-olds will be featured first and the races are full of blue-blooded individuals with top connections. As usual, Bob Baffert's trainees will be front and center in both. At least three youngsters from his barn are set to make their mark in the G1, $300,000 American Pharoah, headed by his $1,500,000 baby Corniche. In the $200,000 G2 Chandelier, the white-haired wonder sends out two runners including Grace Alder, a smashing winner of the G1 Del Mar Debutante. Baffert is going to pass on the G1 Awesome Again with just one of his trainees, but he is sending out the first-place finisher of the Kentucky Derby. Laurel River won an allowance race at Del Mar so impressively in his two-turn debut earlier this month that Baffert initially entertained thoughts of running in the $300,000 Awesome Again on Saturday at Santa Anita, but upon further review Baffert said Tuesday. he would enter both Medina Spirit, the first-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, and recent Del Mar allowance winner Azul Coast in the Awesome Again, a 1 1/8-mile race expected to include, among others, Tripoli and Tizamagician, the one-two finishers from last month’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The Awesome Again is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Anthony “the Big A” Stabile was born at the racetrack. He is now a popular host on Horse Racing Radio Network and will be giving in us his insights into the important races from Belmont Park. Stakes winners Gunite and Wit are expected to take on flashy debut winners Jack Christopher and My Prankster in Saturday’s G1, $500,000 Champagne, a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Gunite, trained by Steve Asmussen, won the G1 Hopeful, defeating Wit by 5 3/4 lengths. Wit, who won the G3 Sanford by eight lengths on July 17, stumbled at the start of the Hopeful but made a sustained bid, finishing three lengths clear of the remainder of the field in second. Wit is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also trains My Prankster, a 10-length debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 21 going 6 1/2 furlongs. Could there be an upset brewing in the Woodward? Code of Honor, a son of Noble Mission, enjoyed a terrific 3-year-old campaign and figures to be among the choices in a deep Woodward field that is expected to include Art Collector, By My Standards, Dr Post, Forza Di Oro and Maxfield.
The popularity of horse racing in Chicago was not to be rivaled in any other metropolitan area. Since the 1800’s, the Windy City’s enthusiasm for both harness and Thoroughbred racing led to 10 major racetracks being built in the Chicago area. Sadly, it appears that racing in the area will be dealt a major blow with the apparent demise of Arlington Park which has hosted racing since 1927. Our first guest, Kimberly A. Rinker, a 1983 graduate of the Ohio State University, has been involved with Chicago horse racing since 1984 – both as a writer and as a participant. An award-winning journalist, she is a licensed trainer-driver of Standardbreds and represented the U.S. in the International Drivers Championship in Moscow, Russia. She has documented the racing history of the Chicago-area tracks in two published books – “Chicago’s Horse Racing Venues” and “Arlington Park Racetrack.” Our guest handicapper will be Bob “Railbird” Roberts, a veteran turf writer, handicapper and author of “ Writings of a Railbird.“ The modern day Damon Runyon character still holds weekly handicapping seminars, creates tip sheets and coordinates handicapping seminars in the greater Cleveland area. Bob will join John to examine the outstanding races that will take place at Parx on Saturday. On a program that features two Grade 1, a Grade 2 and two Grade 3 events, the duo will formulate a Pick-4 ticket on races 9-12. The marquee races of the 13-race day that starts at 12:05 pm, are the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for the boys and Cotillion featuring fillies. With the defection of Medina Spirit, Hot Rod Charlie takes center stage in the Derby and readies for a rematch with Midnight Bourbon, who he harshly eliminated in the Haskell and disqualified for his actions. The Cotillion is a race where you will need your E-Z Win Forms and plenty of fillies on your ticket – no less than six graded stakes winners will enter the starting gate for the winner’s share of $1 million.
Pat Day Hall of Fame Jockey and now the Churchill Downs Chaplain, plans to join us to discuss his current career on the backstretch of Churchill Downs and his days there in the saddle. One of the most accomplished and revered names in Thoroughbred racing. Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day enjoyed a riding career spanning 30 years with more than 8,800 winning races, accumulating an all-time North American earnings record of $298 million. Now he is a Chaplain for Kentucky race tracks including Churchill Downs. With the opening of Churchill Downs for the Fall Meet this week, we are bringing in PR Man extraordinaire Kevin Kerstein. There is a lot happening under the Twin Spires, including the unveiling of statues of the late, great John Asher and the legendary Col. Matt Winn. For more than 40 years, Asher was the voice and face of horse racing and radio broadcasting in Kentucky. He joined the Churchill Downs family in 1997 and served as Vice President of Racing Communications until his untimely passing on Aug. 27, 2018 at age 62. Asher, who always spoke of his hero Col. Matt Winn, once said, “When I get to the great day, I would be awfully happy if someone said, ‘Matt Winn would’ve loved this guy. Winn, who served as general manager and later president of Churchill Downs from 1914 until his passing at age 88 in 1949, was the driving force in the development of the Downs and a tireless promoter of his beloved Kentucky Derby. Kevin and John will discuss Pick-3 strategies involving Saturday’s three Grade 3 races – the $300,000 Pocahontas for juvenile filles and the 2-year-old boys will face off in the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes. The anchor of the Pick-3 may be a “single” as multi-millionaire sensation Shedaresthedevil takes on six other fillies and mares.
Joe Kristufek has become the Where's Waldo of thoroughbred racing on television. ;There he is - under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. Wait! I see him in the paddock among a group of fun-loving owners. Hold on! That's Joe getting his picture taken in the winner's circle with the partners in Brilliant Racing. Naw, I just saw him interviewing a winning jockey at The Fair Grounds. You never know where Joe will show. Well, we know where Joe will be on Thursday evening - on Winningponies. As a man who has been the oddsmaker at North America's most unique boutique meet, Joe will bring his unique insights to Saturday's most lucrative program at the all-turf Kentucky Downs. Two, yes two $1 million races will be held with the G 2, 1 & 1/2 mile Calumet Turf Cup and the G 3 6 furlong Fanduel Turf Sprint (is there a richer Grade 3 in North America?). Featured on the 'undercard' are the G 3, $750,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf; G 2, $600,000 Franklin-Simpson and the G 3, $600,000 The Mint Ladies Sprint. It ain't over till its over, and yes, the 2021 meet at Saratoga is over. It was a summer that left indelible impressions on the track and among the human competitors. As has become an annual tradition, we bring on Tom Law of the Saratoga Special to open and close the book on a record-setting year. Part of the team with Joe and Sean Clancy, that trio puts out amazingly colorful stories as fresh as that day's doughnuts sprinkled with the photographic talents of Tod Marks.
Ken Kirchner's experience in thoroughbred racing is extensive and he is now serving as Kentucky Downs' Director of Wagering Development. The all-grass FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs runs this Sunday, Labor Day Monday and Sept.8, 9, 11 and 12. First post is 12:20 p.m. Central. Ken will point out the numerous opportunities for you to put your E-Z Win Forms to use; and he is a man who knows what he is talking about. He was the founding member and manager of the NTRA National Handicapping Championship, the country's largest handicapping contest 1999-2007; Founded NHC Qualify.com - the industry's first online handicapping tourney site 2006-2015 and Created Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, the country's biggest live money contest 2009-2015. He has held key positions with the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, Daily Racing Form and Breeders' Cup. One of the highlights for handicappers and for fans at Kentucky Downs is that you get this amalgamation of horses from different racing circuits around the country that you normally only get at a meet like the Breeders' Cup, said Ken. When you have more than $2 million a day in purses, not only are your stakes races this mix of New York, Kentucky, Florida, California and other horses, you have that in the maiden and allowance races across the board. It's just a fascinating exercise for the handicapper to say, Gosh, I can find great value every single race of this meet. Keeneland's longtime director of broadcast services G. D. Hieronymus has stepped away from his duties after winning numerous awards for his outstanding presentation of the iconic track's racing and sales. While away from the track, G.D. did not step away from his love of handicapping and recently finished third in the celebrity portion of the National Handicapping Championship. Since he is used to analyzing quality cards, we are asking him to move those talents to the Saratoga program on Saturday of this Labor Day weekend. So he will join John to handicap two Breeders' Cup Win -and-You're- In races - the Gr. 1 $1,000,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Gr. 1 $600,000 Flower Bowl. They will also tackle the highly competitive Gr. 2 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies that has seen the likes of racing standouts Primonetta, Ta Wee, Numbered Account, Tempest Queen, Safely Kept and Xtra Heat add this prestigious race to their resumes.
This Saturday's Saratoga racing program is so talent heavy, we brought in two of our favorite guest handicappers, to help us lift some winners from a card that features six consecutive Grade 1 races. Up first will Brooklyn's own Dan Illman, the DRF.com Handicapping Editor. Ed Meyer, a man who sleeps with a Daily Racing Form under his pillow, will handle the second segment. We are banking on his experience as an odds-maker and contest player to help grow our bankroll. The Midsummer Derby serves as the highlight of the star-studded afternoon. Champion Essential Quality has been tabbed as the pre-race odds-on favorite. His lone defeat in his eight-race career came in a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/4 mile Travers Stakes carries a hefty $1,250,000 purse. The Grade 1 races start in the 7th with the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap for fillies and mares and will feature Bob Baffert trainee Gamine, a brilliant speedster who drew the rail in the 7-furlong test. The following Forego for $600,000 is the seven-panel test for males. 3-year-olds will try the 7-furlong $500,000 Allen Jerkens' Memorial, highlighted by a rematch between Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock and the return of undefeated Life Is Good. The $600,000 1 1/8 mile Personal Ensign is highlighted by the presence of Letruska, who has experienced a $1 million season so far and comes to the race sporting three straight impressive wins. At Saratoga, there is no such thing as a sure thing, and the field of eight includes the accomplished multi-millionaire Swiss Skydiver, $1,218,740 earner Dunbar Road and Baffert-trained As Time Goes By, who brings Mike Smith to town for the race. Join John and his guests Dan and Ed for their insights into this spectacular day of racing.
Rich Perloff is a regular figure delivering race information from regions far and wide on TVG. His smooth delivery may be influenced by his experience as an actor/director, lawyer and University Professor. After we explore his entrance into handicapping thoroughbred racing I'll ask him to join us to analyze the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama that has a talent-laden field featuring the rubber match between Malathaat and Maracuja who traded victories in the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Kentucky Oaks. Rich and John will also look at Saratoga's Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies on the turf and the Grade 3, 250,000 Philip Iselin at Monmouth Park. The Deacon of Del Mar Rich Eng, will be joining us from his base in Las Vegas. One of our most popular guests, Rich covers the Horse Racing industry through many formats. Handicapping for Dummies, a beginner's bible was penned by him. He also is a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form.
Saturday is being promoted as Arlington Million Day at the Chicago-area track, even though the race itself has a new name and a smaller purse. The day will feature three Grade 1 races: The Mister D. (formerly the Arlington Million, now with a $600,000 purse), the Beverly D. and the Bruce D. (formerly the Secretariat Stakes). Arlington Park, (now known as Arlington International Racecourse), has a storied history, Arlington was born in 1927, the same year that Charles Lindbergh made the first Transatlantic flight. Arlington has attracted millions of visitors over the years and has played host to royalty, famous entertainers, sports stars, and generations of families that shared special times at a special place. John G. Dooley was behind the microphone in 1981, when John Henry dug in in the final stride under the urging of Bill Shoemaker and amazingly out-nodded The Bart in the inaugural edition of the landmark $1 million dollar event. Dooley was in high school then, but he has been in the Arlington announcer's booth for every Million since 2000. John will share his memories of the legendary track and the great races he has had the opportunity to call. The King of the Cappers Byron King will leave his palatial estate in Louisville and turn his focus towards Arlington Heights, Illinois. Byron will join John to analyze the final Grade 1 races to be contested at Arlington International that is in its final season of racing. Name changes aside, they will look at the last Arlington Million (now $600,000). Chad Brown trainee Domestic Spending should be the clear favorite here. His wins this year in the Manhattan (G1) and Turf Classic (G1) followed a 5-month layoff after he won the Hollywood Derby (G1) in November.
Our first guest will be trainer Elizabeth Lizzie Merryman. After two consecutive stakes triumphs at five furlongs, her homebred Caravel carried her winning form into graded-stakes company, following a torrid pace and gunning down frontrunner Robin Sparkles in mid-stretch to conquer the G3, $200,000 Caress for older fillies and mares contesting 5 1/2 furlongs over Saratoga Race Course's Mellon turf. It was the first graded stakes win for Caravel and her owner/breeder/trainer. Caravel is now co-owned by Elizabeth Merryman in partnership with celebrity chef Bobby Flay who recently purchased 75% of the filly. Following the Caress, Caravel will be transferred to the barn of fellow Fair Hill based trainer Graham Motion, with eyes set on the G1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. Merryman will remain a part owner. We have talked for weeks about her. He's watched her train pretty much every day, Merryman said. He's just been so nice and classy and sweet about her. He was very much laying low today, but we talked a lot about her and we'll continue to talk about her. And we'll be talking with Lizzie about what it was like to raise a foal from birth and train her through a graded stakes victory at Saratoga. We'll also address her mixed feelings about watching her homebred success being led from her stall to the shed row of a new trainer. Terry Hill will be our guest handicapper for Whitney Weekend at Saratoga. Hill has been a writer all his life, first in advertising and later as the the co-author of the Two Guys series of books (Two Guys Read Moby-Dick, Two Guys Read the Obituaries, Two Guys Read the Box Scores, etc.). For the last three years he has been working for the Saratoga Special as a horse racing writer and columnist. Simultaneously he has been forging a career out of being old. His ambition is to live forever. So far, so good. Looking for his first Grade 1 win since the Pegasus World Cup Invitational last winter, Knicks Go drew post 4 on Wednesday and was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite against Maxfield, Silver State, By My Standards and champion filly Swiss Skydiver in Saturday's $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. The 1 1/8-mile, no-Lasix race is an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Swiss Skydiver (6-1) was drawn into post 3. Originally scheduled to race July 25 against fillies and mares in the Shuvee Stakes, she was forced to wait through a quarantine brought on by a positive equine-herpesvirus test in a nearby barn stall at Saratoga. Forced into an alternative plan, trainer Kenny McPeek decided to give his 2020 Preakness victor a chance to become the seventh filly ever to win the Whitney, and the first in 33 years. She is 1-for-1 at Saratoga, having won last year in the Alabama (G1). The Whitney is the only $1 million race on Saturday at the Spa. Terry and John will also analyze the Saratoga Derby Invitational on the turf and the G1, $500,000 Longines Test
Brad Free will be our first guest. A 30-year veteran of the Daily Racing Form, he is based in Southern California covering Santa Anita, Del Mar, Fairplex, and Hollywood Park. He is the author of Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets. Brad provides a daily analysis of the races. Each day during the meet, Brad Free offers his insight and analysis of the entire card. He will be joining John to discuss recent happenings on the west coast and handicap two contentious graded turf tests at Del Mar. The G2, $250,000 Eddie Read will feature a chance for redemption for millionaire United, who was upset as a heavy odds-on favorite last out by Award Winner who will be in the starting gate. Irish punters may want to be backing Going Global from the Emerald Isle. Since her debut in the U.S., she has reeled off four straight turf wins, three of them in graded stakes races Matt Shifman has been a devoted fan of thoroughbred racing and handicapping since childhood, going to the races with his father at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Monmouth Park from their home in Central New Jersey. Since 2011, Matt has been the New York and Monmouth Park Correspondent at HorseRacingNation where he is currently a Senior Writer. He also co-hosts the popular weekly video show HorseCenter, which can be seen on YouTube. You can follow Matt on Twitter @AndyScoggin. Matt is also a voter for the weekly NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll and a partner in the NY Hot List which provides handicapping services to ADWs around the country. Matt Shifman was recently named the winner of the 2021 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of the Haskell Stakes. It will be most interesting to hear his take on last week's disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie in that Monmouth marquee event. Matt will join John to analyze several races from Saratoga including the prestigious G1 $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks featuring the appearance of the undefeated Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat.
For horseplayers, it's like Christmas in July. This is opening week of Saratoga and Del Mar and at Monmouth Park the $1,000,000 Gr.1 TVG Haskell. In the Haskell, two millionaires Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie have a score to settle as they finished 2nd and 3rd in the Kentucky Derby, separated by only1/2 a length. To examine the stakes-filled card at Monmouth we are bringing it a well-recognized figure on TVG Matt Carothers. Matt admits to learning the skill of handicapping at the foot of the master; his own father. Considered a top Pick-Six player. I'm all about trying to hit a home run, stated Carothers, who hails from Minnesota. As a price player, you're going to have many more losing days than winning ones, so you have to make the good days count. The pick 6 has become so watered down that the pick 5 is my favorite play. The takeout is generally lower and you have that chance to win big. The best sequence for me is when I find a price I can single. That gives me the ability to spread a bit in the other races, and if I'm right and get lucky in one or two of the other legs, I can potentially make a lot of money; We'll discuss Matt's style of handicapping for the TVG audience during the pandemic year and a career that has taken him from Minnesota to California and now to the heart of horse country Lexington, Kentucky. In what has become an annual tradition, Tom Law. the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special will be joining us. Tom, a native of Saratoga Springs, is currently the President of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, which he served as president of from 2006 to 2012. To anyone who attends the races at the Spa, there is something special about grabbing a copy of The Saratoga Special. Tom and his partners, Joe and Sean Clancy, had to stop the presses last year due to New York's Covid restrictions. The town and track will be in full swing in 2021 and the team at The Saratoga Special will begin their season-long series of sixteen-hour days.
The hot topic at any racing organization’s meetings is “How do we bring new owners into the sport?” For anyone who has experienced the thrill and satisfaction of seeing their horse hit the finish line first in a race at any level – the exhilaration is hard to explain – but it is “your” horse, alone or in a partnership with friends. The highly respected WinStar Farm is opening the door to participation as an owner with some of their well-bred individuals getting ready to race. So how do you get in on such an exclusive ownership opportunity with a top-notch farm? Mary Cage, the WinStar Stablemates Director, will join us to explains the ins and outs of joining the partnership. This weekend is the swan song for Belmont Park before the action moves up the Hudson River to Saratoga. Before the vans hit the toll booths, there will be some great racing there this weekend and we are bringing out “The Beast of Belmont,” known as “The Big A” – Anthony Stabile. Since spending his youth alongside his parents working with horses on the NY circuit, he has developed into a top handicapper and on-air racing analyst making regular appearances on HRRN (Horse Racing Radio Network). “The Big A” will join John to look at two major Invitational races that has drawn top turf performers with an international flair. In the G1 Belmont Derby at 1 ¼ miles on the turf, trainer Todd Pletcher wanted to move Sainthood to the grass for his last start in the Pennine Ridge (G3), but the race came off the turf and he won easily. Before that, he was 11th in the Kentucky Derby, his only finish outside the exacta in five starts this year. Du Jour is a former Bob Baffert trainee who will make his first start for Bill Mott. He won the American Turf (G1) last out at Churchill Downs. Bolshoi Ballet would make his first North American start after compiling a 6: 3-0-1 record in Europe. The G1 Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on the grass will feature 3-year-old fillies. The 1-2 finishers in the Wonder Again (G3) meet again here. In that 1 1/8-mile race, Con Lima bested Plum Ali by half a length to pick up her fourth win of the year in six starts. This is only the third start of the year for Plum Ali, who finished third in the Appalachian (G2) in April. Not all of the big races will take place going long on the green. The Grade 3 Victory Ride will be contested at 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies. Australasia is 6-for-6, with all but one of those wins coming this year. This would be her first graded-stakes start. Red Ghost is 2-for-2 this year after winning the Miss Preakness (G3) by a nose. Tim Hamm trainee Dayoutoftheoffice – second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies – has not won in three tries since the Frizette (G1) in October, but has put in solid efforts in each start and may be dangerous going 6 ½ panels.
Eurico Rosa de Silva is a Brazilian native who is best known for his outstanding career as a jockey in Canada where he won two Queen’s Plates and was the leading rider at Woodbine for seven seasons, including five consecutive years until his retirement in 2019. He is now a life coach for several professional athletes. There were many diverse roads and obstacles this talented reinsman took to the eventual successes of his career and they are revealed in his recently published book – “RIDING FOR FREEDOM.” Born on a dairy farm in rural Brazil, Da Silva determined at an early age that he would become a champion jockey. This is the story of Da Silva’s battle with his demons. While it describes his ascent to the highest ranks of his athletic profession, it also lays bare his struggle to heal the emotional scars inflicted by an absent and negligent father and his victory over the forces that threatened at time to end his life. Fourth of July weekend will be sparkling with competitive action from sea to shining sea and plenty of reasons to pull down the E-Z Win Forms at Winningponies. The picnic starts on Friday in Altoona, Iowa at Prairie Meadows where they will fire off three rich stakes races – the G3 $225,000 Iowa Oaks; $250,000 Iowa Derby and the continuance of the G3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap, a race that has attracted Knicks Go. Participating in the evening fireworks will be the likes of jockeys Florent Geroux, Jose Ortiz, Joel Rosario, Ricardo Santana, Junior Alvarado and trainers Brad Cox, Steve Asmussen, Bill Mott and Mike Maker to name a few. John Hernandez will join our “Regular Guy” to give us the best bets from central Iowa. John Hernandez has been in and around horse racing for almost 40 years now. The late, great West Coast publicist Nat Wess hired him for his first job in the business for the inaugural Fall-Winter meeting at Hollywood Park in 1981. He was the “press box steward” and for $50 bucks a day, he was rubbing elbows with the likes of Gordon Jones, Ernie Mason, Harry Henson, Joe Hirsch, and many others while watching some great races there. He also worked for Trackmaster in the early days of their business in the 1990s, traveling the Eastern seaboard doing on-track seminars for their hand-held telephone modem device that was sort of like “the next gen Mattel Horse Racing Analyzer.” John has been with Prairie Meadows for over a decade, where he serves as the track handicapper and television commentator.
The “King” of Louisville, Byron King, is here to discuss the season under the Twin Spires in 2021. The Blood-Horse’s Associate Editor will join John to handicap the stakes-laden card. Saturday’s closing day stakes spectacular has an 11-race program and scheduled to be headlined by Godolphin’s GI winner Maxfield in the featured $600,000 Stephen Foster (GII) – one of seven stakes events on the card. Maxfield, trained by Brendan Walsh, enters the Stephen Foster following a convincing 3 ¼-length win in the $400,0000 Alysheba (GII). The talented son of Street Sense is slated to be joined in the gate by fellow graded stakes winners Chess Chief (Dallas Stewart), Silver Dust (Bret Calhoun) and Warrior’s Charge (Brad Cox). All three horses completed their major Stephen Foster preps Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Stephen Foster is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race for the $6 million Longines Classic (GI) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Here are the other probable runners for the undercard races to the Stephen Foster we will handicap the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (GII), run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Distaff Division: Dreamalildreamofu (Brad Cox); Envoutante (Kenny McPeek); Point of Honor (Shug McGaughey); Singita Dreams (Phil Bauer); SpiceIs Nice (Todd Pletcher); and Vault (Brad Cox). · $300,000 Wise Dan (GII), run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up: Field Pass (Mike Maker); In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo); Ride a Comet (Mark Casse); Set Piece (GB) (Brad Cox); and Somelikeithotbrown (Mike Maker). Possible: Spooky Channel (Jason Barkley). Hugh Drexler, the Racing Secretary at Thistledown will make his first appearance on the show as he lends his insights to Ohio’s biggest day of racing, anchored by the $500,000 GIII Ohio Derby. Drexler was born into racing as his father was a jockey and his grandfather and great-grandfather were trainers in Puerto Rico. A graduate of the Racetrack Industry Program in Arizona, he had internships with the Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita. He eventually did the paddock shows at Sunray and Rillito Park. Even old-timers familiar with the Cleveland area track, are saying that this year’s edition is the strongest ever. In our era of small fields in stakes races, Drexler and his crew in the racing office drew a highly competitive field of 11. Nine of the eleven 3-year-olds will draw their regular riders or top jocks from major venues. Three graded stakes winner and two graded stakes-place runners are set to travel the 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. Weather sources indicated a 50-50 chance of rain. Breaking from the inside post Promise Keeper was made the tepid favorite, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Luis Saez. The $250,000 Lady Jacqueline at 9 furlongs has drawn together a talent-laden field of nine fillies and mares. Pletcher has Spice Is Nice entered here and at Churchill Downs with John Velazquez slated to ride.
Terry Meyocks, the President and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild for 14 years will bring clarification to a June 7 letter, when the Jockeys' Guild informed its membership that, starting July 1, Monmouth Park jockeys will no longer be covered by Guild insurance policies. The Guild has been providing temporary disability benefits, life insurance and Accident, Death and Disability benefits to those who have chosen to ride in New Jersey. The Guild has been adamant in its belief that racing has become more dangerous at Monmouth Park because jockeys are no longer allowed to encourage their mounts with the use of the whip. In the June 7 letter, sent out to all Guild members, Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks wrote that, “The increase of risk is thereby creating a greater exposure for the Jockeys' Guild and the benefits that we provide to our members who are riding under such regulation.” Meyocks said that the cost of the insurance policies has, so far, not increased due to the whip regulations, but that the Guild's Board of Directors is concerned that the ban will eventually lead to higher rates. Once the policies have been withdrawn, it appears that anyone riding at Monmouth will either have to take out insurance of their own or accept the risks that would come from riding without coverage. When asked if he expected that some riders would chose to leave Monmouth because of the insurance situation, Meyocks replied, “I have no idea. I really don't. All we have done all along is to just inform everybody.” Meyocks said that Monmouth is on a list of tracks that do not make any financial contributions to the Guild's insurance policies. He will elaborate for us how the new whip law is affecting the situation. To say jockey DeShawn Parker has had a roller coaster ride over the past year would be putting it mildly. As his highly successful career in the saddle continues, he has faced the highs and personal lows with all of the class that has been exuded by him throughout his career. In a relatively short span of time he lost his father and long-time agent Billy Johnson. DeShawn Parker, the five foot, 10 inch jockey who in 2010 became the first African American rider since 1895 to lead all American jockeys in races won, can now add another coveted achievement to what has been an incredible career, as he has been selected by a vote of jockeys nationwide as the winner of the 2021 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. The 2021 Woolf Award win comes on the heels of the passing of Parker’s mentor and father, Daryl Parker. A longtime respected Ohio racing steward, Parker passed away from cancer in Cincinnati on March 4. “My idol, my best friend and a great father!” Parker tweeted on March 5. “He meant so much to my life and my career. I can only hope to be as great as he was. I’m going to miss my Dad so much, but I know he’s in a better place with no pain and living his life to the fullest up there talking up a storm. He will tell us more about his career.
We’ll be joining an “Old Friend” of winningponies this week with Michael Blowen, the founder of Old Friends Retirement Farms, where he resides in Georgetown, Kentucky. The pandemic caused by Covid had a negative effect on so many businesses and Old Friends was one of them. Michael, fresh off of his national appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, will tell us about the quarantine’s impact on the farm and how he is revitalizing it in 2021. In a little more than a decade Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, has put a new face on the concept of equine aftercare. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, the organization has grown from a leased paddock and one horse to a 236-acre farm, a herd of over 200 rescued and retired horses, and a satellite facility; Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, NY. Blowen had long believed that horses past their prime could still be valuable – money-earning, even—if the venue was right. And so Old Friends tested the concept by opening its doors to the public, inviting fans to revisit their turf heroes. Now a “living-history museum of horse racing”, the farm attracts nearly 20,000 visitors annually who come to swoon over such American Grade 1 winners as Breeders’ Cup Champions Amazombie, Little Mike and Alphabet Soup, Belmont Stakes winners Sarava and Touch Gold, and three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude. The farm is also home to Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Silver Charm repatriated from stud duties overseas. Eric Wing, who pilots the plane at Horse Tourneys will update us on the Tournament scene and the action they will be offering in the days ahead (time to cash in those to cash in those E-Z Win Credits you may have won in our Belmont Contest). An astute fan of the sport, Eric will join John to review the “take-aways” from the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown series. Did Essential Quality stamp himself as the best 3-year-old of this crop – or did Hot Rod Charlie’s sensational second-place effort and speedy time serve as his coming out party for the months ahead? They will discuss this and other areas of racing grabbing headlines of late. The racing weekend is spread all over the country and we will feature an analysis of the Grade 3 $150,000 Old Forester Mint Julep at Churchill Downs where all eyes will be on Brad Cox trained Juliet Foxtrot where she will face ten rivals. The Grade 3 $150,000 Salvatore Mile will take place at Monmouth Park where a well-matched field of ten will match strides and at Santa Anita the featured $100,000 Thor’s Echo will feature some of the fastest horses in California going six furlongs.
Matt Bernier is a busy man these days. His handicapping analysis is in demand and in between hosting “The Matt Bernier Show” and his Belmont Day appearance at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut he is taking time to share his insights with the winningponies' audience. Odds-maker, writer, racing official and track announcer Ed Meyer will also join the show. He follows the New York racing scene quite avidly and will be giving us his best bets for a sensational afternoon of racing where the stars will be out in the afternoon. Very accomplished competitors will take to “Big Sandy” at all distances and surfaces, bringing their talents for display in 7 Grade 1 races! Next to the Breeders’ Cup, this may be one of the strongest days of racing on the calendar. Top level performers such as Swiss Skydiver, Shedaresthedevil, Knicks Go, Jackie’s Warrior will break from the gates to name just a few of the sensational performers. Highlighting the card will be the third jewel in the Triple Crown – The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. Champion Essential Quality, the Kentucky Derby favorite will run for redemption after his close 4th place finish, a head behind Hot Rod Charlie, who closed with a flurry at Churchill Downs. Preakness winner Rombauer plans to have plenty to say about the outcome in the field of eight, who will attempt the grueling 1 ½ mile challenge. It is an amazing day of racing and winningponies.com is again offering a Belmont Handicapping Contest. Just go to our website for all of the prizes offered in this free contest. So pull down the proven E-Z Win Forms and listen to the experts that will join John on this weeks show. In the words of Harvey Pack – “May the Horse be with You!”
Ralph Siraco is no stranger to Winningponies and even covered some racing events with “The Regular Guy.” Never short on an honest opinion, John will check his views of such topics as Jockey Whip Restrictions, the Medina Spirit wailings, the Lasix debates and Saturday’s three graded races at Santa Anita. Featured are the Gr. 2 $200,000 Charles Whittingham on the turf; Gr. 2 $200,000 Triple Bend and the Gr. 3 $100,000 Daytona Stakes over the greensward. Jason Beem, who has been a guest on Winningponies over the years will join us in the second segment. Jason and John worked together when he started calling the races at River Downs in 2006. Since that stepping off point in his career, he has called races at numerous Thoroughbred tracks. It was announced last week that Jason has been hired as the announcer at Tampa Bay Downs. He will begin on June 30, the first day of the track's two-day Summer Festival of Racing. The 41-year-old University of Washington graduate currently announces at Grants Pass Downs in Oregon and will begin his third season at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., on July 19. At Tampa Bay Downs, he replaces Richard Grunder, who retired on May 2 after 37 years and more than 37,000 races at the Oldsmar oval. “I love the racing there and am excited to become a part of it,” said Beem, who hosts an hour-long podcast each Monday through Friday – the Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast sponsored by Twinspires – on which he interviews many of the sport's leading figures. Margo Flynn, the Vice President of Marketing and Publicity at Tampa Bay Downs, believes Beem will be embraced by listeners accustomed to Grunder's energetic, fan-friendly style, while attracting new followers through his social-media platforms. In addition to his podcast, Beem is active on Twitter ( @BeemieAwards ) and Instagram ( @jasonbeemracing ) and has a YouTube channel. Beem knows it is a next-to-impossible task replacing Grunder, who is a jockey's agent at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. In an almost-eerie coincidence, both called races at since-closed Portland Meadows in Oregon at similar stages of their careers, with Beem working there from 2006-2014. “I don't look at it as trying to replace him, because he is a legend,” Beem said. “I just want to be a great member of the Tampa Bay Downs team, get to know the horse-playing community and get a lot of people excited about horse racing.
Richard Eng covers the Horse Racing industry. Handicapping for Dummies is one of the many handicapping books he wrote. He also is a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form. While Rich reports on the racing scene from coast to coast, his forte over the past decade has been the California competition. So far on the Triple Crown trail it appears that “The West Coast, is the Best Coast,” with winners Medina Spirit and Rombauer in the record books (kind of). We will ask Rich if the current trend is expected to continue in the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes. Only Santa Anita offers two graded stakes races on Saturday and we’ll see who Rich and John favor in those events. The first is the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Maria, a race that could launch Ce Ce to millionaire status. Michael McCarthy, fresh off of his Preakness win, will send her to post over the Santa Anita main track where she flourishes. In the Grade 3, $100,000 Honeymoon at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, the big question appears to be – who can go the distance? The Irish-bred Going Global did just so when winning the Grade 3 Providencia here in April. Eyes will also be on the lightly raced Madone, who has won 4 of 5 starts on grass at a mile while taking the Grade 3 Senorita at Santa Anita. Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times. He is expected to assist in marketing, sales, and editorial efforts at a satellite office in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in early 2013. Law, a native of Saratoga Springs, is currently the president of the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters, which he served as president of from 2006 to 2012. The former longtime managing editor for Thoroughbred Times, Law was recognized in 2011 with the Eclipse Award in the Multimedia/Internet category for coverage of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup. He is a two-time winner of the Bill Leggett Breeders’ Cup Writing Award and the winner of the Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Award. Along with Joe and Sean Clancy, Tom helps operate the popular racing website thisishorseracing.com Tom Law is now President of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. As a respected journalist we thought Tom would be the perfect person to weigh in on all that has happened in the world of racing in the past three weeks, from the Derby, its post-race storm for Bob Baffert through Rombauer’s impressive upset win in the Preakness Stakes. Tom and the Clancy brothers are already gearing up for the summer season at the Spa and he will update us on “The Return (in print) of the popular Saratoga Special!”
These have been tumultuous days for the sport of thoroughbred racing and in the center of the storm is Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and his Kentucky Derby winning, bargain basement colt Medina Spirit. The discovery of the therapeutic drug betamethasone in the post-race test of Medina Spirit has cast a dark cloud over the Derby winner and his connections. While a split sample will be tested to verify the drug’s presence, it has now admittedly been discovered that the substance used for inflammation in horses, entered the horse’s bloodstream through a topical ointment applied by a veterinarian for the treatment of a rash. Many questions remain, and while Baffert-trained runners have been barred from racing at Churchill Downs, they will be competing at Pimlico in two high-profile races, including the second jewel of the Triple Crown – the Preakness Stakes. Baffert’s horses can’t read the press releases and have gone about training forwardly for their races. Medina Spirit and stablemate Concert Tour will go to post in the Preakness, while Baffert will send Beautiful Gift to post as the favorite in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan. This week we will speak with two veterans of the racing game from two separate continents. Former on-track British bookmaker James Ross will join us from Great Britain to give us the viewpoint of this week’s events from across the pond. James and John will give their top Preakness picks and stay tuned…you never know what surprises James might have for our listeners from his BUSR RaceBook. Writer/handicapper Tom LaMarra makes the Mid-Atlantic his thoroughbred racing beat. He will once again join us to give his selections in some of the key races over the Friday/Saturday programs. There will be plenty to pick from and reasons to pull down the E-Z Win Forms we offer at winningponies.com There are four graded stakes races on Friday and six on Saturday.
Frank Angst from the Blood-Horse is letting his keyboard cool off after a solid, few weeks covering the Kentucky Derby. He agreed to take his feet off the desk and join us to give his reflections on the “Run for the Roses,” before, during and after the race. We’ll also ask Frank to give us his input on the Preakness Stakes and its ever-growing field. Will Medina Spirit have his chance for a Triple Crown derailed by his own stablemate Concert Tour? A lot of questions remain, with a lot of new shooters expected in the field. Anthony “the Big A” Stabile was born at the racetrack. His parents met at Aqueduct, he worked as a hotwalker, groom and jockey agent at the NYRA tracks throughout high school and college before becoming a writer and handicapper for the NY Post in May 1999. At the Post he 'capped 6 or 7 tracks a day, both Thoroughbred and harness and shattered all public handicapping records by showing an $88 profit at the 1999 Saratoga meet, his first as a public handicapper. He has contributed to both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup editions of The Bloodhorse, and was co-host of “Thoroughbred Central” for the NY City OTB Television Network, He is best known for selecting the NY-bred gelding Funny Cide to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby at 12-1 and had “the gutsy gelding” at 150-1 in a Vegas future book as well as in all 3 Kentucky Derby Future Pools. He was the ghost writer for Funny Cide in a series of columns in the Post and authored “Through the Binocs,” a daily recap of the day’s action at NYRA racetracks. The horses are moving from the Big A to Belmont Park and on Saturday, the best racing in the nation will take place there. Five graded stakes races will be presented highlighted by the grassy Gr. 1, $700,000 Man O’ War. The Belmont Stakes won’t be contested until June 5, and we’ll get a look at some potential starters in the Gr. 3 $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes. The 9-furlong race has attracted the 1-2 finishers in the Gr. 3 Withers as Risk Taking and Overtook will load into the gate. Also on the undercard are a trio of Gr. 3, $150,000 stakes – the 6-Furlong Runhappy; Vagrancy and the Beaugay on the Belmont greensward.
James Ross is a British bookmaker with over 20 years experience working “on-course” at race tracks in the UK, trading lines for sportsbooks like Betfred and Paddy Power, and is now the spokesperson for BUSR based in the UK. James’ favorite race is the Aintree Grand National which runs in Liverpool, his home town - although his favorite racing festivals are Royal Ascot and Chester where the weather is much warmer and the girls can get dressed up! Although James is not an expert in American racing (at all), BUSR are specialists in US Racing and offer a wide variety of futures markets- leading the industry on Triple Crown betting. The website for Winningponies listeners to check out BUSR is http://BUSR.com/ponies, you also have a promo code PONIES with a 20% sign up bonus f James has made a special offer to listeners of this show of a free $20.00 win wager on the Kentucky Derby and he will be going head-to-head with John with a $200 win wager for a charity of their choice. Ed Meyer has been betting winners since he raided his father’s change jar in middle school and cashed on a $20.00 play at Latonia Racetrack. Now a veteran handicapper, odds-maker, racing official and on-air television and radio personality, he will put down his binoculars and join us after his 2021 debut of calling races at Belterra Park. Always the ladies man, we have assigned Ed the task of breaking down the $1,250,000 G1 Longines Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Friday. This race is chock full of lightly raced horses with a whole lot of upside in their careers – which could spell value galore at the betting windows as they travel 9-furlongs – most for the first time. Of course, Ed will give us his analysis of his favorite races on the undercards and the “Run for the Roses!” Jay Privman covers the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. He is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions, and is a six-time winner of the Red Smith Award for best Kentucky Derby story, among numerous other writing honors. He joined Daily Racing Form in 1998. The well-respected author and columnist keeps his finger on the pulse of racing, particularly the horses competing on the west coast. Jay has witnessed his fair share of Derbies (how else can you win six Red Smith Awards?) and is ready to roll with his insights in this year’s edition after his seminar with Andy Beyer and Mike Welsch aired on DRF.com 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. As always we look forward to his appearance on Winningponies with analysis of “The greatest two minutes in sports” and any other races he has a strong opinion about.
James Ross is a British bookmaker with over 20-years-experience working “on-course” at race tracks in the UK, trading lines for sportsbooks like Betfred and Paddy Power, and is now the spokesperson for BUSR based in the UK. James’ favorite race is the Aintree Grand National which runs in Liverpool, his home town, although his favorite racing festivals are Royal Ascot and Chester which weather is much warmer and the girls can get dressed up! Although James is not an expert in American racing (at all), BUSR are specialists in US Racing and offer a wide variety of futures markets- leading the industry on Triple Crown betting. BUSR is our new sponsor and hopefully James Ross will come back as guest in future American big racing events. The final traditional, “Derby Dozen” has been posted on The-Blood-Horse. The man who has dedicated months to tracking the Derby contenders and pretenders along the road to Louisville will join us for our second segment – Byron King. The Associate Editor, of that internationally recognized magazine, has enjoyed the sport of thoroughbred racing from all sides. He’s been a bloodstock agent, owner, public handicapper and is an outstanding racing analyst. Byron will give us a classic countdown (drumroll, please) from last to first in the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.”
Jason Levin is the long-time host of “Inside Racing Radio Show”, that airs every Saturday at 7am Pacific on Keib am 1150 and live on www.racing jason.com. The show also airs on IHeart radio. The podcast up by 8:30 on IHeart as well as his website. He began the radio show in 2004 after success of his book “From the Desert to the Derby.” book (2002) pub by DRF press about the huge quest to win the Kentucky Derby by Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed. Under his banner of Gololphin, he will finally go to post with the Derby favorite – his undefeated homebred champion Essential Quality. Prior to the publication of his book, he was the national racing writer for fox sports.com. Jason got into racing through both parents. Hooked by seeing great horses of the 70’s like Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Affirmed. He will tell us how he got into racing and the journey he has been on. Vic Stauffer, one of the most recognized and experienced voices in Thoroughbred racing has been in Oaklawn’s announcer’s booth since their 2017 racing season. Vic Stauffer, who has called more than 40,000 races at nearly a dozen tracks across the country, is just the sixth track announcer in Oaklawn’s storied, 115-year history. Stauffer was the track announcer at Hollywood Park in California for 13 years. Before that he called races at Gulfstream Park, Hialeah, Golden Gate Fields and others. He began his announcing career in 1985 at Garden State Park in New Jersey. In addition to his announcing work, he has earned two Eclipse Awards for radio broadcasts. He was also at one time agent for jockey Joel Rosario. Stauffer, 59, has announced hundreds of Grade 1 races and has called such notable horses as Barbaro, Hal’s Hope, Game On Dude, Lava Man, Shared Belief, Pioneer of the Nile, Lookin at Lucky, Azeri, Blind Luck, The Tin Man and California Chrome. Vic will get to add to that resume of calling racing greats, as two multi-millionaire champions will square off in the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on Saturday – Swiss Skydiver and Monomoy Girl. We’ll get his insights for that great matchup that follows the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap.
The Editor of Horse Racing Nation from 2010-2017, Brian Zipse is now a Senior Writer for HRN, where he continues to contribute his thoughts on racing. He also hosts the popular weekly YouTube program HorseCenter. Brian is a voter for racing's Hall of Fame, as well as a weekly NTRA poll voter. You can also find him regularly on most of the social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Based in Kentucky, Brian will join “The Regular Guy” to discuss his impressions of the Derby Preps thus far, then they will handicap the last minor points race (20-8-4-2) on the Saturday Program. They will also tackle the G1, $500,000 Jenny Wiley on the grass and the G3, $150,000 Ben Ali, a race that has been contested since 1917. Mary Rampellini is a correspondent and handicapper for Daily Racing Form. She began contributing to the publication in 1996. She is a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in a racing family. Her father, Ralph Rampellini, was the racing manager for Nelson Bunker Hunt in the 1980s and also broke a crop of 100 to 120 yearlings for him each year at Hunt's training center in North Texas. Ralph Rampellini later served as a racing manager and trainer for John Franks. Mary is currently based in Hot Springs, Ark., and Grand Prairie, Texas, covering Oaklawn Park and Lone Star Park as well as major stakes at other tracks in Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. The G1, $1 Million Arkansas Derby is the last major Kentucky Derby points. At least the top two finishers will earn a berth in the starting gate on the First Saturday in May. Mary has been at Oaklawn Park for the entire season and she should be able to bring sharp insight to this marquee race in Hot Springs. Mary and John will also discuss the fine fields drawn to the rich G3, $500,000 Count Fleet and the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.
This week our cup runneth over with graded stakes galore from coast to coast. A triumvirate of respected handicappers are stepping up to the microphone to give their insights on Saturday’s best offerings in a barrage of 100-40-20-10 Derby and Oaks preps. Writer, race caller, odds-maker, community volunteer and all-round good guy, Ed Meyer, is between racing meets and can join us again. He will be tackling the Gr. 1 $750,000 Santa Anita Derby and the Gr. 2 $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks. Then he will time travel to Oaklawn Park to the ladies in a highly competitive Gr. 3 $600,000 Fantasy. Eclipse Award winning writer and handicapper Marty McGee from the DRF will select his best bets from three of the top graded races that will be part of six graded races on an excellent betting program. Undefeated champion Essential Quality will compete in the Gr. 2 $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes; a tough group of fillies will go to post in the Gr. 1 $400,000 Ashland and we will round out his picks for the quality laden Gr. 1 $300,000 Madison Stakes. The “smooth as silk” on-air handicapper at the DRF, Dan Illman will take a bite out of the Big Apple feature races. Derby hopefuls will match strides in the historic Gr.2 $750,000 Wood Memorial, while one or two fillies will punch their ticket to the Ky. Oaks in the Gr. 3 $400,000 Gazelle. Since 1895 many greats have broken from the gates in the now Gr. 1 $250,000 Carter Handicap at 7 furlongs. After the race we will know whose name will be etched alongside racing greats Tom Fool; In Reality; King’s Bishop; Forego and Bold Ruler.
The man who brings us “The Derby Dozen” in the Blood-Horse, Byron King will be our first guest. The Louisville native will explain his methodology in creating the list for national distribution and tell us about recent changes in his selections. He will join John to discuss some of the top races on the 10-stakes card, focusing of several of the five graded races. Two “points” races will highlight the program – the Grade 1 $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby and the Grade 2 $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks. The duo will then examine the Grade 2 $200,000 Pan American on the turf. Veteran turf writer, handicapper and author Bob “Railbird” Roberts will be our second guest handicapper. He just returned from a vacation from Florida where he caught the Florida Derby and several days at Gulfstream Park, with a few games of golf mixed in. His analysis of the Florida Derby will lead off his selections and then he will look at two rare “points races” contested over Turfway’s All Weather Track now owned by Churchill Downs. The northern Kentucky track will present the uniquely named Jeff Ruby Steaks, a Grade 3 $250,000 test and the listed $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks.
Joe Kristufek is a self-proclaimed horse racing ambassador, and fan development has always been his passion. In addition to serving as the Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds paddock host and handicapper, the morning line maker for Arlington Park. and the handicapper and racing writer for the Daily Herald newspaper in his native Chicago, Joe has developed and executed several horse racing related, fan education projects. He is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association. Joe was the on-air talent for Hawthorne’s between race presentation in the 1990s. He was the owner, producer and host of popular racing magazine Horsin' Around TV. Joe has co-owned horses in partnership and helped develop the current Brilliant Racing Partnership. Joe will join John to try to etch out a Pick-4 ticket that features four Grade 2 races. The quartet will feature the 100-40-20-10 points races featuring the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Derby contenders and the $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. The first wo races in the Pick 4 are the $400,000 New Orleans Classic and the $300,000 grassy Muniz Memorial Classic. Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, horse racings #1 destination for player friendly qualifying contests and low takeout cash games. A 17year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the New York Racing Association and Daily Racing Form. He is also the longtime emcee at the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. HorseTourneys.com guru Eric Wing will join the show and outline some of the best contests to play this weekend using your E-Z Win Forms from Winningponies. Eric will give his hits and misses throughout the Kentucky Derby Preps. Then he and John will weigh in on the $1million Louisiana Derby and two Grade 3 races. From Santa Anita the San Luis Rey over the turf course and from Oaklawn Park the Hurricane Bertie.
Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps have been center stage, and with one exception this week, the spotlight will go on the older horses. Handicapper and author Rich Eng will join us from Las Vegas to give us his impressions of the major preps thus far. Rich has laser focus on the west coast scene, and we have two solid races to look at – the Gr. 1 $300,000 Beholder Mile that features the 2021 debut of champion Swiss Skydiver and the Gr. 3 San Simeon, an evenly matched group of older horses which includes the debut of Cistron, a 7-year-old horse who won this race last year and finished second in 2019.
Oaklawn Park has a slew of stakes races on Saturday’s program including the weekends only Derby points race – the Gr. 2 $1,000,000 Rebel Stakes. Joining us will be Oaklawn’s on-air personality and handicapper Nancy Holthus. She will join John to discuss the Oaklawn meet thus far and the Rebel that features and interesting cast of competitors that include recent Smarty Jones 10-length winner Caddo; the lightly-raced, but undefeated Concert Tour and last season’s Kentucky Jockey Club victor Keepmeinmind. Nancy will also analyze the Gr. 2 $350,000 Azeri and the $500,000 Essex Handicap.
Just as it appears that Covid-19 concerns are waning, it appears that Derby Fever is starting to spread from coast to coast. Brad Free, handicapper and columnist for the Daily Racing Form will cover the action taking place on the west coast. Derby dreamers will head to post in the G2 $200,000 San Felipe. That race is complimented on the card by two G1 contests – the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap and $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on the turf. On Sunday, Santa Anita will feature the G3 $100,000 Santa Ysabel that will be a Kentucky Oaks qualifier. Well-known handicapping contest winner Jonathan Kinchen will join John for the second handicapping portion of the show. On the east coast, Aqueduct will play host to two “points” races on Saturday. The G3 $300,00 Gotham Stakes has served as a springboard for such outstanding runners as Native Dancer, Dr. Fager, Easy Goer and the immortal Secretariat. Also on the card there is an Oaks prep in the G3 $250,000 Busher Invitational. Tampa Bay Downs has a solid card with five stakes races, four of them graded events. The main attraction is the G2 $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Oaklawn Park will offer the G3 $300,000 Honeybee Stakes with 50-20-15-5 points towards a ticket to the Kentucky Oaks.
Oaklawn Park has some great races that were postponed. Mary Rampellini who covers racing in the Southwest will update us on all of the news in that region. Saturday, the G3 $750,00 Southwest will serve as the first stepping stone for last season’s top 2-year-olds, Champion Essential Quality vs. his nemesis Jackie’s Warrior. Also on the card the G3 $600,000 Razorback Handicap. On Sunday we get to see another Champion as Monomoy Girl, after being purchased for $9.5 million by Spendthrift Farm, will make her seasonal debut in the G3 $250,000 Bayakoa. From chilly Hot Springs to balmy Gulfstream Park we go where the colorful “man behind the mike,” Pete Aiello will join us to talk about their outstanding card featuring 9 stakes races! Two 50-20-10-5 Derby and Oaks points races will take place with the boys squaring off in the G2 $300,000 Fountain of Youth while the ladies compete in the G2 $200,000 Davona Dale. Pete and John will also handicap the McDarmida and the Gulfstream Park Mile.
If you haven’t noticed, the lead story on every newscast is how the winter storms have been affecting life and livelihood from coast to coast. It has certainly caused upheaval upon the sport of thoroughbred racing. We will discuss how it impacts the day-to-day scheduling of races, postponements and health of the horses themselves with trainer Jeff Greenhill who has been facing the situation daily from his base in Northern Kentucky. Our guest handicapper is the popular Ed Meyer, who serves as a racing official in Kentucky. The unpredictable storms have affected that side of the racing game also. Ed joins John to analyze several rescheduled stakes races in the U.S. and look at the major players going to post in the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup. They will give their selections in the G2 $200,000 Buena Vista at Santa Anita; the G3 $100,000 Royal Delta from Gulfstream; and the rescheduled G3 2 stakes from Laurel - the General George and the Barbara Fritchie Stakes.
Trainer Tim Hamm has been the leading stakes trainer in Ohio for years, his success is now being recognized on the national stage. He was featured in this month’s Blood-Horse in a story written by Meredith Daugherty where she concisely states his formula for success.“ The former owner and operator of a successful construction company, Hamm has spent a lifetime moving from one phase to the next, building a career in the Thoroughbred industry that has helped him, his partners, and their horses reach the highest peaks of the game. Blood-Horse’s Associate Editor and anointed “King of the ‘Cappers” Byron King will join the show to analyze our selected races. It’s Mardi Gras week in New Orleans, so we will head to the Fair Grounds for the first two races in the “Championship Series” for the Ky Derby and Oaks carrying points on a 50-20-10-5 weight. We will look at the G2 $400,000 Risen Star; G3 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra; G3 $200,000 Mineshaft; and at Golden Gate the $100,000 El Camino Stakes.
Matt Bernier's style and presence on “Horseplayers” led to a position with the DRF. Bernier’s meteoric rise through his appearances on DRF.com has landed him a spot as a regular team member on major television broadcasts such as NBC, NBC Sports and ESPN as a handicapper and analyst. In “The Matt Bernier Show” aired from his home in the western Massachusetts suburb of West Springfield, Matt does a sensational job at breaking down the previous weeks best graded stakes. He will be joining us to talk about the evolution of “The Matt Bernier Show” and share his thoughts on this season’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Patricia P.J. Cooksey is a trailblazer for women in the sport of racing. From riding in the pony races as an 11-year-old at the Canfield County Fair to becoming the first woman to ride in a Classic race, the Youngstown, Ohio native started in the leaky-roof circuit of West Virginia and made her way to the Kentucky Derby and became the first woman to ride in the Preakness.
Damon Thayer is a member of the Kentucky State Senate, representing District 17. He assumed office in 2003. His current term ends on December 31, 2024. Thayer (Republican) won re-election to the Ky State Senate to represent District 17. The future of economic success for the horse industry in Kentucky may well rely on the existence of Historic Horse Racing. Machines that resemble slot machines, but rely on results from horse races from the past. They have a billion-dollar impact on Kentucky’s tax base and purses at the tracks. Thayer will give us insight into the Senate’s efforts to see that they continue to benefit the state and all of the additional entities they support. In our handicapping segment, the “Regular Guys” are reunited as Ed Meyer is able to join the show. There are 4 points races for the Ky Derby and Oaks on Saturday and the dynamic duo will analyze the G3 Forward Gal and Holy Bull at Gulfstream; The Martha Washington at Oaklawn and the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita.
Our 1st guest is Wendy Davis who is currently the President of the Turf Publicists of America. She also serves on a number of national equine boards and committees including the Racing Officials Accreditation Program as an executive board member, the National Animal Interest Alliance and the American Quarter Horse Association’s Youth Committee. Tom Law will join John for a Pegasus World Cup preview. There will be 7 graded stakes races offered at Gulfstream Park on Saturday headed by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. That race has been a game of musical stalls over the past months with potential entrants being withdrawn to start careers as stallions or to opt for other races around the world. 12 will race 1 1/8 miles, which may provide a challenge to some of the favorites parked on the outside for that short run to the first turn. The duo will also handicap the G1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and G2 $200,000 Inside Information at 7 furlongs.
Writer Natalie Voss garnered the rare achievement of winning TWO Eclipse Awards for her writing ability. Feature/Commentary – “’An Angel On His Shoulder’: This Thoroughbred’s Fate Was Written In Ink,” May 13, 2020. News/Enterprise – Multi-part Series: “A Decade In, How Are We Doing With Thoroughbred Aftercare?” Dec. 2, 2019; “Emptying The Ocean With A Teaspoon: The Challenges Of Aftercare,” Dec. 3, 2019; and “Aftercare Should Not Be An Afterthought: Solutions For The Future,” Dec. 4, 2019. Voss, from Georgetown, Ky, has now won 3 Eclipse Awards. Eric Wing from HorseTourneys will handicap Fair Grounds' 5 stakes on Saturday, 2 of which with Ky Derby or Oaks points. Trainer Brad Cox, who is winning with 24% of his starters has a song hand in both. In the $200,000 Lecomte he has Mandaloun and in $150,000 Silverbulletday he has 2 regally-bred fillies in Sunpath and Divine Comedy. In the $125,000 Louisiana Cox has Wells Bayou. Eric will update us on some exciting handicapping contests.
With not one graded stakes race to handicap, and plenty of news to report on, Frank Angst will be our first guest of 2021. The Eclipse Award winning writer for the Blood-Horse will join John to look back at thoroughbred racing in 2020 and how racing adapted, survived and in some unique cases grew. We asked Frank to bring his Crystal Ball and give us a look at what we might expect for 2021. Author of the 2014 Media Eclipse Award in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for “Waiting, and Waiting, for Crowning Glory: A generation repeatedly denied a Triple Crown winner looks to California Chrome,” an in depth examination of the difficulties of winning Thoroughbred racing’s greatest challenge, which appeared on bloodhorse.com on May 28, 2014. and offered a comprehensive multi-media presentation on the various components of the “near misses” of the Triple Crown.
Well it was a pleasurable two days of World-Class racing we witnessed in the Breeders’ Cup on a picture-perfect day. Wish we could have been there…oh well. Hope you all enjoyed betting and viewing the action, as there was excellent television coverage. We’ll be reviewing the weekend's highlights and then follow some of the super stars to their new homes or trips through the sales ring. John will be joined by his longtime friend Rich Eng, the author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies. You can follow Rich on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick, Facebook and www.racedaylasvegas.com For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Walter Cronkite of racing on the air is Todd Schrupp. He has been riding the waves for over 20 years now on TVG and has refined his craft as he grew with this once fledgling network. We will talk to him about the life that led to racing and the growth of the talent and racing coverage on TVG. You may have heard Andy Furman as a national sports talk host on FOX Radio. He’s been compared to the promotions man Bill Veek or P.T. Barnum bringing the circus to a track near you. We’ll explore the many unique promotions Andy put on at the various tracks – Chris Collinsworth racing a horse at Latonia; Polish Night at Buffalo Raceway, a coffin giveaway when the National Funeral Directors. John and Andy have been friends since his Latonia years and through his successful radio years. Andy had the most popular sports talk show on the Nation's Station 700-WLW in Cincinnati and brought on a young retired football player as a co-host to teach him the ropes of racing - Chris Collinsworth.
The Walter Cronkite of racing on the air is Todd Schrupp. He has been riding the waves for over 20 years now on TVG and has refined his craft as he grew with this once fledgling network. We will talk to him about the life that led to racing and the growth of the talent and racing coverage on TVG. You may have heard Andy Furman as a national sports talk host on FOX Radio. He’s been compared to the promotions man Bill Veek or P.T. Barnum bringing the circus to a track near you. We’ll explore the many unique promotions Andy put on at the various tracks – Chris Collinsworth racing a horse at Latonia; Polish Night at Buffalo Raceway, a coffin giveaway when the National Funeral Directors. John and Andy have been friends since his Latonia years and through his successful radio years. Andy had the most popular sports talk show on the Nation's Station 700-WLW in Cincinnati and brought on a young retired football player as a co-host to teach him the ropes of racing - Chris Collinsworth.
The Claiming Crown has ended Saturday at Gulfstream Park – with a record $14.6 million wagered – it was clear how much it had grown over the past 9 years at Gulfstream. Not only was this a day when a horse claimed six weeks ago for $6,250 could win an $80,000 race, but also a day when a BC Mile (G1) runner-up could prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1). Eric Hamelback, CEO of HBPA, which partners with TOBA on the Claiming Crown, believes the event is looked upon differently now that it is at Gulfstream. Eric and John will discuss the growth of the Claiming Crown. They will also comment on a recent release from Steve Asmussen about the effects having a “dark day” for the schedule and training of thoroughbreds. Saturday Horse Tourneys will offer many contest options on a great Gulfstream card. Eric “The Wing Man” Wing will join us to check out 5 stakes 4 of which graded - the G2 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale with 3 G3 $100,000 races the Harlan's Holiday, Rampart and Sugar Swirl.
G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland’s Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners. G.D. will join John to talk about his experiences at Keeneland and the many advancements he put in place in the visual art of racing. Hieronymus’ community engagement includes work with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. The best card on tap this weekend is Saturday’s from Aqueduct. They will offer a quartet of graded stakes – the $250,000 G1 Cigar Mile; the $150,000 G2 Demoiselle; the $150,000 G2 Remsen and the $100,000 G3 Go for Wand. There is no better source to handicap these top races from Aqueduct than a man who literally grew up on their backstretch – “The Big A” himself – Anthony Stabile.
Well it was a pleasurable two days of World-Class racing we witnessed in the Breeders’ Cup on a picture-perfect day. Wish we could have been there…oh well. Hope you all enjoyed betting and viewing the action, as there was excellent television coverage. We’ll be reviewing the weekend's highlights and then follow some of the super stars to their new homes or trips through the sales ring. John will be joined by his longtime friend Rich Eng, the author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies. You can follow Rich on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick, Facebook and www.racedaylasvegas.com For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Tyler Picklesimer is currently Racing Secretary for the soon-to-open Turfway Park. As if 2020 hasn’t already been a prolonged episode of The Twilight Zone, those familiar with the Northern Kentucky track (formerly Latonia) wouldn’t recognize the old grandstand – because it isn’t there!!! Tyler will discuss his many experiences and positions he has held at the track over decades. He will also talk about the challenges he faces as the razed track with a new racing surface will be open for live racing the week following Thanksgiving. Ernie Perri became a clocker 15 years ago. He moved on to Head Clocker 8 years ago at Woodbine. He also has been the morning Line odds maker for about 10 years. Currently he is the official Racing Analyst for Woodbine Entertainment. The best racing in North America will take place at Woodbine this Saturday. So Ernie will join John to analyze 3 graded stakes races – the $175,000 G2 Kennedy Road; $175,000 G2 Bessarabian and the $125,000 G3 Ontario Derby.
Well it was a pleasurable two days of World-Class racing we witnessed in the Breeders’ Cup on a picture-perfect day. Wish we could have been there…oh well. Hope you all enjoyed betting and viewing the action, as there was excellent television coverage. We’ll be reviewing the weekend's highlights and then follow some of the super stars to their new homes or trips through the sales ring. John will be joined by his longtime friend Rich Eng, the author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies. You can follow Rich on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick, Facebook and www.racedaylasvegas.com For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Friday and Saturday Keeneland will present the greatest two days of thoroughbred racing in North America – the 2020 Breeders Cup. We have brought together two of the country’s most respected handicappers (both from NY). Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the DRF News Desk. Illman's “Spa Babies” and “Keeneland Babies” columns are also featured on DRF.com during the Saratoga and Keeneland meets. Illman authored the book Betting Maidens and Two-Year-Olds, and he released the DVD Trip Handicapping in 2008, both for DRF Press. Anthony “the Big A” Stabile was born at the racetrack. His parents met at Aqueduct where he later worked as a hotwalker, groom and jockey agent at the NYRA tracks throughout high school and college before becoming a writer and handicapper for the NY Post in May 1999. He has contributed to the Ky Derby and Breeders' Cup for the Bloodhorse. Both Dan and Anthony will join John in 'capping the highlight races for both Friday and Saturday cards.
Hall of fame Jockey Pat Day is the President of the Race Track Chaplaincy who rely on volunteers and donations to support its good work providing a variety of needs and support for backstretch workers. In the year of the Covid-19 pandemic it surely produced new challenges in the work they do and Pat will update us on their current status. We will then ask Pat to look back at some of his Breeders’ Cup triumphs. Pat Day was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. This Saturday at Mahoning Valley they will present the $500,000 Best of Ohio final series. It is a day that usually produces the most state champions in every division. Rich Ruda for years has served as the on-air handicapper and does double duty as a member of the racing office in the mornings and works as a racing official during live racing. Rich will join John to break down the “Best of the Buckeyes on a Blue Moon Halloween Day at Mahoning Valley for a Spooktacular card of stakes.
On a day where Belmont Park is presenting a stakes laden card featuring NY-breds we thought we’d reach out to the President of the National Turf Writers Tom Law is who is born and bred upstate New Yorker. Tom Law and Joe Clancy started producing content for the NYTB this summer, so timing is good to talk about the Showcase Day at Belmont. Tom and John will discuss Tom’s latest ventures and handicap the two baby races carrying $150,000 purses – the Maid of the Mist for fillies and the Sleepy Hollow for colts and geldings. The $175,000 Empire Classic for older horses will round out the day. Destin Heath was the cover boy on Blood-Horse last week featuring his hard-working daily duties as the trainer for WinStar farm at their facility in Lexington. Destin has served many roles in racing including working for Tom Drury, who will have Art Collector in the BC Mile. He will share his story of his early days in the industry and ascent to his current position at WinStar.
Trainer Tim Hamm is looking forward to his 1st Breeders’ Cup start with Frizette winner Dayoutoftheoffice. He is having a breakout year after years of rising up on the Ohio/Kentucky circuit. He will discuss his family roots in racing, his breeding operation in Ohio with WinStar Farm and Dayoutoftheoffice's next start all fees paid in the G1 $2-mil BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 at Keeneland. Handicapper, oddsmaker, writer and track announcer Ed Meyer was a part of racing history last week when he got to call legendary jockey Perry Ouzts eclipse Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron with win 7,142. After the victory. a tribute video was displayed on the infield tote with congratulatory messages from Chris McCarron, Pat Day and W.J. Danner, the trainer who launched his career. Ed will team up with his “Regular Guy John Engelhardt to tackle a 3-day weekend of graded stakes - the G3 Pin Oak View at Keeneland on Fri., the G2 Raven Run on Sat. and the G3 Autumn Miss on Sun. at Santa Anita.
Dorothy Ours is a history-loving lifelong horse and racing enthusiast. She worked for several years at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and has written two books featuring Hall of Fame horses. Each has been honored as a finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. Man o’ War: A Legend Like Lightning digs for the actual — and truly phenomenal — individual who became a myth. Battleship: A Daring Heiress, A Teenage Jockey, and America’s Horse tells a story that sounds unreal: a 15.2-hand, 11-year-old stallion and a 6-foot-1, 17-year-old boy teaming up to win the world’s top steeplechase. She’s currently working on a third book. Eric Wing will be covering the 4 Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont Park. The Guru of Horse Tourneys will tell us what contests will be featured over the weekend. Reasons to visit Winningponies.com and pull down your E-z win Forms! Eric will join John in 'capping the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Flower Bowl, Frizette and Champagne.
This Saturday's 145th Preakness Stakes will offer Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a chance for a 6-6 record of KY Derby-Preakness double, when Authentic will go to the post from gate 9. Made a 9-5 favorite on the morning line, Authentic with stablemate Thousand Words (with blinkers) will offer Baffert his 7th Preakness win. Dan Illman will anchor the DRF view with insight and input on DRF.com. We will play to Dan’s strengths, and after his input on the Preakness, we will analyze the top Graded races at Belmont Park - the Gr. 1, Joe Hirsch; Gr. 1, Belmont Derby and the Gr. 3 Pilgrim. Brian Zipse has been following the Preakness Stakes closely and just penned a great story on the filly in the field, Swiss Skydiver on Horse Racing Nation. It is not only Preakness Day on Saturday, but the centerpiece of Fall Star All Stars at Keeneland. Brian and John will give their best bets on 3 of the Grade 1 Stakes - the Shadwell Turf Mile, the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the First Lady.
Trainer Tommy Drury in a matter of months, has experienced some of racing’s greatest highs with Art Collector winning the Toyota Blue Grass and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, and a heartbreaking low just days before entering the Kentucky Derby as one of the favorites. During a morning workout he nicked a bulb of his left front hoof. While another trainer and owner may have chosen a quick fix to get in the historic race, Drury and owner/breeder Bruce Lunsford cared more about their horse than smelling the roses on Derby Day. Art Collector is now doing well, according to Drury, who will tell us about the long strange trip it’s been and the excitement of bringing one of the favorites to the Preakness. A student of the sport and lover of the game, Gulfstream Park’s track announcer Pete Aiello has introduced many sports enthusiasts to racing with his colorful and story-telling race-calls. we will talk about some of his early days and handicap some of Saturday's Florida Sires Series races.
Smoke to the West pushed back the Santa Anita season and Belmont Park in the East has delayed the start until September 25th, so John and Eric Wing from Horse Tourneys are heading North to Woodbine. On Saturday, the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile and the Singspiel, a G3 event with a $125,000 purse. On Sunday, 2-year-olds are featured in two “Win and You’re In” races. The boys will match strides in the G1, $250,000 Summer Stakes and fillies are featured in the G1, $250,000 Natalma. The Paulick Report’s Bloodstock Editor Joe Nevills will discuss the trends evolving at the recent Keeneland Sale. Top stallions Tapit and Into Mischief kept leap frogging each other as the bids got higher. We are also seeing new partnerships being formed between top outfits going for sale toppers. Joe will weigh in on how Covid restrictions may impact the purchasing and also update us on some of the top females in racing which are being offered as racing and/or broodmare prospects in the later Fall Sales.
It was quite the Labor Day weekend in Thoroughbred Racing! From the Kentucky Derby and Oaks at Churchill Downs to Saratoga for the Woodward, Prioress, Jim Dandy and Hopeful out to Del Mar with graded stakes race highlighted by the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. We’ll do our best to cover these and other important news stories of the week. Now it is time to focus on America’s most unique and lucrative racing from Kentucky. Louisville native “King of the Handicappers” Byron King will join us to look at the rich graded races at Kentucky Down. The all-turf card is highlighted by the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup as last year’s winner Zulu Alpha will take on a full field of distance specialists. Following that event will be the $700,00 Run Happy Turf Sprint; while the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint and Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf will run earlier on the card,
It's hard to feel it, but it is Kentucky Derby/Oaks weekend! It looks like there will be no one inside, but perhaps protesters outside. Most of us will be having a private Derby Party in the comfort of our home or favorite betting outlet, but the races must go on! We've brought in two of our most popular handicappers - Rich Eng and Ed Meyer. of course they will be tackling the famous Oaks and Derby but we are giving the boys the chance to pick some of their favorite races on the under-card of both days. With some favorites being featured in the main events, we'll be mining for gold in the races leading up to them for your chance to get angles on Pick 3's and 4 leading up to them. ritsWith the national huge betting pools on these two days you will want to take advantage of our E-Z Win Forms and with that information and the insight from the show we hope you make some memorable scores. As always we will be featuring our free Derby Day Contest with cash and WP credits as prizes!
Award winning writer Tom LaMarra is the “go to guy” for racing coverage during the big day for Charles Town on Classic Day. He covers the Mid-Atlantic region and has been doing his homework on the horses in the major races on Friday to give you a kick start on the weekend's racing. Tom will join John to look at the live horses and longshots in the Gr.2, $600,000 Charles Town; Gr. 3, $200,000 Charles Town Oaks and $150,000 Dance to Bristol Stakes. Saratoga native Tom Law, a major part of the team that produces the Saratoga Special, will join us to speak about the Saratoga summer and the strange trip it has been without the annual crowds of enthusiastic racegoers. Tom likes to wager a bob or two at the races and he will discuss the match-ups in the Gr. 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer on the greensward; Gr. 1, $300,000 Forego and Grade 2,. $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes.
Talk about being close to the story, DRF writer Jay Privman lives exactly 11 miles from his home to his media parking space at Del Mar. Who better to give us an up close look at the Grade 1 $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic and the great undercard on Saturday with the Grade 1, $250,000 Del Mar Oaks and Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Handicap. Despite Covid restrictions, Jay stays close to the stories and the participants in each of these outstanding races. Ed Meyer and John Engelhardt have worked together hosting and producing racing related radio and television shows for over a decade. “The Regular Guys” will join forces to break down the action in the Pacific Classic, Saratoga’s Grade 1 Fourstardave and Grade 1 Diana and head to Monmouth Park for the Grade 3 Phil Iselin Stakes.
It seems like yesterday that Brian Hernandez, Jr. was on the show talking about his victory on Fort Larned in the 2012 $5 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is about to get to live out the dream of any jockey as he enters the KY Derby with Art Collector, one of the top 3 contenders in “The Run for the Roses” on September 5 at Churchill. We will be asking him about the colt’s wins in the Blue Grass and Ellis Park Derby and we will also talk about his relationship with trainer Tommy Drury and their plans for the days ahead. Eric Wing from Horse Tourneys will be our handicapper to look at the G1 “Win and You’re In” $500,000 Alabama Stakes and $500,000 Saratoga Invitational. Eric has some great contests coming up. One is called the Spa & Surf Showdown. It’s a straight cash tourney with a $2,000 buy-in. The guaranteed purse is already $343,000 and that will go up by Saturday. Players make a mythical $2 win & place selection on every race at Saratoga and Del Mar on both Saturday and Sunday.
What an amazing weekend of racing and we have brought in two regional experts to help us see how the races will develop. It is a Graded Stakes loaded card at Saratoga highlighted by the Midsummer Derby - the $1 million G1 Travers Stakes that will feature the pre-Derby favorite Tiz the Law in a race offering top tier points to get into the Kentucky Derby. The undercard is very strong with the G1 $300,000 Win and You're In Ballerina: G1 $300,000 Longines Test: G3 $200,000 Troy and if time allows Friday's G2 Saratoga Special, a major national test for 2-year-olds. Bob Railbird Roberts is a home grown Cleveland guy who covered the beat for decades for the Cleveland Plain Dealer at Thistledown. The track will play host to five $100,000 tests for Buckeye-breds that often determines divisional champions. Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the Daily Racing Form News Desk. Both Bob and Dan will join John to bring their top picks for our listeners.
Art Collector earned Tommy Drury his first graded stakes win in the G2 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland. Tommy has been a regular on this show for years with his trainer's perspective on varying subjects from conditioning young horses to his opinion on race-day medication rules. Host John Engelhardt, who has known and watched Drury’s rise would close out with interview by saying, “I’m telling you folks, this guy is flying under the radar, just watch.” Well, he is on the radar now With Art Collector established as one of the top 3 contenders for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. Byron King is not only a Associate Editor for Blood-Horse, but a student of the game. He will join John to analyze the quality card at Saratoga. The star-studded races include an appearance by superstar mare Midnight Bisou in the G1 $500,000 Personal Ensign; the Louisiana-bred No Parole taking on a tough field in the G1 $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens and the G1 $750,000 Whitney that features a field of millionaires.
This week it will be the best racing Coast to Coast from Del Mar to Saratoga! It has been a while since we caught up with Brad Free an author and West Coast correspondent from the Daily Racing Form. Perhaps the race with the most national interest will be the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap where Maximum Security, who was moved from John Servis to the barn of Bob Baffert has been working strongly at Santa Anita and Del Mar for his return to the races since February. Brad will also give us his insights to the Grade 2 San Clemente and Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read. Since our Regular Guy Ed Meyer has had time to watch trends at the Saratoga Meet we are reaching out to him for his laser-focused handicapping on Friday’s Grade 3 Quick Call with 3-year-olds dashing 5 ½ on the turf and Saturday’s Grade 2 Ballston Spa featuring the return of champion Sistercharlie, plus the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap that features the fastest horses in the east, including three millionaires.
This week’s show will be the tales of two Tom’s – both of them award-winning writers and avid handicappers. First out of the gate will be Tom LaMarra, who covers the Mid-Atlantic region, but hails from New Jersey and will be focusing on Monmouth Park on a day they feature five graded stakes races. The card is highlighted by the $1,000,000 Grade 1 TVG Haskell and horses searching to punch their ticket for the Kentucky Derby and the prestigious Grade 1 $300,000 United Nations. Tom Law will be our second guest. He is a key part of the team that produces the sensational coverage in the “Saratoga Special.” He will tell us about this “Special” meet that has many twists and turns in this bizarre year we are living through. He will weigh in on the schedule of the stakes due to the “Kentucky Derby Shuffle” and the effect of restrictions on the jockey colony. Tom will also tell us how a spectator-free meet is impacting the local community and the distribution of the “Saratoga Special.”
Since the creation of HRRN Mike Penna has put together a talented team of guests and handicappers – many have appeared on winningponies.com This week they will be covering the races at Keeneland and will feature the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday. Mike will join John to discuss the growth of the network, his “Stable of Stars” and Saturday’s coverage of the prestigious Blue Grass Stakes.. Frank Angst, award winning writer from the Blood-Horse, will look at the sensational Saturday at Keeneland. In his last two appearances he produced several upset winners at very nice prices. The stakes-laden card will be anchored by the prestigious Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, a $600,000 Grade 2 event that carries points towards the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Kenny McPeek has Swiss Skydiver entered with hopes for her to become the first filly to ever win this derby prep. The undercard includes includes the G1 $250,000 Madison; G2 $150,000 Shakertown, G1 $350,000 Jenny Wiley and the G1 $400,000 Ashland.
Multiple Eclipse Award winner winner Jennie Rees will be our first guest. She is heading up the publicity for Ellis Park who is on the verge of a record-setting season with a strong stakes program and outstanding trainers and jockeys competing there on a daily basis. Hall of Famer Steve Asmusssen will be stabling there coming off a record-setting season at Churchill Downs. He hasn't raced regularly there since 2016. Once again, Belmont is serving up an amazing stakes Saturday and we are bringing in the Horse Tourney Czar Eric Wing. Based in New York, he has been pouring over the outstanding card and will join John to give his insight into the Grade 2 Suburban; Grade 1 Manhatten; Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap; Grade 3 Poker and Grade 3 Victory Ride.
Veteran writer and handicapper Bob “Railbird” Roberts will join us to cover Ohio’s richest race – the $500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby that has drawn a highly competitive field headed by 2019 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court. The $1,235,451 earner will be making an equipment change with “Blinkers Off” and Flavian Prat will come in to ride for trainer Peter Eurton. The Cleveland-based Roberts. will also weigh in on the $75,000 Ohio-bred Cleveland Gold Cup and give his top picks in the $500,000 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.. Popular handicapper, writer, odds-maker and track announcer Ed Meyer will join us to analyze the Major Races on a talent-laden Churchill Downs Saturday Card. The last time he was on the show, Ed nailed a straight trifecta, upsetting the favorite for a hefty payoff. He and John will give their best bets on the $500,000 Grade 2 Stephen Foster; $200,000 Grade 2 Fleur de lis; $100,000 Grade 3 Regret and $100,000 Grade 3 Bashford Manor.
It will be a big day in The Big Apple on Saturday as we mix up the flow of the traditional Triple Crown. Usually the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes is the last in the series, but this year it will be the first and run at 1 1/8 miles. It will be a sure thing for a berth in the Kentucky Derby for the winner and an evenly matched field of 10 are set to go to the post. There will be a total of 6 graded stakes races with 4 of the Grade 1 events – The Belmont, Jaipur, Acorn and Woody Stephens. The lone Grade 2 event is the Pennine Ridge and the Grade 3 is the Wonder Again. To help us sort out the top horses in these quality fields we were able to secure HRRN’s Anthony Stabile and the DRF’s Dan Illman. These two top handicappers will join host John Engelhardt to give out their best picks and betting strategies for this exciting day of racing.
In this ever-changing racing world, Horse Racing Nation's Editor Jonathan Lintner is one of the busiest guys in the business. He will fill us in on who is out and who is in for the upcoming Belmont Stakes and September 5 Kentucky Derby. He will also speak to the always strong Belmont Stakes undercard, today's upset win by Moretti over Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston and Bob Baffert's next wave of top horses. The popular Happy Handicapper, Ed Meyer will join John to discuss life at the track during the Covid restrictions and a near record breaking day at his current base at Belterra Park. He weill then join The Regular Guy to look at some major races of the week including Friday's $125,000 Commentator Stakes at Belmont and that track's Grade 1 $300,000 Ogden Phipps on Saturday. Back at his Old Kentucky Home he will analyze the Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville Stakes on the turf course.
When it rains it pours! We are back to live racing folks, and we will be covering it from coast to coast, literally. Popular guest handicapper Rich Eng will cover the graded stakes action at Santa Anita. One runner will punch his ticket into the starting gate on Kentucky Derby Day as the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby offers Derby points of 100-40-20-10 and all eyes will be on Bob Baffert's undefeated Authentic. Rich will also analyze the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup and Grade II Santa Anita Oaks. Horse Tourney's Eric Wing will tackle a Pick-4 of graded races from newly opened Belmont Park. The Grade 1 Runhappy Carter Handicap will anchor the quartet of events that features a well seasoned group of graded stakes winners that offers great betting value. Leading to the Carter will be the Grade 2 Fort Marcy (turf); Grade 3 Intercontinental (turf) and Grade 3 Westchester.
Julie Krone remembers the summer of 2003 as one of her favorite seasons in racing. After coming out of a 3-year retirement in November of 2002 she would go on to become the first woman jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race. But it would also be her last summer competing as a jockey. This summer will look a bit different for the Hall of Famer, but she said she is equally as excited to be making her return into the racing world. Krone has announced that she will become the agent for Ferrin Peterson, a 28-year-old jockey who was making waves last summer at Del Mar and is now preparing for this year’s season at Monmouth Park, a track that has a special place in Krone’s heart. Joe Kristufek will talk about his new venture in drawing new owners to the sport through his newly formed Brilliant Racing partnership program.Then the Churchill Downs Handicapper will analyze their two Graded $100,000 stakes on Saturday - the Winning Colors S. (G3) and the Old Forester Mint Julep S. (G3).
Mark Klein is a funny man by trade but is also a thoroughbred race horse owner. Mark was a frequent guest on “The Regular Guy Handicapping Show” which emanated from River Downs for a decade, hosted by our own John Engelhardt. Mark is currently involved in several racing partnerships. His livelihood is on temporary hold until they sort out all of the Covid-19 restrictions that affect us all. With a break in his schedule, Mark will be joining us in the first segment and his appearance will be guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
Eclipse Award winning writer and handicapper for the DRF Marty McGee with join us in the second segment of this “All-Louisville Edition.” Marty will discuss the process of performing his duties without being able to cover the morning workouts and afternoon racing. All eyes in the handicapping world will be on Louisville Saturday as Churchill Downs will present five stakes races, including the $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes –a Grade 3 and Ky Derby points race.
Kevin Kerstein the Publicity Manager at Churchill Downs is working double time trying to report on all of the things happening with the track - shipping in, live racing, new addition of Kentucky Derby and Oaks points races and the upcoming stakes under the Twin Spires. He will join us to touch on all these subjects and whatever pops up at the Louisville oval in the next 24 hours.
Our favorite guest, Ed Meyer, that has a resume in racing as long as Secretariat's stride, will join us for the second segment. Ed and John will discuss racing' most current happenings and the newly nominated points races that will get a field of 20 into the new starting gate on the First Saturday in SEPTEMBER! Ed is going to pick out his favorite three races on the Saturday Churchill card and he and John will compare notes to give out their best plays of the day
Lawrence Scanlan lives in Kingston, Ontario and is the author or co-author of more than two dozen books. They include: 'The Horse God Built' (about the life of Secretariat, with a focus on the horse's groom, Eddie Sweat); 'Wild About Horses' (the history of the horse-human relationship), and 'The Man Who Listens to Horses' (the memoir of horse trainer Monty Roberts).He will tells us what is keeping him busy these days.
Jonathan Lintner is the editor of the popular racing website Horse Racing Nation. A timely service for news it provides recent updates on all things racing – feature races of the week; racing dates and closures (including the recently announced Preakness date); horses making comebacks or heading to the sidelines; the ever-changing jockey colonies this year and top contenders on the Derby trail. Jonathan with join the show this week to cover all of the topics above and all that goes into putting together the all-encompassing website Horse Racing Nation.
Writer and Commercial real estate tycoon Mark Paul will reminisce on a life fully lived with all the amazing stories about gambling, owning racehorses and writing about it, including a harrowing 5,000-mile sail boat journey through the Panama Canal and then on to the island of Jamaica, to attend Caribbean and South American horseraces. In May 2018 the Supreme Court ruled to allow State legalized sports betting. Mark believes that public interest in gambling and sports in general will reach new levels, and will discuss the benefits from life-changing horseraces, and other kinds of sporting events.
Writer/Handicapper Anthony Stabile will join John to handicap the two divisions of Saturday’s Arkansas Derby and talk about a unique event on HRRN. With the Kentucky Derby being postponed to Labor Day weekend, they are proud to present the HRRN Fantasy Derby which will air Saturday, May 2nd at 5 p.m. Eastern on Sirius 219/XM 201 and streaming live on the HRRN site.
The National HBPA using effective policies in place at Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park, and Tampa Bay Downs, and in consultation with other authorities—has assembled a list of best practices for tracks to follow in order to safely conduct spectatorless racing during the COVID-19 crisis. Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA will talk about the importance of safety guidelines to be in place to get racing alive again in Kentucky and others tracks in their meets ahead.
Sen. Damon Thayer, lawmaker from the Bluegrass State will weigh in on the horse industry and potential return to racing at Churchill Downs. In March 2020 during the first session of the Kentucky Senate Thayer proposed legislation to strip powers away from the Governor. He is currently urging the Governor to allow Kentucky’s most vital industry –RACING - starting with a return to action as soon as possible at Churchill Downs.
There are so many subjects we need to touch on in these tumultuous times in racing. We'll be speaking to two popular Winningponies guests to touch on as many as we can.
Tom Law will be our first interview. As he works closely with hunter/jumper experts, Sean and Joe Clancy on thisishorseracing.com, we will see if current restrictions will spill over to effect the world of Steeplechase Racing.
Brian Zipse founder of Horse Racing Nation will weigh in on all of the pertinent topics of the day, including the recent trainer indictments and the shuffling of the Triple Crown Series. There is still some quality racing out there, Brian and John will look at Oaklawn Park's two graded stakes that will take place on Saturday. The Grade 1 $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap and the Grade 3 $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
We have been covering the racing industry and the changes it's been going through with this period of social isolation. This week we will look at it’s impact on racing on the west coast. Jay Privman has been covering that territory for over two decades and while he doesn’t have a crystal ball, he does have keen observation of what is shifting to keep racing alive in that part of the country. Jay is a six-time winner of the Red Smith Award.
They say, “You can’t go home again” and in a sense that’s a new fact for Ed Meyer. Turfway Park, formerly Latonia, has been a seasonal home to Ed since he was a boy attending the races with his father. In a short period of time, his “home” will fall victim to the wrecking ball as new owner Churchill Downs will make a needed change.. Ed and John will stretch their memories of the Florence, Kentucky oval with stories and events over the years. At the midway point they will switch gears and do some handicapping on live races that will take place.
Jack Knowlton first burst on to the national racing scene when his NY-bred gelding Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2003. It appears that his Sackatoga Stable has again caught lighting in a bottle with another NY-bred in Tiz the Law, who dominated the field in the G1 Florida Derby. With the Kentucky Derby now moved to Sept. 5 and the national stakes schedule in flux due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Knowlton said he is waiting to see how the Triple Crown race dates unfold.
Trainer Kenny McPeek has a reputation for spotting yearlings with potential at a modest price and turning them into stakes winners.. He did it again on Saturday as his $35k purchase Swiss Skydiver captured the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks over the undefeated Tonalist’s Shape and million-dollar baby Spice Is Nice. We’ll talk about his development of Swiss Skydiver and the challenges he faces dealing with a large stable at the track in addition to his Magdalena Farm in Lexington.
Dave Johnson is a legendary announcer and sportscaster, best known for his work in horse racing with ABC and NBC Sports and at various race tracks in NY and NJ. His signature line And down the stretch they come! is instantly recognizable throughout the sport, . He currently co-hosts a daily racing show on Siruis Radio with Bill Finley. Dave has seen racing ebb and flow through his decades in the racing industry. He will give us his insights on what the future may hold. As a 3-year-old kid, Pete Aiello remembers donning jockey silks his grandmother bought him from the Hialeah Park gift shop and running around the Citation statue in the paddock. His love for horse racing started that day in 1988 and continues now, 31 years later. Aiello landed the full-time race caller role. Pete has been there since calling races like the rich Pegasus and he will call this Saturday's card featuring the G1 $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby and G2 $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks.
Evan Hammonds is the Editorial Director of the Blood-Horse. His “What’s Going On Here” editorial comments greet readers as you open the magazine. Well written and insightful, he certainly will be addressing the ripple effect going through the racing industry with the elimination of this spring’s Keeneland meet and the rescheduling of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. At this point we don’t know how other tracks with major races will be addressing the current situation. As always, it will be interesting to get Evan’s opinion on the challenges that lie ahead for thoroughbred racing and the industry as a whole. Frank Angst is an Eclipse Award winner who is the Features Editor of the Blood-Horse and has been working for that publication since 2013, previously he was writer for the Thoroughbred Times for 12 years. In addition to his writing skills he is an avid handicapper and in his last appearance on the show he gave out several winners, none of them favorites.
Trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, among 27 people indicted Monday after an investigation into horse doping, are due back in court Mar. 23 for their arraignment. The Paulick report has been giving full coverage to this story and Ray Paulick, will update us on the latest news and discuss the overall impact on the sport. Saturday will see the end of an era in Kentucky. Turfway Park will contest the Gr. 3 $250,000 Derby prep Jeff Ruby Steaks (formerly the Spiral Stakes) over the Polytrack for the last time. After this meet the grandstand will be torn down and the track surface removed. Now owned by Churchill Downs, a new grandstand will be built and the surface will now be Tapeta. Rich Eng, now based in Las Vegas, was the longtime track Publicist and saw the track undergo major changes. Rich will join John to analyze the track's two major races The Jeff Ruby and Bourbonette Oaks. They will also look at the major Derby prep in the Gr. 2 $1 million Rebel Stales at Oaklawn Park.
Chip Bach is the General Manager of Turfway Park. He has been at the helm through the many changes the track has gone through, including several ownership changes. Chip will reflect on the early days at Turfway and its impending resurgence under the banner of Churchill Downs. Next Saturday, Turfway will present its best day of racing for the season with four stakes highlighted by the Grade 3 $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, a prep for the Kentucky Derby. Byron King, Associate Editor of the Blood-Horse is a Louisville native who is on the road covering the Grade 1 $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap. Who will add his name to that lofty club? whiie on the west coast he will also be covering the Oaks Points important Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes. In addition to those races, Byron will join John to take a look at other Oaks points races - the Busher at Aqueduct and Honeybee at Oaklawn Park. Derby points races on Saturday include the Tampa Bay Derby, Gotham Stakes and San Felipe.
Our first guest Brian Sanfratello has been PHBA Executive Secretary since 2014 and Board member from 2002-2014. He has been a Thoroughbred breeder and owner since 1995, He resides in Bucks County with his wife Theresa. He will comment on the story of the potential of the Pennsylvania's Gov. proposal to take funding away from racing.
Eric Wing from Horse Tourneys is our guest handicapper. We will look at the Saudi Cup and the two Derby/Oaks points races at Gulfstream Park - the Gr. 2 $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes and Gr.2 $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes on a card that features EIGHT Graded Stakes races!
T. D. Thornton gives out his observations on the top Kentucky Derby contenders each week in the Thoroughbred Daily News. Here is how he describes himself - I'm a Boston-based writer who aspires to give a voice to dark, edgy characters lurking far beneath the radar of mainstream media. Gamblers, grifters, hustlers, prize fighters and racetrackers are among my most appealing characters, and I have a keen interest in writing about “low” subjects with a literary twist. My Adventures with Your Money: George Graham Rice and the Golden Age of the Con Artist details the flair and showmanship of America’s greatest swindler.
Bill Finley is a New Jersey-based writer who writes a weekly column on espn.com, and is the co-host of Down The Stretch, an Eclipse Award-winning weekly radio program on Sirius Satellite Radio.
Bill will join us to discuss a variety of racing related stories he has covered over the past months. You can read him almost daily at the Thoroughbred Daily News.
John W. Ball Sr. is a retired Naval officer and lifetime horse racing fan. He graduated from the University of Louisville Equine program in 1989 and immediately started his own company Horse Star Cards Inc. creating trading cards depicting the winners of the Kentucky Derby. He later added Jockey Star Cards and Breeders’ Cup trading cards as products and served as the Jockeys’ Guild marketing director publishing The Jockey News and the annual Jockeys’ Guild Yearbook. He will take us through memory lane on his involvement with horse racing.
Gary West, a frequent guest on this show will join John in examining all the stakes action this weekend from across the country highlighted at Fair Grounds with the $400,000 G2 Risen Star Stakes and the $300,000 G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes both at Fair Grounds. They will also handicap the $250,000 G3 General George Stakes and the $250,000 G3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes both at Laurel Park. From the west coast we have the $200,000 G2 Santa Monica Stakes.
As if multi-Eclipse Award winning writer Jennie Rees needed a 5th job, she’s expanding her varied skill set to create the “Thoroughbred News Service.” According to Jennie, “We speak about the mission of the Thoroughbred News Service: to provide quality written and video racing content to the media for free on run up to the Ky Derby. Trying to take advantage of the interest in horse racing in the spring.” “We do not want to duplicate what racetracks' publicity teams or industry organizations such as NTRA are doing,” emphasizes Rees. “We think we fill a niche, especially doing the heavy-lifting of pushing it out to mainstream media.' Fans can get on “The Thoroughbred News Service” email list and get all the content by emailing Jennie at tracksidejennie@gmail.com.
Award winning writer and respected handicapper Gary West is part of the team and has a weekly top 20, actually a weekly top 24, because he lists four AEs. We will be reviewing his current list as part of the broadcast.
Michael Blowen just received a unique honor at the Eclipse Awards he will share with us in addition to announcing that Old Friends, welcomed the beloved, one-eyed fan favorite Patch on Jan. 20. The son of Union Rags out of the A. P. Indy mare Windyindy a 2017 Derby prospect has placed 3rd in the Belmont. Patch was donated by owner Calumet Farm following his 3 season racing career. He became the feel-good story of the year as he overcame the adversity of loosing an eye as a 2 year-old.
Nationally recognized handicapper Jonathon Kinchen will look at the Derby/Oaks points races as he warms up for another potential championship. He will be on the Fox Sports/NYRA broadcasts again this year on-air on Feb 21. Kinchen, a realtor who has taken the contest world by storm since playing his first tournament less than 2 years ago, is now eligible for a $2 million bonus should he go on to win the 17th DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) set for Jan. 28-30 at Treasure Island.
Popular guest Brian Zipse, one of the founders of the exceptional website Horse Racing Nation will join us to handicap the major races at Gulfstream Park on Pegasus Day. Brian always has great insight and opinions into the major national races and will pick his favorite races of the day and give us his picks and pans. Pete Aiello is a native of South Florida and a graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. Mr. Aiello was the track announcer at Hialeah Park and River Downs before landing the top spot at the microphone at Gulfstream Park. Pete Aiello will have the best view of the outstanding card at Gulfstream Park for Pegasus Day as he will tower over the fields from his view as track announcer. Pete always does his homework and you can bet he is ready to approach this day where he will call the best horse in training. He will pass along his observations of the 6 Graded Stakes on the day’s talent-laden fields.
Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, A 17-year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the NYRA and DRF. He will talk NHC and the Flo-Cal Faceoff (a special HorseTourneys event). Eric and John will analyze some of the top races of the weekend including the Derby Points carrying Gr. 3 Lecomte and Gr. 3 Louisiana Stakes from the Fair Grounds; the Gr. 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct and the Sunshine Million Classic on a stakes-laden day at Gulfstream Park.
Terry Meyocks is currently the National Manager of the Jockeys' Guild Inc. Prior to forming MORE (Meyocks and O'Hara Racing Entreprises, Inc.), he has worked within the thoroughbred industry since graduating from Loras College in 1972. Terry will discuss the leading topics discussed at the recent Jockey Guild Assembly such as engaging jockeys with the media, the new Jockey Guild App and restrictions on the use of the whip
Lenny Shulman is tapping his breaks on his day-to-day duties at the BloodHorse and charting a path that will keep his many talents on display in the media – at his own pace. We’ll talk to Lenny about his life covering the racing game and his recently published book about the meteoric rise and success of Triple Crown winner Justify. “Lenny whose prolific writing has lifted the bar at Blood-Horse to new heights, is taking a step back from his day-to-day role as features editor. Thankfully, he’ll stay on to write a pair of features a month. Andrew Champagne is a well-known handicapper who has served in many capacities in thoroughbred racing. He will join John to discuss the upcoming season and the top stories from 2019. Then it is on to the analysis of Saturday only Graded stakes races - at Gulfstream Park there are two on the turf the Marshua's River Stakes (G3) and the Tropical Turf (G3) and at Santa Anita they are featuring La Canada Stakes (G3) and the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3).
This will be Joe Nevills' first interview on WinningPonies since becoming a Eclipse Award winner for Feature/Commentary Writing. “It’s just one of those things you dream of doing, like hitting a Grand Slam to win Game 7 of the World Series,” Nevills said about winning an Eclipse Award. In “Biting The Dust: A Long Goodbye to Mount Pleasant Meadows,” Nevills tells the story of the demise of a small mixed-breed track in central Michigan through the eyes of trainer Nate Funnell, jockey Lee Gates, track announcer and marketing director Scott Csernyik, and through his own personal recollections of a place where he learned and enjoyed horse racing beginning with his family at age four.
Tom Law will join us as we enter 2020 to review The Best Of the decade. It could be horses, jockeys, races, trainers or trends in racing. We will see where the conversation takes us, just two guys talking horses.
Anna Ford from New Vocations is the program Director in charge of the Thoroughbreds & Adoption Office. This program starting this week, will produce the simulcast television feed for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race which will run informational slates that feature retired racehorses available for adoption. The slates will include a photo of the horse, biographical info, what they will be most suitable for in retirement (ie. trail riding, show jumping, etc…) and contact information for the farm where the horse is located.
Rich Eng will join John to take a step back and look at “The Year in Review.” A lot happened in the racing world in 2020 and issues are percolating concerning track and horses safety, new medication restrictions, jockey regulation in the saddle. Maximum Security was first horse to be disqualified in the Derby.. Horse of the Year looks like between Bricks and Mortar and Mitole. There is plenty for discussion and Rich will share his insights with us.
Anna Ford from New Vocations is the program Director in charge of the Thoroughbreds & Adoption Office. This program starting this week, will produce the simulcast television feed for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race which will run informational slates that feature retired racehorses available for adoption. The slates will include a photo of the horse, biographical info, what they will be most suitable for in retirement (ie. trail riding, show jumping, etc…) and contact information for the farm where the horse is located.
Rich Eng will join John to take a step back and look at “The Year in Review.” A lot happened in the racing world in 2020 and issues are percolating concerning track and horses safety, new medication restrictions, jockey regulation in the saddle. Maximum Security was first horse to be disqualified in the Derby.. Horse of the Year looks like between Bricks and Mortar and Mitole. There is plenty for discussion and Rich will share his insights with us.
?Edward Bowen is the author of 18 books, his latest is “The Lucky Thirteen.” In more than a century of American Thoroughbred racing, only thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown,( the Derby, Preakness and Belmont won all in the same year). Veteran turf writer and racing historian Edward L. Bowen takes us through the rich history of one of the most formidable and exciting challenges in all of sport. Bowen covers the trainers, owners, and jockeys who etched their names into the annals of thoroughbred racing, and the “lucky thirteen” who won the Triple Crown. Sunday is “get away day” at Remington Park. They will be closing out the week with no less than 6 stakes. Expect some shippers for the $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile as it is a legitimate first step on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Mary Rampellini covers the racing at Remington and will join John to handicap not only the Springboard Mile, but the three $100,000 races on the card that will feature a lucrative Pick-4.
After Tom's d'Etat crossed the finish line first in the Gr. 1 600,000 Clark Stakes at Churchill, there was one person missing from the winner’s circle photo – trainer Tommy Drury. Al Stall, Jr. is the actual trainer of Tom's d'Etat, but Drury is the 'Behind the Scenes' conditioner who adds Stall and a variety of other high-profile trainers to his list of clients.
Tommy will discuss his life as a trainer, the advantages of working at the Skylight Training Center and his techniques of developing horses like Eclipse Award winner Hansen among others.
Sid Fernando is president of eMatings.com and Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., owner of eNicks. A former bloodstock editor and columnist at DRF, Sid is an internationally known pedigree writer whose articles have appeared in racing and breeding publications around the world.
Sid will talk about the creation and evolution of the Werk 'Nicking' system and how it has become an invaluable tool in breeding and buying thoroughbreds.
With no major races in the pre-Breeders Cup days, we put together a rare show with 2 duets. Our first 2 guests are well-known nationally - one as a jockey and the other a writer - AND they happen to be married. Jay Hovdey has written a book about a special time during Julie Krone's riding career titled One Sweet Ride. It chronicles the period where she teamed up with Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and owners Sid and Jenny Craig to ride Candy Ride in the 2003 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.. The father and son duo of jockey Jack Gilligan and his father Patrick will describe the continued journey of their first 2 years in the U.S. made into a popular book penned by Patrick named Around Kentucky with the Bug! detailing Jack's early days breaking into the sport from Belterra, Turfway, Mountaineer, Indiana Grand, Churchill and Keeneland, Jack has ridden several Graded stakes winners. We will talk to both about the climb in their careers and a new book by Patrick that is in the works.
Retired Jockey and racing personality Donna Barton Brothers has a lifelong love affair and respect for horses. In a recently written article she pulls back the curtain on PETA and what they really stand for and are doing to damage the sport of horse racing. It is a no holds barred stand against this group of bullies and an insight into their methods to influence the opinions of those that really don't understand all that goes in to developing and caring for the horses they breed and race. Our second guest is the ever-popular Ed Meyer who will discuss all of the national news that has evolved since the running of the Breeders' Cup. Ed and John will then look north of the border where Woodbine will host the $225,000 Coronation Futurity where 2-year-olds will try to stretch 1 1/8 miles. Woodbine also has the Grade 2, $175,000 Kennedy Road featuring Canada's Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd vs. eight rivals dashing 6 furlongs. Pink Lloyd is searching for his 22nd lifetime victory.
Eric Mitchell has joined Blood-Horse Publications in October 1999 as a senior staff writer. He will discuss the recent sales and which the hot first and second crop sires are. Bob Railbird Roberts has been a guest handicapper on WinningPonies many times. This week he will join us, not to handicap, but to talk about his new book - Writings of a Railbird. Selecting articles from 40 years of writing for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he takes us through stories filled with excitement, challenges and humor from every aspect of the racing world. The Railbird will discuss the evolution of his writing and the characters he met along the way.
Not much notable racing happening after the Breeders' Cup, so DRF Jay Privman will be our featured guest to examine the impact of last weekend's results at Santa Anita. This year’s Breeders’ Cup took place in Jay’s backyard at Santa Anita and he had an inside view of the people and horses, winners and losers. We will review the impact the races may have had on the end of year championships. You can find these recent Breeders’ Cup related stories written by Jay on drf.com
The big weekend is only a few hours from going to post at Santa Anita. The weather is in the ’80s and sunny with Fast and Firm courses. A perfect day for wagering and watching the action. Two of our most popular handicappers are here with some free selections to whet your appetite and get you ready to download your E-Z Win Forms and do battle with the best two days of racing of the year, the Breeders' Cup Series..
Daily Racing Form's Handicapping Editor Dan Illman and Belterra's Race Caller, Odds-line Maker and previous Host of this show Ed Meyer will Join John to sift through Friday's and Saturday's cards at Santa Anita with the highlight being the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
And as always may your winners be many and your photos few.
Brian Zipse has been covering the scene for next week's edition of the Breeders' Cup and the pre-entries are now out. He will be our guest to cover the story lines and give insights to the contenders and pretenders. He will share the latest information gleaned from his publication Horse Racing Nation. Saturday is the biggest day of competition for the Buckeyes - not the two-legged kind from Columbus - but the four-legged kind at Mahoning Valley. There is a pot of $750,000 awaiting The Best of Ohio in every division. We are bringing in Bob Railbird Roberts the Dean of Ohio Racing. The fields have been drawn for the five races and while reigning Ohio Horse of the Year Altissimo looks like a standout in the Sprint - there are plenty of upset opportunities in the other races making up the Best of Ohio Pick 5 that will feature a Takeout of only 15%!
With no major races in the pre-Breeders Cup days, we put together a rare show with 2 duets. Our first 2 guests are well-known nationally - one as a jockey and the other a writer - AND they happen to be married. Jay Hovdey has written a book about a special time during Julie Krone's riding career titled One Sweet Ride. It chronicles the period where she teamed up with Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and owners Sid and Jenny Craig to ride Candy Ride in the 2003 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.. The father and son duo of jockey Jack Gilligan and his father Patrick will describe the continued journey of their first 2 years in the U.S. made into a popular book penned by Patrick named Around Kentucky with the Bug! detailing Jack's early days breaking into the sport from Belterra, Turfway, Mountaineer, Indiana Grand, Churchill and Keeneland, Jack has ridden several Graded stakes winners. We will talk to both about the climb in their careers and a new book by Patrick that is in the works.
Horses can be cross-entered in multiple races, with decisions to be made by Monday of race week for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Saturday at Santa Anita Park. Several horses have been lucky enough to have options to go one way or another: - Omaha Beach, Mitole, Catalina Cruiser, Bricks and Mortar and Catholic Boy all have their options open. In another twist, Tiz the Law, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne, is opting to pass the Breeders' Cup set on a well-planned route to the Kentucky Derby. They pulled it off with Funny Cide! The new Associate Editor at the Blood-Horse, Byron King, will join us to give his opinion on the path they will take. If time allows he will give us his insights on Keeneland's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup. There is some great racing north of the border this Saturday and Woodbine clocker Ernie Perri will join John to look at the top contenders in the Grade 1 $600,000 E.P. Taylor; Grade 1 $800,000 Canadian International and Grade 2 $250,000 Neartic Stakes.
It's that time of the year... leaves are beginning to change, the long awaited cold front is rumored to come in, a huge amount of Win and You're In so the Farmer's Almanac says it is again Fallstars Allstars weekend at Keeneland October 4-6. Keeneland will host 8 of those races and Keeneland's hard working publicist Amy Owens will set the stage for us for the entire meet. She will give us updates on the horses involved in the 3-day event and new happenings at the Lexington track that looks to have fine weather for the events.
We are bringing in the other half of the Regular Guy show as fan favorite Ed Meyer will join John to asses the best on Saturday's card - The $1 million Gr.1 Turf Mile; the $500,000 Gr.1 Claiborne Farm Breeders' Futurity; the $400,000 Gr.1 First Lady Stakes and the $250,000 Gr. 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. It is a big task with all of the outstanding horses at the iconic track, but Ed and John have plenty of experience 'Capping at Keeneland.
In a rare unanimous vote, Sophie Doyle was voted Jockeys’ Guild Foundation Detox Jockey of the Week for September 16-22, 2019. The award is voted on by a panel of experts for riding accomplishments by members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 riders in North America. Sophie will join winningponies host John Engelhardt to discuss her picture-perfect ride and what it meant to her and the entire Street Band team.
In 2017, Andrew Champagne left TVG for the DRF, where he currently serves as a Web Producer, maintaining pages on DRF.com. Furthermore, he continued his freelance work as a handicapper for The Saratogian. John will put Andrew’s handicapping skills to the test in a quartet of graded races at Belmont Park – two that are Breeders Cup “Win and You’re In” events. The richest race of the day is the $750,000 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup followed by the $300,000 Grade 1 Vosburgh; $300,000 Grade 2 Beldame and the $200,000 Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes.
Atlanta author Peter Lee says that a safety pin was the cause of Spectacular Bid's loss in the 1979 Belmont. Experts have thought the horse's trainer, Bud Delp, made up the excuse story. Some point to 19-year-old jockey Ron Franklin's poor ride as the reason for the loss. Lee, author of Spectacular Bid: The Last Superhorse of the Twentieth Century interviewed several people, including the owners, Tom and Teresa Meyerhoff, Pete, and trainer Bud Delp's brother, Richard, who all corroborated the story.
Frank Angst will tackle thoroughbred racing current issues and 'cap 2 $1 Million races. In the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) a bout of colic sent the favorite - Maximum Security to the sidelines and opened the door for several other top 3-year-olds.
The Cotillion (G1) has the undefeated Guarana in a rematch with Acorn runner-up Serengeti Empress. 2-year-old champion Jaywalk will face the top two. In the $300,000 Gallant Bob (G2), a well-matched field of nine will dash the 6 furlongs.
The “Road to the Kentucky Derby officially begins Saturday with the 38th running of the dollar 200,000 Iroquois Stakes (GIII) for 2 year old and the 51st running of the dollar 200,000 Pocahontas (GII) for 2 year old fillies, that kicks off the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” . Both events are part of the Breeders Cup “Win and You are In Divisions.”
Other stakes races on Saturdays program are the 36th running of the dollar 200,000 Locust Grove (GIII) for fillies and mares and the 11th running of the dollar 125,000 Open Mind for fillies and mares.
Joe Kristufek, the Churchill Downs On Air Handicapper will help John to handicap the 3 graded stakes races.
Big day at North of the Border highlighted by the Win and You are In the dollar 1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile(GI). The undercard features the dollar 300,000 Northern Dancer Turf (GI); the dollar 250,000 Canadian Stakes (GII) and the dollar 125,000 Bold Venture Stakes (GIII).
Ernie Perri the clocker at Woodbine will help John with as many Woodbine stakes as time will allow.
Barry Meadow has spent more than 50 years in the gambling world gambling, and writing about it. He is best known for his book Money Secrets At The Racetrack, the definitive guide to money management. He wrote his first book, Success At The Harness Races, in 1967. He gambled full-time on the harness races at Los Alamitos. Eventually, he would switch to the thoroughbreds. In 1994, he came out with Secrets Of The Pick 6, Meadow was a speaker at every Handicapping Expo since 1990 and was a member of the NTRA Players Panel. Barry will delve into his exciting career at the tracks and his literary success with his many racing books.
Award-winning journalist Caton Bredar grew up in the shadow of Arlington Park and held a variety of licenses on the racetrack including exercise rider, owner, trainer and racing official before turning her attention to broadcasting. She will Join John in handicapping the main stakes on this Saturday with Belmont Park opening it's Fall Meet on Friday.
Americas most European racetrack - Kentucky Downs kicks off it is short meet. It is the home to Americas only European-style all turf racecourse, at 1 5 or 16 miles in length, Unlike other racetracks, it is course is kidney-shaped, with undulation and a unique right-hand bend, with subtle elevation changes throughout.
Byron King wears many top hats - columnist, handicapper, bloodstock agent, soccer coach and now he is doing the morning line for Kentucky Downs race meet. Byron will join John in finding the potential winners.in the Dollor 750,000 Tourist Mile; the Dollor 500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile and the Dollor 500,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies.
Popular writer and handicapper Brian Zipse will help us with all the action from coast to coast. Starting with the Gr. 1 Dollor 750,000 Woodward. On the undercard is the Gr. 2 Dollor 250,000 Prioress. Moving West we will take a look at the Gr. 3 Dollor 250,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. Last on the flight going West is the Gr. 1 Dollor 300,000 Del Mar Debutante.
Drum roll please”Ladies and gentlemen, it is our honor to present to you for the 150th time the Midsummer Derby!” Yes, it is time to see who has matured since the first Saturday of May and withstood the rigors of racing. Can trainer Bill Mott claim 2 Derbies? While eventual Derby winner Country House is on the sidelines, his stablemate Tacitus will take up the banner for the Hall of Fame trainer. Post time is 11:35 AM EST. Travers will run as the 11th race.
The other stakes include the Dollor 400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (G2), the Dollor 500,000 Kettle Won Ballerina (G1) a win and you're in Breeders Cup race, the Dollor 500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1), the Dollor 700,000 Personal Ensign (G1) (Breeders Cup qualifier), the Dollor 600,000 Forego (G1) and the Dollor 850,000 Sword Dancer (G1).
Two popular handicappers Eric Wing and Ed Meyer will join John to discuss all of the days graded stakes action, giving their picks and potential longshots to hopefully put some “green in your jeans!”
Going Coast to Coast up first Rich Eng will tackle the 2 graded stakes at Saratoga on Saturday - the Gr. 1 dollar 600,000 Alabama and the Gr. 2 dollar 200,000 Lake Placid. The Alabama is shaping up as a very interesting race as jockey Sophie Doyle will make her Saratoga debut aboard Indiana Oaks winner Street Band for trainer Larry Jones. They will have some tough competition with Point of Honor, winner of the Black-Eyed Susan Iowa Oaks winner Lady Apple and Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Champagne Anyone.
Renowned handicapper Byron King will join John to analyze 3 graded stakes at Del Mar on Saturday - the Win and You are In Gr. 1 dollar 1 million Pacific Classic Gr. 1 Del Mar Oaks and Gr. 2 Win and You're In Del Mar Handicap. Jockey John Velazquez will make his seasonal Del Mar Debut with recent Stephen Foster winner Seeking the Soul. It is a deep talent laden field that includes millionaire Quip, who was only a neck behind Seeking the Soul in the Stephen Foster Pavel and War Story.
Gary West is one of the most respected turf writers the sport has been blessed with. He always has well-studied and thought out views on racing and shares those in an elegant manner. We will be talking with Gary about the current landscape of racing and another matter close to his heart his close friendship with the recently deceased Bob Fortus in New Orleans. Gary will reflect on his times with Bob and give insights to the man behind the writing.
Brisnet James Scully will join John for Arlington Park is biggest day of racing with 3 Grade 1 Stakes all of them on the turf. From it is first thrilling finish between John Henry and the Bart in 1981 the Arlington Million has been considered a premiere race nationally and internationally. The 1.25 mile turf test continues to carry a dollar 1 million purse. Like the Million, the Beverly D for fillies and mares has and quot Win and You are In and quot status and boasts a dollar 600,000 purse. Rounding out the Grade 1 trifecta is the dollar 500,000 Secretariat Stakes.
George Hall, co-founder and executive chairman of SportBLX, said his company's goals to revolutionize fan engagement and investment opportunities are a natural fit with Thoroughbred racing. Hall knows the racing industry well as the owner of 2011 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Ruler on Ice and 25 other black-type winners. Trainer Kenneth McPeek said he immediately recognized the potential in Sport BLX's proposal.
Kenny McPeek bought Curlin, a son of Smart Strike out of Sherriff's Deputy, for $57,000 out of the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt went on to earn more than $10.5 million and two Horse of the Year titles.
Kenny McPeek is our guest to give us a perspective on his involvement with SportBLX.
With the passing of Mary Lou Whitney we are bringing in Dan Illman for the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) a Win and You're In event.
On Friday, the $200,000 National Museum Racing of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) and on Saturday the $500,000 Longines Test (G1).
Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) will be our first guest. He will discuss matters like the protection of trainers such as Jerry Hollendorfer and other issues such as the use of Lasix in horses.
Ed Meyer, a regular on the show, will handicap this weekend's big races which include three graded stakes at Saratoga - the Jim Dandy, the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. and the Bowling Green. Also on tap is the Bing Crosby at Del Mar.
Senator Damon Thayer is the Majority Leader of the Kentucky Senate. When last seen on TVG he was in a top hat and tails at Ascot, while two weeks later he was attending the races at a quite different venue - Kentucky Speedway who is represented by Thayer Communications and Consulting.
Prior to becoming a politician he worked at Detroit Race Course, Thistledown and Turfway Park. We will discuss his impressions of the Ascot meet, Kentucky's future political involvement in racing and breeding and his views on the future of Turfway Park now that they have changed ownership.
A regular on WP Eric Wing of Horse Tourneys will join John for some coast to coast handicapping starting at Saratoga with the Gr.1 $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, to Monmouth for the redemption race of Maximum Security the Gr.1 $1 million Haskell Invitational. Then out west for opening weekend at Del Mar where they will feature two Gr. 2 $200,000 races - the San Clemente Stakes and San Diego Handicap.
In upstate New York you can sense the anticipation and magic in the air under the Ancient Elms as Saratoga gets ready to open its gates on their 40-day meet. On the backstretch there is a cast of colorful characters and pillars of racing. No one catches these images in photos and word better than the staff at the legendary 'Saratoga Special.'
Tom Law is one of the key players on this team that brings news as fresh as an early morning doughnut to the fans at Saratoga every day. Tom will paint the portrait of this year's meet and give his insight to several of the weeks graded stakes races.
Indiana Downs celebrates their greatest evening of the season on Saturday with a program with 6 stakes races. The 500,000-dollar Indiana Derby G1 and 200,000-dollar Indiana Oaks G3 have attracted class fields and will highlight the card.
Nancy Ury-Holthus brings a wealth of experience in handicapping and will join John to analyze the top races of the evening.
From a small 12 stall farm in his back yard in central Ohio, where his father had horses competing in the claiming game on a modest level, Dr. Joel Politi has reached the heights of thoroughbred racing when his 3-year-old filly Serengeti Empress wired the field in the historic Grade 1 $1,250,000 Longines Kentucky Oaks.
We will be talking to him about the roller coaster ride he has taken with her and the faith he has in his trainer Tom Amoss.
Eric Wing has served in numerous capacities a publicist and marketing, but is certainly a man who can watch a race keenly and come away with a decisive opinion.
In the wave of reaction to the first-ever disqualification of a Kentucky Derby winner we will be anxious to listen to Eric’s view.
Eric will then join John to look at the top Saturday races in his backyard called Belmont Park. Gr.1 $700,000 Man O’ War; Gr. 3 $300,000 Peter Pan Stakes: Gr. 3 $200,000 Vagrancy and the Gr. 3 $200,000 Beaugay Stakes.
The 160th running of the $1 Million Queen’s Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown will take place Saturday. Sandy Hawley, a member of the Canadian Hall of Fame and the North American Hall of Fame won the prestigious race four times. He will join us to reflect on those wins and update us on the recent Jockeys and Jeans event held at Santa Anita to benefit the PDJF.
Sandy's career as a jockey spanned 31 years from 1968 to his retirement on July 1, 1998. He had 31,455 mounts, garnering 6,449 wins and won 18 riding titles at Woodbine. He currently is a Public Relations Ambassador for Woodbine Entertainment Group, and resides in Oshawa, Ontario and Lexington, Kentucky.
Communications Director John Siscos covers the racing scene at Woodbine and will join John Engelhardt to analyze the four graded stakes on the six stakes program. - The $1,000,000 Queen’s Plate Stakes; the $300,000 Grade 1 Highlander; $175,000 Grade 2 Dance Smartly and the $175,000 Grade 2 King Edward.
Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey was the site of one of racing’s most surprising results last week when 1-20 shot and the horse that crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky, Maximum Security was upset by King for a Day. Over it’s 149 year history the oceanside track has seen many greats capturing the prestigious United Nations Stakes over their turf course such as Round Table, Manila, English Channel, Dr, Fager, Halo and Lure. The United Nations will head up a card with 4-stakes – 3 of them graded.
John will be joined by Brian Skirka who is the Marketing Manager at Monmouth Park Racetrack to analyze the stakes.
Veteran handicapper Rich Ruda will make his annual appearance on winningponies, which can mean only it’s Ohio Derby Day at JACK Thistledown! The Ohio Derby has attracted better fields each year and won its listing back as a graded stakes race. The $500,000 Derby will be supported by two $75,000 stakes – the George Lewis Memorial and J. William Petro.
With the help of the E-Z Win Forms and his own handicapping expertise Ed Meyer crushed the Belmont card with a Pick-4 anchored by The Test of Champions.
He'll be discussing his betting techniques and then apply them to the Saturday Night under the Lights stakes-filled program at Churchill Downs.
It's racing's version of Saturday Night at the Fights as we highlight the five graded stakes races at Churchill Downs. In the other corner the handicapping heavyweight champ and hometown hero Marty McGee!
The award winning writer and handicapper from the Daily Racing Form is back on his home turf and hopefully will give some knockout selections in the feature event - the Grade 2 $600,000 Stephen Foster and some competitive under-card events: the Grade 2 $250,000 Wise Dan; Grade 2 $250,000 Fleur de Lis and if time allows the Grade 3 $150,000 Regret and Grade 3 Matt Winn.
The Stakes at Belmont will be smokin' for three days! Get your E-Z win Forms to get you through 18 stakes races at all distances and surfaces for every division.
We will be joined this week by two respected writers and handicappers - Frank Angst, the Online News Editor from the Blood-Horse and the Daily Racing Form's King of the 'Cappers Byron King.
Both of our guests will tackle the Test of Champions - the Belmont Stakes, that looks to be a toss up between Preakness Stakes winner War of Will and the 3rd place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Tacitus. Then they will be asked their opinion on Serengeti Empress' chance to stretch her speed again in the $700,000 Acorn Stakes.
Frank and Byron will get a Pick 'em on the amazing undercard that features a delicious selection of Grade 1 Stakes.
Don't forget winningponies.com is offering another free handicapping contest - head to the website for all of the details!
Jason Beem is a man of many talents. A handicapper, author and track announcer from coast to coast. He recently emerged at the microphone for the Monmouth Park meet and did an excellent job calling the graded stakes race filled card. It was announced this week he would be the race caller at Colonial Downs. From River Downs to Portland Meadows and beyond, we will discuss his adventurous life at the races.
Like Beem, Ed Meyer is a man who has worn many hats during his years at the track. His most recent story on winningponies describes his last day watching the recently departed Euclyn Pede Prentice compete in the saddle. The personable rider from the Island of St. Croix died of injuries suffered in a car accident over Memorial Day weekend at the age of 28. Ed will join John to discuss the passing of Pede and handicap graded stakes races from around the country - the Grade 2 $500,000 Penn Mile; Grade 2 200,000 Santa Maria; Grade 2 Connaught Cup and Grade 3 Arlington Matron.
Jennifer S. Kelly fell in love with horse racing when she read Walter Farley’s Black Stallion series as a child and watched the filly Winning Colors beat the boys in the 1988 Kentucky Derby.
Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown is the first book to focus on Sir Barton. Jennifer Kelly charts how Sir Barton broke track records, scored victories over other champions, and sparked the yearly pursuit of Triple Crown glory. The book reveals the legacy of Sir Barton and his seminal contributions to Thoroughbred racing one hundred years after his pioneering achievement.
Ralph Siraco is a former track announcer who became a turf writer. He hosts the racing radio show Race Day Las Vegas. He will give us his read on the spread of legalized Sports Betting in the U.S. and it's impact on the wagering in Las Vegas.
He will join John in 'capping the 3 Grade 2's - the $200,000 Charles Whittingham; $200,000 Triple Bend at Santa Anita and the $200,000 Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Matt Bernier handicapper at the Daily Racing Form is a frequent guest on this show. He will join John to cover the big races this Friday/Saturday at Pimlico and anything DRF.COM has going on those days.
He will also give us his read on the Derby Debacle and will look at the Gr.2 $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan on Friday (which will probably be on drf.com) ; the Gr.1 $1.5 million Preakness Stakes and the Gr.2 $250,000 Dixie Stakes.
Tom LaMarra has shifted his tack to the Maryland area and will be at the Preakness on Saturday. Tom will join us to discuss the potential moving of the Preakness away from Pimlico while decisions are being made on the track's future.
Tom and John will get a jump on the great weekend card with Friday's Gr.3 $300,000 Pimlico Special and the Gr.2 $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan. Saturday is the Gr.1 $1,500,000 Preaknes and as time allows they will analyze the Gr.2 $250,000 Dixie Stakes; Gr.3 Chick Lang Stakes; Gr.3 Maryland Sprint and Gr.3 Sir Barton Stakes.
From a small 12 stall farm in his back yard in central Ohio, where his father had horses competing in the claiming game on a modest level, Dr. Joel Politi has reached the heights of thoroughbred racing when his 3-year-old filly Serengeti Empress wired the field in the historic Grade 1 $1,250,000 Longines Kentucky Oaks.
We will be talking to him about the roller coaster ride he has taken with her and the faith he has in his trainer Tom Amoss.
Eric Wing has served in numerous capacities a publicist and marketing, but is certainly a man who can watch a race keenly and come away with a decisive opinion.
In the wave of reaction to the first-ever disqualification of a Kentucky Derby winner we will be anxious to listen to Eric’s view.
Eric will then join John to look at the top Saturday races in his backyard called Belmont Park. Gr.1 $700,000 Man O’ War; Gr. 3 $300,000 Peter Pan Stakes: Gr. 3 $200,000 Vagrancy and the Gr. 3 $200,000 Beaugay Stakes.
We've lined up a Trifecta of handicappers for this week's show representing every part of the country to tackle a wide open Kentucky Derby.
Daily Racing Form's Dan Illman is DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the DRF News Desk. and is New York-based. Dan Illman's “Spa Babies” and “Keeneland Babies” columns are also featured on DRF.com during the Saratoga and Keeneland meets.
Rich Eng is located in Las Vegas and often concentrates on the West Coast tracks. Handicapping for Dummies is one of the many handicapping books he wrote. He also is a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form.
Ed Meyer is a Kentucky-bred, though he follows the top races wherever they take place. Prior Host of this show and current Belterra's Race Caller and Odds Maker Ed also blogs for Winning Ponies.
In what is called The most wide open Derby in a decade, it will be interesting to get their read on the top prospects and longshots in this year's Kentucky Derby.
Eric Hamelback is the CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. He is the former general manager of Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm and resides in Paris, Ky.
With the rush to judgement on restriction of the administration of Lasix, Eric gives a fresh view on the subject.
Dick Downey spends his year lazer-focused on the Kentucky Derby through his annual Downey Report. We will see what has surfaced to the top for this year's wide open Run for the Roses.
His research has delivered a slew of winners over the years, let's talk about the major contenders he has unearthed for 2019.
Hard to believe it has been almost a year since Justify began his historic run through the Triple Crown series. Lenny Shulman, the colorful Features Editor of the Blood-Horse, has just penned Justify - 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory. Lenny's keen observations and description of the people and places paint colorful and detailed images of the Triple Crown series and Justify himself.
He'll share his travels and experiences with us and you can get the book at amazon.com or www.triumphbooks.com/justify.
This year's Kentucky Derby trail left most of us lost in the woods. Ed Meyer has tracked the contenders and pretenders and he will share his insights with us.
With the Derby and Oaks Preps completed, Racing's Regular Guys will give their selections from across the country. Featured races will be the $125,000 Federico Tesio from Laurel; the Gr. 2 $1 million Charles Town Classic; Keeneland's Gr.2 $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn and the Gr, 2 $200,000 Kona Gold from Santa Anita.
Hot Springs will be bubbling with outstanding racing this weekend and we have two of the stars of the show at Oaklawn Park joining us.
Starting with the Ageless Jon Court who hopes to do the improbable by upsetting the Bob Baffert star Improbable for the 2nd time. Court ran down the heavily favored Improbable in the first division of the $750,000 Rebel with 8-1 shot Long Range Toddy.
At 58 Court has no thoughts of retirement and credits his longevity at the highest level to bio-hacking, the process of using science, biology and self-experimentation to take control and upgrade your body, mind and life' he said. Despite drawing the outside post 11, Long Range Toddy has been installed as the 2nd choice at 4-1, while Improbable, drew the rail and is favored at 7-2.
Vic Stauffer, the Oaklawn announcer and a competitor in national handicapping contests, will join John to cover the $1 million Arkansas Derby; $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap and Sunday's $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.
Amy Gregory, Director of Communications at Keeneland, is one of the busiest publicists in the game of thoroughbred racing. She and her talented team will be providing previews and post-race coverage of 5 graded stakes at the historic track this Saturday highlighted by the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes.
Amy is also the President of the Turf Publicists of America. That 67-year-old organization has changed with the times and Amy will tell us about key projects they have expanded and are currently working on.
Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times.
Tom will join John to handicap the major Derby and Oaks points races this Saturday. They will be challenged by the Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Stakes at Keeneland; the Santa Anita Derby and Oaks at Santa Anita and the Wood Memorial and Gazelle from Aqueduct.
After landing the biggest stakes win of her career on Street Band, Sophie Doyle was selected as Jockeys’ Guild Foundation Detox Jockey of the Week for March 18 - 24, 2019. The award is voted on by a panel of experts for riding accomplishments by members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 riders in North America.
The win in the Fair Grounds Oaks was Doyle’s 2nd career graded stakes win and carried the largest purse in a race of her career. She will tell us about both accomplishments.
One of DRF's most respected handicappers Dan Illman will join John to analyze Saturday's outstanding card at Gulfstream Park highlighted by the Gr.1 $1 million Florida Derby and Gr. 2 $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks. Both with points to the Derby and Oaks.
Also on the under card the Gr. 2 $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile and Gr. 2 $250,000 Pan American Stakes. In his many appearances on WinningPonies, Dan Illman has delivered some solid key horses and longshots.
Dave Basler just returned from the Annual H.B.P.A. meeting in Tampa, Florida. He has been the Executive Director of both the Ohio HBPA and the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Health Fund since 2007.
Basler also represents the National HBPA as that group's chairman of both the Medication and Model Rules Committees at many national meetings including the ARCI, RMTC and Racing Symposium along with National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback.
He will give us an update on the most important issues discussed by their membership.
Handicapper Ryan Martin will join John to analyze the 4 graded races with War of Will heading up the Gr. 2 $1 million Louisiana Derby, and Serengeti Empress favored over the girls in the Gr. 2 $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks – both will have major impacts on entry into the starting gates in the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Supporting races will be the Gr. 2 $400,000 New Orleans Handicap and the Gr. 2 $300,000 Muniz Memorial – a salute to Fair Grounds legends Mervin and Ramone Muniz.
In a sportsmanlike gesture, Oaklawn said last week it would consider adding $500,000 to the Rebel purse and splitting it into two $750,000 divisions when it became clear that an abundance of horses were looking for a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep after the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park was canceled. The split became a reality Wednesday when 19 were entered for the 1 1/16-mile race, including the top two early Kentucky Derby favorites, Game Winner and Improbable.
Track Announcer Vic Stauffer will join John in handicapping the two divisions of the Rebel, the Gr. 2 $350,000 Azeri and the $350,000 Essex Handicap.
We will have Part 2 of our interview with retired jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. In the first interview we covered her riding career and in this segment we will discuss her decision to retire from the saddle and her transition to a physical fitness instructor, fitness competitions and her use and promotion of CBD oil for its many benefits.
Things are starting to ratchet up on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks trail with a total of eight points races contested over the weekend. There will be four for the ladies and four for the boys from coast to coast.
At Turfway Park where they will celebrate their biggest day of racing on Saturday. Former announcer and track handicapper Mike Battaglia will join us to comment on the card focusing on the Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks that carries Derby points and the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks that will gain Oaks points.
DRF's Jeremy Balan, fresh off his first Eclipse Award for writing, will reflect on his award and give us his insights on the big races at Santa Anita over the weekend. The $500,000 San Felipe Stakes Saturday and Oaks points go to the girls on Sunday in the $100,000 Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes.
Jeremy recently penned a story in DRF about the rash of breakdowns occurring at Santa Anita since the start of the meet. He will update us on that situation.
All eyes (covered in Sunglasses) will be in The Sunshine State on Saturday for the outstanding action at Gulfstream Park.
They will be presenting nine graded stakes races! The Gr.2 $400,000 Fountain of Youth could easily unveil a potential Kentucky Derby threat, but who will it be?
It will be a Daily Racing Form Daily Double with two of their most respected handicappers - Byron King and Matt Bernier joining John to examine a card that will present a great day of handicapping angles.
In addition to the Fountain of Youth, some of the races that will be discussed on the show are:- the Gr. 2 $200,000 Davona Dale, the $200,000 Gr. 2 Mac Diarmida, and the $150,000 Gr. 3 Very One.
Mr. Jeff Lifson serves as an Executive Vice President of West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. His responsibilities are new business development and coordinating West Point Thoroughbreds' operations throughout the Midwest, including Kentucky and Illinois, Canada, and assisting with winter operations in Louisiana and Florida.
Prior he served for five years as a Host, Analyst and Reporter on TVG. He won an Eclipse Award for his story titled The Revitalization and Renewal of Kentucky Downs.
He will talk about his move from TVG to West Point and the fact that they (West Point) may be alive with two Derby horses Galilean and Gunmetal Grey.
Ed Meyer is the race caller and morning line-odds maker for Belterra Park. Prior he has worked at Turfway Park, River Downs, and Keeneland.
He will Join John in handicapping the stakes races this weekend, including the $200,000 Buena Vista (G2) at Santa Anita, the $100,000 Hal's Hope (G3) at Gulfstream and the $100,000 Franklin Square at Aqueduct .
Just confirmed that Blood-Horse Cover Boy Brian Hernandez Jr. will be a guest on Winningponies at 8:15 EST Thursday night. Hope you saw his scintillating rail-skimming ride in the Grade II $350,000 the Holy Bull aboard 'Harvey Wallbanger' for trainer Kenny McPeek. Check out the look of determination on Brian's face captured by Coglianese Photos. Most likely it is now on to the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Brian will discuss 'Harvey Wallbanger' and the decision he made to move his tack to Gulfstream Park for the first time.
Ryan Martin from the Fair Grounds will join John to handicap the outstanding card there on Saturday featuring 6 stakes races, four of them graded. The program is highlighted by the Grade 2 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, a Derby points race and springboard to the Louisiana Derby.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has announced that it has hired Alicia Wincze-Hughes as Director of NTRA Communications.
A winner of numerous national writing awards for her coverage of Thoroughbred racing, Hughes has spent the last two years as a staff writer and racing editor at BloodHorse.
Alicia will join us to discuss the transition to the new position and her role in the NTRA’s promotion of thoroughbred racing in the U.S.
All eyes will be on Tampa Bay Downs this Saturday as the quaint track will feature 3 graded stakes races. Carrying points for the Kentucky Derby is the Grade 3 $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes. The solid undercard on the day is the Grade 3 $175,000 Lambholm Southern Endeavor Stakes; Grade 3 $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes and the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes. Andrew Demsky, the track's Paddock Preview Host, videographer and handicapping expert, will be among a group of featured speakers.
Andrew joins John for analysis of these diverse stakes.
There are a few female jockeys who will always be associated with their historic “firsts.” Diane Crump was the first to ride in a sanctioned race and the first to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Julie Krone the first to win a Triple Crown race. Rosie Napravnik the first to win the Kentucky Oaks. But who was the first female rider to win an Eclipse Award? It was in 1992 that Rosemary Homeister Jr. won the Eclipse Award as the outstanding apprentice jockey. Now she is a physical fitness trainer. She’ll discuss her successful riding career and her current dedication to making the lives of others better.
Author, handicapper, and radio show host Rich Eng will join the show from his base in Las Vegas, where this weekend you can bet on the flip of a coin the color of the commentators suit in the Super Bowl! Rich and John will give their selections in the Patriots vs. Rams game and three races that are stepping stones to the Kentucky Derby – The Swale, Holy Bull and Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
Trainer Buff Bradley has seen his humble homebreds like 'Brass Hat' and 'Groupie Doll' take him to the heights of racing. But no horse that grew up on his farm captured his heart, and those of many fans, as 'The Player.'
Buff will join John to discuss 'The Player' and his success on the track and courageous comeback from what would be a near-catastrophic injury that most horses would not survive. Buff will talk about his unique personality that probably helped him survive and his new career as a stallion.
All eyes on Gulfstream Park this weekend as the richest race in North America is contested, along with a rich companion race on the greensward. Our handicapping guru will be none other than The Voice of Gulfstream Park Pete Aiello who is almost as great handicapper as he is one of premiere race callers in the states.
Pete and John will handicap the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) among other stakes.
The Director of the Equine Industry Program in the College of Business at the University of Louisville. Sean Beirne had a variety of posts in the racing industry starting in college as a hot walker for D. Wayne Lucas at Churchill Downs to Administration Assistant at Arlington International Racecourse, to Vice President of Racing and Track Announcer at River Downs.
He will talk about his vast exposure to different aspects of racing and specifically on his current position since November 1, 2018. In essence he has come full circle to administer the program that launched his career.
Ryan Martin currently serves as Media Relations Coordinator for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Notes Writer at Arlington International Racecourse.
Fairgrounds' Saturday's card is graded stakes loaded. Ryan will join John and give us the inside track looking at the card that has SIX stakes races! They are highlighted by the $200,000 Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes and $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes.
Jay Hovdey, one of the heralded racing writers of our generation, who works for the Daily Racing Form,will join John to discuss the major events of 2018 and a look to the future in 2019.
Brian Zipze will be our second guest to talk about the highs and lows of 2018 and update us on his venture in creating a new racing partnership with trainer Buff Bradley.
He and John will also handicap the only two graded stakes races on Saturday's national program that will take place at Gulfstream Park - the Grade 3 $150,000 Marshua's River and Grade 3 $100,000 Tropical Turf Stakes.
Marty McGee was the most recent recipient of the Walter Haight Award for Career Excellence in Turf Writing. That puts him in a league with the likes of legends Raleigh Burroughs, Red Smith, Joe Hirsch, Jennie Rees and Bill Mooney to name just a few in a Who's Who of racing scribes over the decades.
Marty will share insight into his career growing up in Louisville and his favorite moments covering the sport of thoroughbred racing.
Eric Wing will be joining John to take a look at The Year in Review. There is a lot to discuss with Justify's scintillating Triple Crown Run after breaking The Curse of Apollo in the Kentucky Derby. Will Accelerate's full season eclipse the accolades of quickly retired Justify? Food for thought...and discussion.
Eric and John will also handicap three $100,000 stakes from Gulfstream Park - the Ginger Brew, Kitten's Joy and Mucho Macho Man.
The Jockeys' Guild hosted their recent 2018 Annual Meeting, in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 10 and 11, 2018. The assembly was attended by active and retired jockeys from the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse industries. Discussions were held on how to enhance the sport of horseracing.
Regional Director Jeff Johnston or Guild Attorney Mindy Coleman will be our 1st guest and report on the event..
On July 6, 1985, Mom’s Command captured the 1 1/2-mile Coaching Club American Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths and with it, New York’s prestigious triple crown for fillies. The elated rider swept off a sweaty yellow helmet and set the crowd aroar when a cascade of auburn hair tumbled down over a pair of slender shoulders.
But as Abigail Fuller discovered that giddy summer of a lifetime, racing’s road remained far from smooth for a female with the nerve to travel it. “Abby” is now Gulfstream Park’s Racing Ambassador. She will help John with some of the Graded Stakes races at Gulfstream Park..
Patrick Lawrence Gilligan has woven a beautifully written novel that incorporates his own experiences in racing, history lessons of the sport and travels with his wife as they traverse the country in support of their son Jack during his apprenticeship in North America.
He and his wife Vicky made the decision to travel with their son Jack as he went to competition in the Midwest. It is a wonderful tour of the people they met and places Jack rode while cutting out his career in the book titled “Around Kentucky with the Bug!” Patrick will discuss his book and the background behind it.
Ryan Martin grew up in Louisville, Ky. and has been a horse racing fan for as long as he can remember.
Today, Ryan serves as Media Relations Coordinator for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Notes Writer at Arlington International Racecourse. The Fair Grounds offers no less than six stakes races on Saturday and Ryan will join “Racing’s Regular Guy” John Engelhardt to analyze the race action.
The Jockeys' Guild hosted their recent 2018 Annual Meeting, in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 10 and 11, 2018. The assembly was attended by active and retired jockeys from the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse industries. Discussions were held on how to enhance the sport of horseracing.
Regional Director Jeff Johnston or Guild Attorney Mindy Coleman will be our 1st guest and report on the event..
On July 6, 1985, Mom’s Command captured the 1 1/2-mile Coaching Club American Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths and with it, New York’s prestigious triple crown for fillies. The elated rider swept off a sweaty yellow helmet and set the crowd aroar when a cascade of auburn hair tumbled down over a pair of slender shoulders.
But as Abigail Fuller discovered that giddy summer of a lifetime, racing’s road remained far from smooth for a female with the nerve to travel it. “Abby” is now Gulfstream Park’s Racing Ambassador. She will help John with some of the Graded Stakes races at Gulfstream Park..
The new annual Old Friends magazine is fresh off the presses and the farm's founder Michael Blowen will join us to reflect on some of the racing greats that passed in 2018 and what they meant to the farm. He will also tell us about some of the new retirees at the Georgetown, Ky. facility for 2019.
Old Friends also offers unique gifts for those Holiday horse lovers that can be found nowhere else. Michael will tell us about some of the limited editions and how you can get them in time as a gift under the tree - or in the barn.
The Fair Grounds will feature the top Louisiana-breds on a card that has seven stakes, with a minimum of $100,000 purses. Ryan Martin calls New Orleans home during the meet as the track's publicist among other duties.
Ryan has been following these fields and will join John with some handicapping insights. They will key on the Louisiana Champions Day Classic; Ladies Sprint; Lassie; Sprint and Turf Stakes.
Kyle Rothfus who is a Retired Racehorse Project trainer & Mare / war horse specialist will take us through the story of Worthy of Wings, a hard knocking thoroughbred mare who not only had 138 starts, but survived the devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico. The efforts of many were able to help her find her way home in Ohio. Kyle has agreed to take her and retrain her for 2019. He will find her a good home after the makeover.
Turf writer and handicapper Bob “Railbird” Roberts, a native of Cleveland will share stories of a man he shared a press box with for many years. Chuck Scaravilli, a man who wore many hats in racing over the decades, and died at age 90 in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 17, 2018. Scaravilli galloped horses as a teenager, trained for almost 40 years, and worked for DRF from 1967 to 1997, at which time chart-calling was taken over by Equibase.
Bob will join John to analyze the four graded stakes races at Aqueduct including the Grade 1 $750,000 Cigar Mile.
Dan Tordjman, one of the founding fathers of Equestricon, was a guest on the show prior to the event in Louisville during Breeders' Cup week. Was the event a hit or a miss? Dan will be our first guest. Join us to find out!
Handicapper Ed DeRosa was on hand at Churchill Downs for all of the Breeders' Cup action. We will get his insights on the races and their impact on divisional championships. Ed and John will also examine the fields for Saturday's graded stakes action - the $200,000 Gr. 3 Red Smith from Aqueduct; the $100,000 Gr. 3 Bop Hope Stakes at Del Mar and Churchill's $100,000 Gr. 3 River City Handicap.
Former jockey Eddie Donnally continues his tireless efforts in support of riders in both spiritual and monetary fashion. Bob Baffert has just joined his team as an Ambassador for Jockeys and Jeans, formed in 2014 as an all volunteer group which raises funds through a yearly event and stallion season sale, to go directly to the PDJF, Jockeys and Jeans will be at Santa Anita Park on June 22nd 2019 for their sixth annual event.
In addition the award-winning writer has penned a new novel titled THE GOLDEN ALTER: SELLING SOULS FOR A HORSE WITH NO NAME. Eddie will discuss his recent efforts, book and his checkered past that involved a brush with Whitey Bolger's Winter Hill Gang.
Ed Meyer will hopefully have his power back on, as he missed his pre-Breeders' Cup appearance last week. Ed will review the top Breeders' Cup races. He will join John to 'cap the Grade 3 $100,000 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs and the $150,000 Artie Schuller and Atlantic Beach stakes from Aqueduct.
It's racing's biggest day and we are bringing in two of the most popular and successful WinningPonies guest handicappers - Ed Meyer and Daily Racing Form's Dan Illman.
It is estimated that the Breeders' Cup final Pick-4 will have a pool that may swell to $5 Million. Handicapper Ed Meyer has been focused on this for days and will share his selections with us in the first segment.
Dan Illman will be sailing the Breeders' Cup boat from his desk in New York on DRF.Com and is prepared to weigh in on any of the races covering the two days of quality laden fields. Dan hosts the popular Spa Babies segment on his show, so we will be asking him to dissect a few of the 2-year-old races on Friday in addition to the $6 Million Breeders' Cup Classic.
Dr. Joel R. Politi is a board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement and reconstruction.
At the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2017 Dr. Politi reached in and purchased from Brookdale Sales consignment a Kentucky bred filly by Tri Eques Bloodstock out of the Bernardini mare Havisham for $70,000, Serengeti Empress now has three wins from four starts and $187,870 in earnings. She is trained by Tom Amos with Corey Lanerie as her regular rider. She is next pointing to the (Grade 1) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Dr. Politi will talk about his experience with owning thoroughbreds and specially owing this very talented filly Serengeti Empress who won her last by 19 lengths..
Managing Editor of Horse Racing Nation Brian Zipse will share his opinions on the upcoming Breeders' Cup races. Then he and John will handicap Keeneland's $200,000 Fayette Stakes (G2) and Belmont Park's $200,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) and $100,000 English Channel and Awad Stakes.
The Keeneland Library Lecture Series presents Milton C.Toby, most recently the author of Taking Shergar: Thoroughbred Racing’s Most Famous Cold Case, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at 6:30 EDT.
The event is open and free to the public, and following the presentation, the Library will host a reception and a book signing.
In 'Taking Shergar: Thoroughbred Racing’s Most Famous Cold Case' Milton C.Toby presents an engaging narrative that is as thrilling as any mystery novel. The book provides new clues related to the stallion’s disappearance. Milt will discuss his book.
Jonathan Kinchen finished 2nd in the most recent Handicapping Contest at Keeneland. He will join John in 'capping a slew of NY State-Breds stakes at Belmont, also the Grade 2 $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland.
Kinchen, a 36-year-old realtor has taken the contest world by storm since playing his first tournament less than four years ago, and won four NHC qualifying contests in his first full year of play.
Donna Barton Brothers will be our first guest. Born in a family of riders, Donna retired from the saddle as the second leading female jockey in the country by money earned. Donna will talk horses and wines... She will discuss with John the upcoming Breeders' Cup, the Fall Stars weekend, Starlight and StarLadies Racing, and she will also talk about Scout & Cellar Wines for whom she has become a consultant. She has an interesting story on how she got there..
Rich Ruda is the house handicapper at Thistledown and they will be hosting this year's Best of Ohio. It is Ohio's version of the Breeders' Cup with all divisional races carrying a $150,000 purse. Early entries show plenty of full fields, giving us plenty of wagering opportunities with great odds. This year could be a changing of the guard as there are plenty of fresh up and comers ready to match strides with past state champions.
It's Win and You're In! weekend, with top races on both coasts and in the heart of Bluegrass country.
It's opening weekend at Keeneland and covering the races there is one of the Daily Racing Form's top writers and handicappers - Marty McGee. The Eclipse Award winner will join John to analyze the Grade 1 $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity; Grade 1 $400,000 First Lady Stakes; Grade 2 $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes and the grand finale Grade 1 $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile.
Author and Handicapper Rich Eng will cover the coasts from his palatial estate in Las Vegas with the Grade 1 $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship from Santa Anita and the Grade 1 $500,000 Champagne Stakes and Grade 1 $400,000 Beldame Stakes from Belmont Park.
The Breeders' Cup is just around the corner!
Santa Anita showcasing 4 win and you're in Breeders' Cup races on Saturday as we ever so quickly approach the Breeders' Cup. Jeremy Balan is our boots on the ground correspondent working for the Blood-Horse and he will give his insights to the fields that will compete in the four Gr. 1 $300,000 races - The Awesome Again; the Chandelier; the Front Runner and the Rodeo Drive.
HorseTourneys.com Communications Director Eric Wing will cover on the East Coast the 4 graded stakes at Belmont Park, three of which are win and you're in Breeders' Cup races - The $750,000 Gr. 1 Jockey Gold Cup, the $500,000 Gr. 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the $350,000 G1. Vosburg Stakes and the $200,000 Gr. 3 Pilgrim Stakes.
A longtime lover of horse racing, Keith got into the industry in 1985, his first job coming in the publicity office at the newly re-opened Garden State Park.
Today as the track’s announcer and host of PTHA’s 'Let’s Go Racing,' he is both the face and voice of the track. He will tell us about the highs and lows of a 32-year career in the horse racing industry.
Our spotlight this week we will go to the City of Brotherly Love. Parx has two $1 million races with the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes ,the Grade 3, $300,000 Gallant Bob and the $150,000 Pa Derby Championship Stakes. Joining John for the first time is Keith Jones to give us some insight into these stakes.
Previous host of this show Ed Meyer will join John to handicap the Grade 2 Kelso from Belmont (only graded race there Sat.) and 2 from the re-scheduled Laurel Fall Festival of Racing. - The Grade 3 $250,000 De Francis Dash and the $150,000 All Along Stakes.
Dan Tordjman is a freelance writer, blogger, handicapper and founder of the horse racing website, DanonymousRacing.com. Dan is beyond thrilled to be joining America's Best Racing as a Brand Ambassador in New York. He has worked tirelessly to promote racing on his site and strongly believes in the mission of ABR.
He will convey the excitement at a typical Breeders' Cup post positions draw which will take place this year at Equestricon on Monday October, 29th at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.
It is also a big Saturday at Woodbine with four major graded stakes on tap, Our show's sponsor Woodbine Entertainment Group will provide A special Woodbine Handicapper who will join John to cover the $800,000 Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile a Win and you're in Breeders' Cup race, the $300,000 Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf, the $250,000 Grade 2 Canadian Stakes and the $125,000 Grade 2 Bold Venture Stakes.
Saturday is the biggest day of the meet at Kentucky Downs with four graded stakes races and daily purses through the roof. We have two members of the Kentucky Downs analysis team joining us with Dick Downey and Caton Bredar.
Dick Downey will be our Ladies Man as he will tackle the Gr. 3 $450,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint and Gr. 3 $500,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf.
Caton Bredar will join us to help find the top contenders in the Gr. 3 $750,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup; Gr. 3 $500,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint and the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint.
It is Labor Day weekend and the Stakes will be smoking all over the country! We are putting two great racing personalities to work on helping us find angles and winners in Kentucky and New York.
Respected author and on-site handicapper Gary West will take us through opening day at Kentucky Downs that features the unique All-Stakes Pick-4 with only a 14% takeout. It starts with the $250,000 One Dreamer followed by the $750,000 Tourist Mile, then on to the $400,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile and it closes out with the $400,000 Juvenile Fillies.
Tom Law of the Saratoga Special got the meet off to a start on Winningponies and he will close it out with a review of the summer at the Spa. Races on tap for Saturday are: the “Win and You’re In” Gr. 1 $350,000 Spinaway; the Gr. 1 $750,000 Woodward; the Gr. 3 $300,000 Saranac and the Gr. 2 $250,000 Glens Falls.
Be sure to download Sunday’s “Saratoga Special” as “Racing’s Regular Guy” John Engelhardt!
It is time for the “Mid-Summer Derby” and a plethora of quality-laden graded stakes races. We are lucky to get the “Daily Racing Form’s Dynamic Duo” of Dan Illman and Matt Bernier to weigh in on the historic Travers Stakes and the amazing undercard.
There will be plenty of betting opportunities at Saratoga with 6 grade 1 stakes on tap and we will be getting the insight of two of racing’s most respected handicappers.
Matt will kick it off with the $1 million Sword Dancer (G1); the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) and the 1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) while Dan will tackle the $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1); the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes; the $600,000 Forego Handicap and also the Travers Stakes.
Daily Racing Form's Andrew Champagne currently serves as a Web Producer, maintaining pages on DRF.com. and optimizing our online content to reach the most people possible. Furthermore, he continues his freelance work as a handicapper for The Saratogian and his 128 winners at the 2017 meet led all public handicappers across the media.
Andrew will lend his handicapping skills in dissecting with John the Stakes on this Saturday's Saratoga card - the Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes for 3 year old fillies and the Grade 2 $300,000 Lake Placid Stakes also for 3 year old fillies.
The main focus of the weekend shifts to Del Mar. Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman who covers the Southern California circuit and such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup, will join the show to give us his insights on the Grade 1 $1 million Pacific Classic; the Grade 1 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks and the Grade 2 $250,000 Del Mar Handicap.
This week it is an all handicapping show from Saratoga to Chicago !
First we will examine two of the top Juvenile races at Saratoga - the Gr.2 $200,000 Adirondack on Saturday and Grade 2 $200,000 Saratoga Special on Sunday. The Happy Horseplayer Ed Meyer will join John at examining those races from Saratoga.
We've got boots on the ground in Chicago with Daily Racing Form's Marcus Hersh who is based there. All eyes on the Windy City as they present the Gr. 1 $1,000,000 Arlington Million; Gr. 1 $6000,000 Beverly D. and Gr. 1 $$400,000 Secretariat Stakes. The Million and Beverly D. are B.C. Win and you're In races.
Jockey Julio 'Maganja' Felix recorded the 3,000th win of his career in a photo finish aboard Ragnar Korthase's Carnoustie on May 25 at Arlington International Racecourse.
He will tell us a little about his career as a jockey and the mentoring he has bestowed on jockeys such as Kevin Krigger, Victor LeBron and a newcomer Eucklyn Pede Prentice who accredit Julio as a great teacher when speaking of their success.
Julio Felix, 51, is New York born but his family hails from St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He rode a handful of races there as a teen before he set up shop in South Florida in 1989.
Another big week at the races and John will be joined by the other Regular Guy - Ed Meyer. They will start at Saratoga with the Gr.1 $1.2 million Whitney and the Gr.1 $500,000 Longines Test Stakes. Then it is time to head west and land at Mountaineer Park where the track's premiere race of the year will be run - the Gr.3 $500,000 West Virginia Derby.
The other shoe finally dropped and it is officially announced that Justify will be leaving the racing game. What are the implications and impact? We'll discuss this late breaking news with Evan Hammonds and reflect on a recent column he penned on changes in the horse's ownership.
Evan Hammonds has worked at The Blood-Horse for over 15 years, first as managing editor in 1998 and was named executive editor in 2007.
Daily Racing Form columnist and handicapper Byron King will help catch up on the national news. Then he and John will look for the major contenders at Saratoga in the important Jim Dandy Stakes, a Gr. 2 worth $600,000; the Gr. 1 $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and the $100,000 Curlin Stakes, a prep for the Travers Stakes.
If time allows, they may take a look at Del Mar's Gr. 1 $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes a Breeders Cup 'Win-and-you're-in' race.
Three Chimneys Farm announced Friday that seasoned veteran horseman Tom Hamm will assume the role of Director of Stallion Nominations to handle season sales and bloodstock activity at the farm.
Tom will tell us what his move to Three Chimneys Farm means to him and reflect on his lifetime experience in the breeding industry. His stint at Taylor Made Farm while California Chrome was breeding there, his short stays at Woodford Thoroughbreds where he served as general manager of breeding operations, and at Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm in Florida where he worked as farm manager.
Our guest handicapper is DRF columnist Marcus Hersh who is covering the extensive stakes program on the major evening at Indiana Downs on Saturday. He will join John to handicap the deep fields in the Grade 3 $500,000 Indiana Derby and Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks. The $100,000 Warrior’s Veterans on the turf with a full field kicks off the Pick-3.
Brian Hernandez Jr., winner of the 2012 Ellis Park riding crown was at Ellis the day after wrapping up his first riding title at Churchill Downs in his adopted hometown of Louisville, 43 wins to 38 for runner-up Florent Geroux. But the sheer joy that the accomplishment should have brought was countered by the anguish when the tight title tilt with his close friend and 15-time Churchill riding champ Corey Lanerie ended with the sudden death of Lanerie’s wife Shantel, who was undergoing treatment for Stage 1 breast cancer, and had emergency surgery after an infected colon led to sepsis and cardiac arrest. She died the next day.
Eric Wing joins John in 'capping Belmont Park Saturday slew of graded stakes races including the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1); the $1 million Belmont Oaks (G1); the $700,000 Suburban (G2) and the $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship (G2). Eric will give updates on any upcoming horse tourneys action and spot key contenders on Saturday at Belmont.
Retired Hall of Fame Jockey Sandy Hawley will talk about his job at Woodbine Entertainment Group as Public Relations Ambassador and give us a glimpse of his career as a jockey which spanned 31 years until his retirement on July 1, 1998. He will also give us a taste of what the 159th Queen's Plate means to our friends north of the border and talk about the undertaking that Woodbine Entertainment Group is making in both facilities Woodbine Racetrack and the Standard Bred facility at Mohawk Park. Our second guest from Canada is Robert Reid Jr., a handicapper, a fan and part of the Woodbine team. He will join John in handicapping the $1,000,000 Queen’s Plate Stakes(G1), and if time allows any of the $250,000 Highlander Stakes (G1) (a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win & You’re In” race), the $175,000 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) and the $175,000 King Edward Stakes (G2).
This is the week for script Ohio, but we won’t be dotting the “I” at midfield. Instead we will be talking with two bandleaders in Ohio – former rider Mike Manganello and Thistledown’s on-air handicapper Rich Ruda.
Most remember Manganello for his 1970 victory in the Kentucky Derby, but he will be celebrated at the track as it is the 50th anniversary of his win in the Ohio Derby aboard Te Vega. He also won over 1,000 races in the Cleveland area during his storied career.
Handicapper Rich Ruda is a lifelong horseplayer, who has been the on-air handicapper for Thistledown for 10 years . He will join John on Ohio’s biggest day of racing with the centerpiece being the Graded $500,000 Ohio Derby. It is racing’s second season and the likes of Flameaway, Lone Sailor and Core Beliefs are gearing up for the big summer graded 3-year-old races and the $500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby fits perfectly as a launching pad.
Justify stamped himself as one of the all-time greats by becoming racing's 13th Triple Crown winner with his Belmont Stakes victory. The race was an impressive one, but not without controversy. Did Mike Smith have a wingman in Florent Geroux?
Tom Pedulla penned the story for the New York Post and will join John to discuss all sides of the Test of Champions. Tom Pedulla has been the lead writer for America's Best Racing since its inception. He has covered every Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup race since 1997.
Daily Racing Form Rich Eng will weigh in with his perspective of the Belmont Stakes. If you are travelling to Churchill Downs for Justify's victory lap, tune in as Rich and John will handicap the stakes-laden card this Saturday headed by the Gr. 1 $500,000 Stephen Foster H. and including the Gr. 2 $200,000 Fleur de Lis H. and the Gr. 2 $200,000 Wise Dan S. The Stephen Foster and Fleur de Lis are Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races.
The racing world will be riveted on Saturday to see if Justify can race himself into the history books as the thirteenth winner of the Triple Crown.
We are bringing in two top handicappers from different eras with great insight to the top races. Bob Railbird Roberts will be covering the Belmont Stakes for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Matt Bernier will be bringing his insights via DRF.com.
While the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes and it's Triple Crown allure will be the centerpiece, there is an amazing undercard that will draw the top horses in training. Also featured the $700,000 Acorn Stakes (G1); the $1.2 million Metropolitan Mile (G1) and the $1 million Manhattan Stakes (G1).
Join us for a great show of handicapping the best races in the country!
A Free Belmont Handicapping Contest will be available on the WinningPonies Website with Cash and Prizes!
Despite winning two Kentucky Derbies, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, Chris McCarron is yet venturing into a new phase of his ever-changing career and has joined Team Valor in an effort to grow ownership in the sport. We'll discuss his impressions of Justify and chances for a Triple Crown and his new career.
After retiring from a record-breaking career as a jockey, McCarron served as general manager at Santa Anita. He regularly serves as an on-air personality at corporate events throughout the country. McCarron will continue to be based in Lexington, and will be recruiting new owners through Team Valor as spokesman and promoter traveling to races and various promotional events.
Brian Zipze will join John to discuss the Ky Derby and Preakness and Justify's chances at a Triple Crown. Penn National has the $500,000 G2 Penn Mile and the $200,000 Penn Oaks. Santa Anita has the G1 $400,000 Beholder and our friends at Woodbine will feature the $175,000 G2 Connaught Cup.
Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day will be our first guest. He rode five winners of the Preakness Stakes - Tank's Prospect (85); Summer Squall (90); Tabasco Cat (94); Timber Country (95) and Louis Quartorze (96). He captured the Belmont Stakes three times - Easy Goer (89); Tabasco Cat (94) and Commendable in 2000. Pat will discuss the nuances of race riding in these two unique Triple Crown races. He will also catch us up on current projects he is involved with.
Keith McCalmont is the Communications Manager for Woodbine Entertainment. An award-winning writer covering both Thoroughbred and Standard-bred racing, Keith has traveled the world to cover the sport including three trips to the Hong Kong International Races and a recent stint at Meydan for the Dubai World Cup. Keith creates content, promotes horse racing and oversees all matter of press releases.
Keith and John will handicap from Woodbine the $175,000 Eclipse S. (G2) and the $175,000 Nassau S. (G2).
The 2018 Preakness Stakes is Here!!
Frank Angst has been covering the recent Supreme Court ruling that will allow legal Sports Betting. The question is - how will this impact racing? Will racing,racinos and racetracks profit from this act - or will it put them in jeopardy? Frank will weigh in on all sides and hopefully give us his perspective on the Preakness Stakes.
Award winning writer and veteran handicapper Tom LaMarra has moved his profession to the Maryland region and he will be our featured handicapper. He will join John in his analysis of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on Friday and the $1.5 million 143rd Preakness Stakes (G1) on Saturday and the key races on the strong undercard - such as the $250,000 Dixie Stakes (G2) and the $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3), all at Pimlico.
Natalie Turner jockey-turned-Marketing-Director for racing wanted to ride horses since the age of 7. Eli a bay quarter horse was her first horse. Her first live race was at Turfway Park. To become a jockey Natalie joined the North American Racing Academy (NARA) for a 2 year program. She started her riding career at River Downs (Belterra now) and also rode at Churchill and Ellis Park. As Marketing Director, Natalie said she would like to see every track install safety rails like Keeneland has, and fix some of the stereotypes Thoroughbred racing has gained over the years.
Handicapper, racecaller, oddsmaker and Winningponies blogger Ed Meyer will join John to discuss the outcome of the Kentucky Derby. The Regular Guys will then look forward to the Preakness Stakes - who's coming, and who is laying low until the Belmont? 2 top graded races at Belmont Park - the 1 $700,000 Man O' War (G1) and the $350,000 Peter Pan (G3). also they will look at Sunday's Tomboy Stakes at Belterra Park.
Talk Derby to me! will be the theme of our Kentucky Derby/Oaks show and we've landed a multiple award-winning turf writer and one of the most respected handicappers on the national racing scene.
John is on the backstretch of Churchill Downs this week and there he caught up with Tom Law of the Saratoga Special who is covering the Derby for the Irish Times. Tom should have plenty of information on trainer Aiden O'Brien and his smashing 3-year-old Mendelssohn, recent winner of the UAE Derby by 18 1/2 lengths!
Dan Illman will take a break from his duties as the point man at the Daily Racing Form to join the conversation. He should shine plenty of light on the East Coast invaders coming to Louisville for the big two-day event that is loaded with plenty of stakes action. Dan will also tell us about featured coverage at DRF.com over the two days by their many writers and reporters.
With a little over a week left until the Run for the Roses we brought back two guest handicappers to sort out the deep field of talent taking shape for the Derby...
Cleveland rocks! And things will be rocking again as Thistledown opens its doors this week. Joining us is Rich Ruda who hosts the on-air handicapping show and pays plenty of attention to the national racing.
Rich will give us an overview of the upcoming season and he and John will weigh in on their observations of the Kentucky Derby field that is slowly coming together as one of the deepest group assembled in recent memory.
Daily Racing Form's breeding columnist Joe Nevills will analyze the Kentucky Derby field from a pedigree perspective. Who can get the distance and who can't? Always a factor in the first - and perhaps the only time - the field of twenty will go the mile and quarter distance.
Trainer Gary Johnson is a man who re-invented himself - twice. He has been a guest as a former trainer-turned-tournament player, who used his skills as a sharp claiming trainer to spot winners in big money handicapping contests. Previous to that, he won numerous trainer titles at Thistledown. From 1998 to 2002 he won over $1 million each season.
After his hiatus as a trainer to do the tourney tours, the lure of the track drew him back. He started out with 3 horses claimed at Tampa Bay and now has 50 heads. He is already closing in on $1/2 million in purses in 2018 and is 2nd in the trainer standings at Mahoning Valley and about to move his stable back to Thistledown for the summer. Gary will swap stories with John and take a look at this year's Kentucky Derby.
Brian Zipse is a popular guest on Winningponies. The founder of Horse Racing Nation will give us his current top ten list in the Run for the Roses. He will also give us a glimpse of a new racing venture he is starting.
After 35 years, 52 racetracks, and 32 broken bones, jockey Joe Steiner retired July 21, 2016. He wants to pursue a career in sports psychology helping jockeys and other athletes deal with the trials and tribulations of life.
In Germany he met the renowned therapist Linda Tellington Jones famous for what is called “The Tellington Touch.” He will tell us about his new experiences in Equine Therapy and his wife Dagmire’s upcoming book – “The Art of Old Friends” that she has crafted as an ode to the farm's famous and not-so-famous retirees.
Nancy Ury Holthus is the on-air handicapper at one of North America's most unique racing venues - Oaklawn Park in quaint Hot Springs, Arkansas. This Saturday is the meet's swan song anchored by the last major Kentucky Derby prep race - the $1 million Gr. 1 Arkansas Derby. Also on the card the $750,000 Gr. 2 Oaklawn Hcp and $400,000 Gr. 3 Count Fleet Hcp.
John and Nancy will analyze these races and learn about her background in the racing game.
It is big points time for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks with six 100 points races for the winners, virtually guaranteeing them a berth in the starting gate at Churchill.
Jay Privman covers the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. He is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions.
Jay will provide us with insight into the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). He will also give us his impressions on the other major 3-year-old prep races.
Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, horse racing's #1 destination for player-friendly qualifying contests and low-takeout cash games.
Eric has accepted the task of tackling 4 races - the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) from Keeneland, plus the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and the $300,000 Gazelle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.
It's been a tough week for members of the Guild with the loss of jockey Jose Flores, 56 who was taken off life support on last Thursday following an accident in a race on Monday at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa.
Parx Racing, in a statement, called Flores an embodiment of all that is good in the world of horse racing. The accident occurred when his horse fell down, knocking Flores off. He suffered massive head trauma after hitting the ground headfirst. He is the all-time money-winning jockey at Parx,
Terry Meyocks currently the national Manager of the Jockeys' Guild, Inc. will be on.
2018 Horse Players World Series winner Bob Montgomery will be our guest handicapper. Bob and John will 'cap the graded races at Gulfstream Park: - The $1 million Florida Derby (G1) with points for the Kentucky Derby, the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) with points for the Kentucky Oaks, the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), the $250,000 Pan American S. (G2) and the $250,000 Honey Fox S. (G3).
The recent HBPA National Convention took place last week and President Eric Hamelback will join us to discuss the most important topics handled over the three day sessions - Sports Betting, Workforce Initiative and Drug Contamination issues.
To appreciate how public opinion on sports betting has changed in recent years, consider that the NFL went from banning Las Vegas commercials on the Super Bowl broadcast to relocating a team there.
While the NFL still opposes sports betting, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball now favor legalizing wagering on sporting events and are lobbying various states to receive a piece of the revenue.
Marcus Hersh, columnist for DRF is boots on the ground at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Saturday's program is highlighted by the Louisiana Derby and the Fair Grounds Oaks with solid under card races like the New Orleans Handicap. and the Muniz Memorial.
Marcus will join John to analyze those competitive stakes events.
Restaurateur Jeff Ruby has been a racing fan since high school. Aside from running some of the best Steak Houses in the Midwest, Jeff Ruby has been a horse owner and a huge supporter of the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund. But now he is taking his exposure in the racing game to a new level - as the sponsor of a graded stakes race - the Jeff Ruby Steaks (formerly the Spiral Stakes) at Turfway Park.
He will join us to discuss his love of horse racing, support of the Jockeys' Guild and decision to sponsor a graded STEAKS race.
It has been a while since we had a visit from our favorite handicapper, and former host of WinningPponies - Ed Meyer. Ed is very familiar with Turfway Park and has worked at the track in numerous capacities over the decades.
He will join John to analyze the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) - both with points towards the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Also with Derby points the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) from Oaklawn Park.
They say There is nothing better for the inside of a man, than the outside of a horse. Linda Dyer heads a unique program for the Thoroughbred Retirement Fund at the Blackburn Correctional Institution where she teaches inmates how to care for thoroughbred horses and potentially become skilled enough to get employment after their release.
Hard to believe how quickly we are closing in on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The points system is increasing and positions in the starting gate are slowly being filled. One way to stay on top of the action is through Thisishorseracing.com. Each Saturday they provide a feature on their site called the Saturday Special that keeps track of all the post times and story lines behind the big races of the day.
Tom Law, one of the major contributors to the site, will join John to discuss the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2); the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3); the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and for the ladies the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3).
Raina Marie Paucar Is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist Specializing in Sports Massage and Biomechanics for the Equine Athlete. She has over 20+ years of field experience with racehorses and performance horses. During her career she has worked with Thoroughbreds from the foaling stall, through the starting gate, and beyond.
Raina is dedicated to helping horses achieve peak performance and an overall state of well-being through the services offered in her practice. Sessions are developed by assessing a horse’s needs and the client’s goals to get best results.
Gulfstream Park plays host to 9 stakes races - 8 of them graded. The $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) will feature the seasonal debut of 2-year-old Champion Good Magic and carry 50 Ky Derby points to the winner. The $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) will pave the way to the Ky Oaks with 50 points to the winner. Track Announcer Pete Aiello and John will analyze those races and the $200,000 Mac Diamida Stakes (G2).
Mike Battaglia will be one of the hosts and story tellers at Latonia Days at Turfway Park Friday and Saturday. On Friday evening they will contest the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes with Mike and many family members on hand for the winners circle trophy presentation.
Turfway Park will celebrate its long and colorful history Feb. 23 and 24 with Latonia Days, two days of storytelling, special guests, memorabilia displays, films, and photos.
Mike will share memories of Latonia prior to becoming Turfway Park. His father was General Manager at Latonia and River Downs. Mike recently retired from his longtime duties at Keeneland after stepping out of the announcer's booth at Turfway Park.
Brian Zipse will join John to discuss the early Kentucky Derby Preps - who's hot and who's not. They will also handicap the $150,000 Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita and the $100,000 Grade 3 Hal's Hope from Gulfstream Park.
Keith Chamblin, Senior Vice President of the NTRA is fresh off coordinating the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. He will discuss the activities at the contest and other projects the NTRA worked on last year that are making things Better for the bettor. Keith Chamblin serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA).
Frank Angst will join John to look at three races that carry points for the Kentucky/Oaks. Two big races take place at the Fair Grounds - the Gr. 2 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra for the ladies and the Gr. 2 $400,000 Risen Star for the boys. Out west the $100,000 El Camino Real will be contested at Golden Gate.
Noel Michaels is a consultant for the NTRA and the author of the “Handicapping Contest Handbook: A Horseplayer’s Guide to Handicapping Tournaments,” which made his name virtually synonymous with the increasingly-popular tournament scene.
Michaels will host a live video coverage of the NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas, Friday Feb. 9th through Sunday Feb. 11th from 5-8 p.m. ET on the NTTA Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/1NTRA). It will include interviews with NHC personalities, handicapping and previews of mandatory races and live coverage of Sunday’s Final Table. He will share his insights on the contest.
2017 Horseplayer of the Year and the 2017 NHC winner, Ray Arsenault, of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, received an automatic berth into this year’s tournament to defend the title he won last January when he won with a mythical bankroll of $407.70 from 53 Win-and-Place wagers on more than 150 races run at 8 different tracks. He will talk about the skill set required to win.
Patricia McQueen is an award-winning photographer, journalist and lifelong horse racing fan. She fell in love with the sport as a pre-teen watching Secretariat on television in 1973 and never looked back.
Patricia was on Winningponies recently, but she and John had so many Secretariat stories they barely scratched the surface and ran out of time. This will be Part 2 and will include her charitable efforts supporting the industry.
Popular handicapper / writer Rich Eng will join in for the handicapping portion of the show. The trail to the Triple Crown will have a trifecta of point races to get in the Derby with the Grade 2 $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes from Gulfstream Park; the Grade 3 $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct and the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita.
Jockeys' Guild 2017 Assembly took place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Dec. 11-12, 2017. Retired Jockey Jeff Johnston, the Midwest Regional Manager for the Jockeys' Guild was in attendance and will give us an insight on the annual event. Many entities were represented at the event such as Betfair USA, Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, R.H. Clarkson Insurance Group, Transamerica Retirement Solutions, etc....
DRF's Dan Illman will give us his analysis of the $16 million Pegasus World Championship at Gulfstream and a few of the strong under card races. Most probable Horse of the Year Gun Runner heads up the Pegasus - is there a sleeper in the field who can catch him? The big day of racing has plenty of full fields and gets off to an early 11:30 a.m. start. There are two $200,000 graded stakes - the 1 1/2 mile La Prevoyante Stakes on the turf and the W.L. McKnight Handicap. Bullard's Alley, trained by recent winningponies guest Tim Glyshaw, is the race morning line favorite.
Ron Paolucci, who started going to the races as a child got into racing with a $3,500 claiming horse and through his handicapping climbed up the claiming ladder, graduation to allowance and eventually stakes horses in the Ohio-bred program.
Ron now plays the game at it's highest level and will be participating in the $16 million Pegasus Stakes with two horses. It's a complicated story as he may work out a lease agreement with the connections of Sharp Azteca and he will enter his own War Story, who finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Ron will let us know the current status of his entries heading into the race.
This Saturday Gulfstream Park features the Sunshine Millions series. Track announcer and handicapper Pete Aiello will join John in analyzing the $200,000 Classic; the $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf; the $100,000 Sprint and the $150,000 Turf.
They will also take a look ahead at next Saturday's headliner the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
Patricia McQueen is an award-winning photographer, journalist and lifelong horse racing fan. She fell in love with the sport as a pre-teen watching Secretariat on television in 1973 and never looked back. Her first use of a camera was on a pilgrimage to see Secretariat during college, and that launched a photography career that now spans 35 years. She has never wavered in her admiration of the big red horse and followed his offspring at the racetrack whenever she could. In 1992-94, she photographed members of his last crop – at racetracks, training centers and farms. A few years ago she decided to launch a research project on Secretariat as a sire. She will tell us more.
Bob Railbird Roberts will review 2017 and check out 4 graded stakes races on Saturday: the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) and the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds. Gulfstream Park's card is highlighted by the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2) and the $150,000 Marshua's River Stakes (G3).
Trainer Jeff Greenhill maintains a successful stable in the Midwest on a year-round basis. With the current arctic plunge in temperatures and track closings, it's no easy job. Jeff will tell us how he manages to keep his horses fit with such unpredictable conditions.
There will be late breaking news just prior to this week's show concerning Equestricon that is moving to Louisville this year, the week of the Breeders' Cup. The event was so well received at Saratoga in its debut last year - we can only expect some interesting twists. Dan Tordjman was an intergal part of the first event and will tell us about the 2018 edition.
John will also review the Gr. 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita that offers the first Kentucky Derby Points of 2018; the Gr. 2 $200,000 San Gabriel on the turf at Santa Anita and the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man from Gulfstream Park part of a stakes laden card on Saturday.
Thoroughbred owner Paul Groves has had success slowly growing his thoroughbred operation over the past decade. He will share his story of entrance into the sport and a unique technique he uses in the care of his horses called Magna Wave. He will describe the therapy and when, why and how he uses the therapy to improve his horses in training.
Brian Zipse and John will examine 2018 The Year in Review and do some handicapping on some interesting Saturday Stakes. Two graded stakes at Santa Anita - the $300,000 Gr. 1 American Oaks and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Midnight Lute Stakes.
The $100,000 Dave's Friend Stakes at Laurel looks to be attracting some nice horses and if time allows, we will look at the marathon $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park,
T'is the season for giving, and this year our friends at Taylor Made Farm, home of the legendary California Chrome, and its new venture, the People's Horse, are helping Old Friends with a very special holiday offer.
Join the People's Horse between now and the end of the year, and the group will donate 15% of the proceeds from each new membership to Old Friends.
The People's Horse's goal is to give everyone who enjoys racing the joy, thrill, and experience of following their own racehorse--in this case a son or daughter of California Chrome. Old Friends' founder Michael Blowen will fill in the details of this unique offer. He will also reflect on the 2017 season at Old Friends' new additions and heartfelt losses. . Eric Wing will give an update on handicapping tourneys over the Holiday Season, and will join John in 'capping 2 races from Aqueduct -- the $125,000 Queen's County and the $100,000 Gravesend; and head south for the $100,000 (G3) Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park.
Jeremy Balan, staff writer and Assistant Editor for the Blood-Horse covering racing on the West Coast has had an exhausting week covering the impact the California fires have had on the racing industry. The equine death toll from the devastating brush fire that ripped through San Luis Rey Downs Training Center Dec. 7 is at 46 as of the morning of Dec. 9, according to officials at the California Horse Racing Board. Jeremy will update us on the tragedy and some of the efforts that are taking place to help the horses and horsemen impacted by the fire.
Les Instone is living in the Tampa, FL area and is back to hosting handicapping seminars. Saturday is a marquee day for the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners and will be highlighted with the $125,000 City of Ocala Stakes and the $125,000 Marion County Stakes. Les will be hosting a handicapping seminar prior to the races at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Les and John will look at those races and some other stakes on Saturday.
It is the Holiday Season and if you are looking for a good book for a horse loving friend we will talk to author/photographer Rick Capone who has written Celebrating Old Friends - Stories from Kentucky's Thoroughbred Retirement Farm.
Award winning writer and handicapper Tom LaMarra, who is now located in the Mid-Atlantic Region will join John to handicap a series of $100,000 stakes races at Laurel Park on Saturday featuring Maryland-bred runners.
Barry Pearl has been retired since 2006 and now lives with his wife in Florida and Pennsylvania. Barry has done many interesting things in his life such as racing cars professionally, getting his pilot’s license, owning an airplane and helping his wife Dee raise 3 great kids. He had started a varied career first racing thoroughbreds in NJ circuit, Pennsylvania and Florida, then he got involved in Photography as track photographer at Penn National and later in real-estate. Barry is one of the founders of Jockeys and Jeans and since 2014 has been its President. We will let Barry tell it.
The Thanksgiving pumpkin pie is finished and this Saturday we take a bite out of the Big Apple. Aqueduct is presenting a full menu of graded stakes races highlighted by the $750,000 Cigar Mile (G1) supported by the $250,000 Demoiselle (G2); the $250,000 Remsen (G2) and the $200,000 Go For Wand (G3). Joining John to analyze these stakes will be DRF Handicapper and a regular on this show Matt Bernier.
The wait is finally over for trainer Dale Romans. The South Louisville native took sole possession of the record for most wins by a trainer in the 143-year-old history of Churchill Downs from Hall of Fame horseman Bill Mott who held the record since June 8, 1986.
Born and raised in Louisville and a graduate of Butler High School, Romans grew up on the Churchill Downs backstretch learning his trade from his father, veteran trainer Jerry Romans, who passed away in 2000 – two years after saddling his 211th and final winner at Churchill. Romans took out his trainer’s license in 1986 at age 18 and saddled his first winner at Turfway Park on Feb. 15, 1987. He will give an insight into his long successful career.
Taking more looks at the Breeders' Cup results and their impact on year-end awards. We will also look to the $100,000 Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs; the $150,000 Artie Shiller Stakes from Aqueduct and Woodbine's $125,000 Frost King Stakes for Juveniles.
Two past Presidents of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters will join the show two discuss the outcomes and impact of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.
Jay Privman was manning the microphone at trackside throughout the two-day event. He had an up close view of the action and insightful questions for the winning connections after each race.
Jay covers the Southern California racing circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup.
Tom Law hosted a handicapping seminar at the legendary Parting Glass in Saratoga covering all of the races. We will see how his picks panned out and get his reaction to some of the surprise outcome over the two-day card.
Tom is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times.
We've assembled a trio of popular handicappers to cover the two days of the Breeders' Cup. All will give their Classic picks and then hand pick their selected favorite races over the two days of talent laden thoroughbreds competing in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
Our Stable of Stars includes Daily Racing Form's Dan Illman, Thisishorseracing.com's Tom Law and our Las Vegas connection Rich Eng.
Dan Illman is the DRF.com's handicapping editor and host of the DRF News Desk. Illman's “Spa Babies” and “Keeneland Babies” columns are featured on DRF.com during the Saratoga and Keeneland meets.
Award winning writer and handicapper Tom Law helps operate the popular racing website thisishorseracing.com and is the managing editor of ST Publishing.
Rich Eng covers the horseracing industry. Handicapping for Dummies is one of the many handicapping books he wrote. He also is a writer for DRF.
As always we will have a FREE contest for cash and merchandise prizes. Details are forthcoming.
Tim Glyshaw an up and coming trainer may have Bucchero (who has notched his 2nd win from six starts on the grass in the Woodford Stakes) start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He will tell us about his start in the thoroughbred training business and briefly talk about his charge potentially running in the Breeders’ Cup.
Tim Glyshaw was born in Evansville, Indiana. After graduating from Indiana University, he taught school in Illinois for 2 years. Unhappy with his career, he decided to make a change.
After entering and graduating from Taylor Made Farm's internship program, he was launched into a career of thoroughbred trainer.
Vance Hanson an associate editor with TwinSpires.com and Brisnet.com since 2008 will join John in discussing the just-released Breeders' Cup entries and handicap the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland; the 200,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) and the $200,000 Athenia Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.
A unique opportunity to see the “Stars of Racing”. The conference speakers, panelists and presenters include many top Thoroughbred industry owners, trainers, jockeys and industry executives led by keynote speaker Jeff Fager. Three days of learning, asking questions, networking and socializing with owners from around the US and Canada and increasing your knowledge of Thoroughbred ownership. Gary Falter will give us an insight into this event to take place at the Del Mar Hilton. Register now for the Owners Conference hosted by OwnersView and receive Breeders' Cup reserved seats. Gary will give out all the details.
When was the last time you handicapped a card with 11 stakes? On Saturday Laurel Park runs the Maryland Million Series. Tom LaMarra has moved from Kentucky to the Maryland region where he covers racing on a regular basis for the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. Tom will pick the top races on the card and handicap those with John hopefully bringing out a slew of betting angles.
A unique opportunity to see the “Stars of Racing”. The conference speakers, panelists and presenters include many top Thoroughbred industry owners, trainers, jockeys and industry executives led by keynote speaker Jeff Fager, Executive Producer of 60 Minutes and guest speaker, author Laura Hillenbrand. Three days of learning, asking questions, networking and socializing with owners from around the US and Canada and increasing your knowledge of Thoroughbred ownership. Gary Falter will give us an insight into this event to take place at the Del Mar Hilton. Register now for the Owners Conference hosted by OwnersView and receive Breeders' Cup reserved seats. Gary will give out all the details.
Frank Angst will join John to discuss the impact of last weeks' races on the upcoming Breeders' Cup. They will also analyze the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge at Keeneland; the Grade 3 Futurity at Belmont Park and the $350,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town.
Over $750,000 will be on the table for Ohio-breds at Belterra Park on Saturday. Who better to have on the show than their odds-maker and the man who has been watching these horses run all season - Ed Meyer. In what is known as The Best of Ohio series, there will be five $150,000 races that will cover every division. A lot of great opportunities for multi-race and vertical money-making wagers!
The same could be said 75 miles south of Cincinnati where Keeneland will kick off their meet, highlighted by Fallstars Allstars on Saturday. DRF's Eclipse-Award writer and handicapper Marty McGee will be covering the three Grade 1 races and two Grade 2 events: - The $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile, the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, the $400,000 First Lady S., the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America S. and the $200,000 Keeneland Select. Four of the five are Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races, and promise highly competitive fields.
Brian Zipse will be our East Coast handicapper covering an amazing card at Belmont that includes the Grade 1 $400,000 Beldame Stakes; the Grade 1 $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the Grade 1 $350,000 Vosburgh Stakes.
Jay Privman has his finger on the West Coast action. We will get his input on a slew of Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races at Santa Anita - the Grade 1 $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes; the Grade 1 $300,000 Chandellier Stakes; the Grade 1 $300,000 Frontrunner Stakes and the Grade 1 $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes.
After 35 years, 52 racetracks, and 32 broken bones, jockey Joe Steiner retired July 21, 2016. Steiner said he will pursue a career in sports psychology following a riding career in which he rode in 10,846 races. He said ideally he would like to help jockeys and other athletes deal with the trials and tribulations of life. That decision has already become a reality as he is the “Life Coach” for 27-year-old Rocco Bowen, far and away the current leading rider at Emerald Downs. He will tell us about his life in the saddle.
Tom LaMarra grew up in New Jersey, which lead him to many forays to the Philadelphia area where Parx will feature three graded Stakes races, highlighted by the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby. On the under card is the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Cotillion Stakes and the Grade 3 $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes. Tom is now the Managing Editor of THAracing.com, he handles Communications for the Maryland THA and is involved in special projects for the Maryland Jockey Club.
The world's eyes are on the Kentucky September Sales where a record number of million dollar-plus yearlings are bringing final bids. It is an exciting time of the year with the pedigrees of champions flowing through the bloodlines of these well conformed yearlings. But there are many steps of coordinating an auction and Dan Mahaney operates on every level.
He is a bid spotter for the major auctions and runs his own auctioneer company. Dan will give us insights into what steps actually go in to getting that horse in the ring and then evoke the highest potential final bid.
We will head north of the border for our handicapping portion of the show. Last week we had Hall of Fame Jockey Sandy Hawley, a spokesman now for Woodbine talking about the advances the track is making. This week we will see who draws into the Breeders' Cup Win and Your In Ricoh Grade 1 $800,000 Woodbine Mile; the $300,000 Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf and the $250,000 Grade 2 Canadian Stakes.
North America’s 1st selected yearling sale will take place Sunday, Sept. 10. It is called “The Turf Showcase” and is presented by Woodbine at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky. Hall of Famer Sandy Hawley is the Public Relations Ambassador for Woodbine and is here to tell us about the event and reminisce on a career that spanned 31 years.
Award-winning journalist Caton Bredar grew up in the shadow of Arlington Park and held a variety of licenses including exercise rider, owner, trainer and racing official before turning her attention to broadcasting. The grand-daughter of Hall of Fame jockey Ted Atkinson, began her television and radio career in Chicago before moving on to Florida, New Jersey and California, ultimately settling in Louisville, KY.
Caton will join John to re-cap the Saratoga meet and handicap the 3 grade 3 races at Kentucky Downs – the $600,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Cup; $400,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint and the $350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf.
Racing returns to America's most European racetrack - Kentucky Downs. With a brief boutique all turf meet, the purses are through the roof and have drawn horsemen with their best grass runners from all over North America.
Gary West is part of a team of top handicappers gathered to give their analysis on every day's eclectic program. Saturday's features include the $400,000 Tourist Mile; the $350,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile; the $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile and the $150,000 One Dreamer Stakes.
With the help of Winningponies E-Z Win Forms, odds-maker, announcer and turf writer Ed Meyer has been cashing Pick-4 tickets on a regular basis at Saratoga since the meet opened. The Regular Guys, Ed and John will try to find value in the Gun Runner's $750,000 Woodward Stakes (G1); the $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1); the $300,000 Saranac Stakes (G3) and the $200,000 Glens Falls Handicap (G3).
In Donna Barton Brothers' role at Starlight, she has been focusing on women in racing through Starlight and StarLadies Racing. Starlight Racing is the longtime core partnership that Jack & Laurie Wolf started in 2001. While they used to buy both colts and a few fillies, this year Starlight Racing will purchase only colts. StarLadies Racing is an all female partnership started by Laurie Wolf and Barbara Lucarelli. StarLadies Racing purchases only fillies. In 2011 Donna published a book titled 'Inside Track: Insider’s Guide to Horse Racing.'
The Midsummer Derby will be a historic event. With Always Dreaming and stablemate Tapwrit, the Belmont Stakes winner who is also expected to run, it marks the first time that the 3 individual winners of three Triple Crown races will meet in the Travers since 1982, when Runaway Groom upset classic winners Gato del Sol, Aloma's Ruler, and Conquistador Cielo. John will be joined by one of the top handicappers in the country, DRF's Dan Illman.
Jimmy McNerney doesn’t have dark days, serving as the voice of Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. in the summer and Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., in the winter, as well as jockey agent at Indiana Grand for apprentice Katie Clawson, Deshawn Parker and Leandro Goncalves.
McNerney also hosts the weekly handicapping show Inside Track at Ellis Park and is the on-air television host and racing analyst at Turfway. He will tell us what a day in McNerney's life is like.
Ellis Park is hosting a Handicapping Contest over the weekend: The Bluegrass Tournament, presented by AmWager live-money format with a $500 entry fee.
Jeremy Balan covers the west coast racing scene for the Blood-Horse. He will have plenty to cover on Saturday as Arrogate sets out to prove he is the top horse in training with a win in the G1 $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar on his way to a trail to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. On the under card are the G1 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks and the G2 $250,000 Del Mar Handicap.
Justin Nicholson is a longtime owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses after first being introduced to the game by his father. He co-founded Ninety North Racing Stable in 2011 and also manages private breeding and racing operations in the US and the UK under the name AJ Suited Racing Stable. He has been identified in several publications as an up-and-comer in the industry, and hopes to help racing grow.
He will tell us how he got his foot into thoroughbred owning and racing and relay some information on his 2 entities AJ Suited Racing Stable and Ninety North Racing Stable.
DRF eclipse award winning writer Marty McGee will be our guest handicapper. Marty is already on the backstretch of Arlington Park seeking out stories on Arlington Million week.
The 35th Arlington Million (G1) will anchor a fantastic under card with the $600,000 Beverly D. (G1); the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1); the $250,000 American St. Leger (G3) and the $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3).
Donna Barton Brothers began riding professionally in 1987. Her mother was a jockey and her father was a rough-stock rider on the rodeo circuit. Her brother and sister are former jockeys. She retired from race riding in 1998, as the 2nd leading female jockey in the country by money earned. That same year she married former horse trainer Frank Brothers. She began dabbling in on-air horse racing coverage of the important events with various T.V. networks.
Fresh from a 2 week trip in South Africa she will tell us about her career in the saddle and the book she published in 2011 Inside Track: Insider's Guide to Horse Racing.
Matt Bernier, last seen on the National broadcast of the Haskell Stakes where he gave out Girvin as his choice and the colt caught McCraken by a nose to pay $20.40.
Matt and John will 'cap the 1.2 mil Whitney (G1); the $500,000 Test (G1) and the $200,000 Hall of Fame S. (G2) from Saratoga. If time allows from Mountaineer the $250,000 West Virginia Derby.
Harlan Malter of Saposh & Malter has taken his experience as a financial consultant and moved it into the world of Thoroughbred Racing. He recently was a keynote speaker at TOBA’s “New Owner Seminar” at Indiana Grand and discussed Racing Partnerships and how to be involved in his Ironhorse Racing. His approaches vary to suit the needs and wants of those willing to get into the game.
Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com. A 17-year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the NTRA, the NYRA and the DRF and is a past President of the Turf Publicists of America. He is also the longtime emcee at the NTRA National Handicapping Championship.
Very familiar with the east coast racing, he will give his insight on Monmouth’s $1 million Haskell Stakes; Saratoga’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy and the Grade 1 Alfred Vanderbilt and travel out west for the prestigious Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. Eric will also tell us about upcoming events at “Horse Tourneys.
The Racing Museum and Hall of Fame will be unveiling its exhibition of 50 images shot by legendary equine photographer Tony Leonard. Entitled Racing's Greatest and America's Oldest—Selections from the Tony Leonard Collection, the photographs focus on Saratoga scenes and Hall of Fame members captured by Leonard who died at age 89 in 2012.
Bobby Shiflet was the main player in bringing the show to Saratoga, where it will be on display for a year. Bobby and John will share Leonard's work, their experiences of the artist and the importance of his documenting of the racing of his era.
It is time for racing to return under the ancient Elms of Saratoga and no publication covers the racing and behind-the-scenes stories better than the Saratoga Special. Tom Law with brothers Sean and Joe head up a talented team that scour the backstretch for all of the latest news.
Tom will paint the picture of the upcoming meet and with John will handicap the graded stakes races on Friday and Saturday.
Walker Hancock the head man at Claiborne, not only understands and appreciates the Claiborne tradition, but he is the right age to lead the iconic breeding and racing operation into a future that is filled with new ideas, new concepts and new challenges. Now 27, Hancock has already made his mark by bringing Runhappy and Ironicus to to stand at Claiborne for the 2017 breeding season. Walker will talk about the responsibilities of maintaining Claiborne’s reputation as one of the leading breeding facilities in the world. The “Louisville King of the ‘Cappers” Byron King will be crossing state lines and heading north to Shelbyville, IN to Indiana Grand for the Indiana Derby program. Ohio Derby winner Irap hopes to pick up the winner’s share of the Indiana Derby. The DRF columnist and handicapper will join John in 'capping the main event the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3). Other races on the under card include: - the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) and the $100,000 Warrior Veterans Stakes.
Jon Court didn’t waste anytime knocking off his 600 career victory at Ellis Park on Saturday’s opening card of the 2017 race meet. With his second mount of the day, Court captured the second race for owner Joseph Scates and trainer David Dortch. Court now has won 4,036 races in North America, He will tell us a little bit about of his long career in the saddle. Jonathon Kinchen of Austin, Texas, won four National Handicapping Championship (NHC) qualifying contests in his first full year of play and earned 19,026 points overall to win the 2015 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour, which ended Sunday following a three-day tournament at Del Mar’s Surfside Race Place. As 2015 NHC Tour champion, Kinchen earned $75,000 and an automatic berth to NHC 18 in 2017. He will join John in handicapping the races at Belmont Park this Saturday namely the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1), the $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational (G2), the $750,000 Suburban H. (G2) and the $400,000 Dwyer S. (G3).
The winner’s circle at Jack Thistledown was filled with anxiety while the placing judges examined the photo finish in the $500,000 (G3) Ohio Derby. As soon as Irap’s number was flashed up, the winner circle exploded with a chant of “10 years, 10 years,” as two men cheered and jumped up and down until Irap and Leparoux made their way for the win photo. One of the two men celebrating, Dr. David Mascotti is here to tell us the reason for their celebration. Brian Zipse just got off the plane from his visit to Royal Ascot where American-based Wesley Ward once again came away as a multiple winner at the esteemed and historic meet. Brian will paint the picture of the racing scene at Royal Ascot and share all of his experiences. John and Brian will also discuss some of the big races over the Holiday weekend including the prestigious $1 million Queen’s Plate just north of the border: -The $300,000 (G1) United Nations S. at Monmouth and the $250,000 (G2) Mother Goose S. at Belmont.
The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horse players, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers, and affiliated horse racing associations. The organization has 17 full-time employees based in Lexington, regional sales representatives spread strategically across the country, and a horse industry advocacy team based in Washington, D.C. President and CEO Alex Waldrop will tell us about its mission. Handicapper Rich Ruda is a lifelong horse player, who has been the on-air handicapper for Thistledown for 11 years. Saturday is Ohio Derby Day, at $500,000 it is the state’s richest graded stakes race in North America that day. Thistledown’s frequent and current leading trainer, Jeff Radosevich has nominated four to the Ohio Derby. On the under-card 2 stakes races for Ohio-breds - the George Lewis Memorial S. and the J. William Petro Memorial H. He and John will analyze all three races.
Terry Finley is the CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds. He has put together numerous successful partnerships while inviting new owners into the racing game on various levels. He himself, was part of Always Dreaming's scintillating victory in the Kentucky Derby. We will be discussing his passion for the sport, his philosophy for creating partnerships and the reality of being part of owning a Kentucky Derby winner. Saturday Night is All Right for Betting! It certainly will be at Churchill Downs on Stephen Foster night with a great feature. Ed DeRosa, who is no stranger to the racing under the Twin Spires, will be our guest handicapper to analyze the races and give his impressions of the Triple Crown series. He will handicap from Churchill Downs the $500,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1); the $200,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2); the $200,000 Wise Dan S. (G2); the $100,000 Regret S. (G3) and the $100,000 Matt Winn S. (G3); from Santa Anita the $200,000 Honeymoon S. (G 2);
The Big Apple has all of the big races on Friday and Saturday with a plethora of Graded Stakes leading up to the Test of Champions - the 1 1/2 mile Belmont that has brought together a large field with excellent credentials to become a Classic winner. Two excellent handicappers will be joining us to cover as many of those stakes as we can.
Well respected attorney Steve Pierson, and an accomplished handicapper who specializes in Pick-3 and Pick-4 wagers, will be analyzingI in addition to the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1), the $1.2 million Metropolitan H. (G1), the $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan S. (G1) and the $750,000 Ogden Phipps S. (G1).
Belterra race caller and odds maker Ed Meyer will pick up additional Belmont Stakes Day under-card action with the $700,000 Acorn S. (G1), the $700,000 Just A Game S. (G1), the $500,000 Woody Stephens S. (G2) and the $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational S. (G2).
Look Out for our Belmont Stakes Contest for Cold Cash and Merchandise!!
DRF's Jay Privman and Ed McNamara of Newsday earned top honors in the NYRA's eighth annual Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Contest, recognizing the best in print and internet coverage of the 2016 Belmont Stakes, won by Creator. The winners to receive their awards at Rockefeller Center during the draw for the 149th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1). Jay will give us his analysis of the big race.
Eric Wing, Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, is a 17-year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the NTRA, the NYRA and the DRF. He is also the longtime emcee at the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Eric will tell us about an exciting contest involving the Belmont Stakes, share his thoughts about the first 2 legs and analyze with John aside from the big race, the $500,000 Penn Mile S. (G2) from Penn, the $200,000 Pennine Ridge S. (G3) at Belmont, the $175,000 Connaught Cup (G2) at Woodbine and the $100,000 Aristides S. (G3) at Churchill.
Stacie Clark, raised in Ontario, Canada, is the daughter of thoroughbred trainer Joan Clark and owner Peter Clark. Growing up around racing, her parents’ passion for the industry soon became her own. From riding as a jockey to being Associate Producer and Racing Television Commentator to Award winning productions “Woodbine Entertainment Live” and “Woodbine Racing Live, Stacie currently serves on Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She will give us a glimpse on a life lived around horses and racing.
Rich Eng is a respected author, columnist and handicapper. A frequent guest on Winningponies, he will give his analysis of the 3-year-old crop after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes outcomes. Rich and John will also look at Saturday races from Canada to Kentucky. From Woodbine the $175,000 Nassau S. (G2); from Monmouth Park the $100,000 Red Bank S. (G3); from Churchill Downs the $100,000 Winning Colors S. (G3); and from Arlington Park the $100,000 Arlington Classic S. (G3).
Brian Zipse of Horse Racing Nation will be our first guest. He and members of his staff were at the Kentucky Derby and we will get his analysis of the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. Brian and his team have been concentrating this week on the Preakness Stakes and we will get his insights into some of the new shooter and troubled Kentucky Derby runners who hope to turn the tables on Always Dreaming in the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Award-winning turf writer Tom LaMarra will join us to handicap the $1.5 million Preakness (G1), the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and solid stakes on Pimlico's Saturday under card. The former news editor of the Blood-Horse now lives in the Maryland region promoting racing in the Mid-Atlantic and is familiar with the horses going to post in the big races.
Our main man Ed Meyer is stepping in with the post-Derby and Preakness analysis.
Of the handicappers we had on the Derby/Oaks Show, Ed came in with the best selection in the Oaks: Abel Tasman was followed home by 12-1 Daddys Lil Darling, and 36-1 Lockdown, who rallied from eighth. Abel Tasman returned $20.40, $9.20, and $6.40 across the board, while Daddys Lil Darling paid $11 to place and $6.60 to show, with Lockdown returning $18.40.
The Daily Racing Form's expert handicap Matt Bernier will join us for his analysis of the Kentucky Derby and insights to the competition lining up to challenge Always Dreaming in next week's Preakness Stakes.
Top racing is returning to his backyard at Belmont Park and we will check out Matt's picks and pans, in particular the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) that has launched many a good horse into the Belmont Stakes over the years. Also on the card the $400,000 Man o' War S. (G1), the $250,000 Ruffian H. (G2) and the $150,000 Beaugay S. (G3).
The Derby is finally here... The show will be all handicapping of the Kentucky Oaks / Derby with three of our most popular handicappers - Tom Law, Dan Illman and Ed Meyer. They will give us their impressions, first hand accounts of workouts and analysis of the contenders in both Grade 1 races this weekend at Churchill Downs.
Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc. Among his other writing awards, he is the winner of the Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Award.
Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the DRF News Desk. He was also co-host of the weekly New York City-OTB TV show “Out of the Gate”.
Ed Meyer is the track announcer and morning line-odds maker for Belterra Park and Casino. Ed was the original Winning Ponies Radio Show host, and has been writing and blogging for Winning Ponies since 2008.
As it has been our tradition in the past, we will be hosting a handicapping contest on the Derby, rules and payouts to be announced on the show.
Dick Downey concentrates his entire year on analyzing the Kentucky Derby. It has been a passion of his for decades and he will share his insights into this year's field with us this week. If you have been following the Derby trail you know that this is one of the most wide open Run for the Roses we have seen in years. That should make for plenty of betting opportunities and options to cash a big ticket.
DRF's Byron King is a Louisville-based writer and handicapper who is dialed in to the action under the Twin Spires. In the first segment we will talk about his impressions of the Derby prep races and list the major horses to watch. We will also take a look at some of the top races including Friday's closing $150,000 Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and the Saturday opening night's $100,000 William Walker at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Kenny McPeek’s Senior Investment looked like a horse screaming for 1 ¼ miles when he rallied from 9th to 1st in the $200,000 Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland on Saturday. Sad to say he came up short on the Derby points system, but he could be headed towards the Preakness or Belmont Stakes. It’s Your Nickel, sixth in the $1 mil Blue Grass S. (G2) on April 8, worked a half-mile in :48.80 Tuesday morning and would make his next start in the April 22 Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne. Kenny will let us know about his plans for both colts.
Veteran turf writer and handicapper Bob Railbird Roberts has covered numerous Kentucky Derbies over his many years with the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He is no stranger to Charles Town, who will feature the richest race in North America this Saturday - the $1.25 mil Charles Town Classic (G2). The Railbird will join John in cappin' that race, the $250.000 Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne Park and the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland.
As much as Corey Johnsen moves in promoting racing no green grass grows under his feet. TurfTalk360.com is a sister website to the popular JockeyTalk360.com. TurfTalk is produced by the father-son team of Corey and C.J. Johnsen, with award-winning writer Jennie Rees the editor. Corey Johnsen is president and part-owner of Kentucky Downs, the all-grass track. “Turf racing is growing exponentially in America Corey said. With more than 40% of stakes contested on grass, he will make the case for turf racing.
Oaklawn Park will host some of the hottest racing action on Saturday. DRF's Mary Rampellini is on the scene and will provide her insights with John analyzing the last major race in the KY Derby Championship Series - the $1 million Arkansas Derby a (G1) race that will determine if last year's 2-year-old champion Classic Empire has returned to his form of old after a few setbacks. They will also look at the $750,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) and the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3).
Barbara Livingston’s 'Old and New Friends' which chronicles the lives of 100 retired racehorses, including 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah is one of this year’s Tony Ryan Book Award finalists. The DRF recently featured a photo documentary of Man O’ War on it's 100th birth Anniversary and Livingston displayed never-before seen photos of places where Man O’ War has left an amazing historic hoof-print. We will discuss with two-time Eclipse Award winning Livingston her evolution from a horse loving camera toting teenager to one of the most respected equine photographers in the sport.
Ed Meyer is our expert handicapper as Saturday’s racing returns to his playground at Keeneland. While the card is filled with graded stakes races, Ed and John will key in on the Championship Points-laden $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G2), the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) and the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1). As time allows Ed and John will weigh in on the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Dr. Kendall Hansen has set out to help prove his namesake stallion, the champion juvenile Hansen, in his lone U.S. crop before being sold to Korea in late 2013. The northern Kentucky-based pain-management doctor expanded his broodmare band to breed or co-breed 37 of Hansen’s 102 registered foals in his debut crop. 25 of those horses would later be offered at auction by the doctor himself, while also purchasing six foals. Some were added to his racing stable, others were pin hooked, and some sold privately. He will expand on his involvement with Hansen.
Gary West is a New Orleans native who will weigh in on 3 Fair Grounds Stakes that have plenty of Cajun connections. Wayne Catalano, will saddle Farrell in the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks, with 100 points to the winner. The G2 Louisiana Derby also carries 100 points and Cajun jockey Brian Hernandez will be sitting atop Girvin for Joe Sharp. In the G2 New Orleans Handicap for older horses New Orleans native trainer Tom Amos returns with Mo Tom.
Eric Hamelback is the CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. He is the former general manager of Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm in Paris, Ky. Originally from Frierson, Louisiana Hamelback attended Louisiana State University where he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Systems. As CEO of the National HBPA, Eric serves as representative for the largest horsemen’s group in North America. He will tell us how he got involved with thoroughbreds and racing.
Biggest week of racing for Turfway Park “Kentucky’s Winter Track.” The Florence, Kentucky oval is calling in the services of handicapper Joe Kristufek to be the day’s on-air talent. He will share his thoughts with John on the main races - The $500,000 Jack Casino Spiral Stakes (G3) which carries points for the Ky Derby and the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) the points race for the Ky Oaks. For horses that couldn’t get in the Spiral there is the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes.
One of the busiest men in racing, Steve Byk, will be taking time out of his always busy day to talk about his love of racing. He hosts a daily radio show “At the Races With Steve Byk,” which airs Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon Eastern time on Sirius/XM radio.
Steve will join John to talk about the state of thoroughbred racing and the personalities that make it the great sport it is.
Brian Zipse will be the guest handicapper and will analyze the $900,000 Grade 2 Rebel Stakes (a Derby prep race), the $350,000 Grade 2 Azeri Stakes and the $250,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn as well as the $400,000 Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita.
Eric Mitchell, 47, joined Blood-Horse Publications in October 1999 as a senior staff writer for The Blood-Horse. He now covers the stallion and farm news as Bloodstock Editor and manages BloodHorse MarketWatch, Stallion Register, and the Auction Edge sales guide. Eric will join John to discuss current headlines and trends in the sales and the breeding industry. They will also shine light on the rising stars among the stallion ranks, and the impact they may have on this year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks.
Jeremy Balan covers the west coast racing for the Blood-Horse. Santa Anita will feature an outstanding card on Saturday with 3 Grade 1 Stakes and the $400,00 San Felipe (G2) for 3-year-olds where the winner will be guaranteed a post in the Ky Derby. Also on the card the $750,000 Santa Anita H. (G1), the $400,000 Triple Bend S. (G1), and the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) which will feature Dortmund’s debut on the turf for new trainer Art Sherman.
Mike Battaglia Turfway associate vice president and Kentucky Derby oddsmaker, who last year retired from the Turfway announcer’s booth after 43 years, tells us what has kept him busy. He may make a cameo Call of the race dedicated to the memory of his father - The $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway on Saturday. Mike will be joined by award-winning turf writer Jennie Rees in an educational handicapping seminar. Mike and John look at that field in a race that serves as a springboard to the Kentucky Derby Points race - the $500,000 Jack Spiral Stakes (G3) on March 25.
Matt Bernier of the DRF will give his impressions of the early Derby Prep races up to this point and join John in looking at the four races in the Championship Series with points towards the Derby and Oaks: - the $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and the $200,000 Davona Dale S. (G2) from Gulfstream; the $300,000 Gotham S. (G3) from Aqueduct and the $100,000 Santa Ysabel S. (G3) from Santa Anita.
Wayne The Cat Catalano started out on the backstretch of the Fair Grounds working for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg. He went on to a successful career as a jockey and transferred his skills as a horseman to that of one of the country's most successful trainers. Catalano has two horses in the top 10 points standings for both the Ky Derby (Uncontested) and Ky Oaks (Farrell). On Saturday he will send Farrell to the post in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds.
Gary Johnson has been on a 10-year run competing successfully in national handicapping contests, but the lure of the backstretch has drawn him out of the clubhouse and back to the morning grind of training. Dealing mostly with claimers, he was the leading trainer at Thistledown for 7 years in a row. Gary and John will 'cap the $400,000 Risen Star S. (G2 - Derby points) and the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra S. (G2 - Oaks points) both at Fair Grounds and the $150,000 Busher S. (Oaks points) at Aqueduct.
John Galbreath's grandson John Phillips has been given a lofty task, the continuation of a historic legacy. At the beginning of the 20th century, the legendary Colonel E. R. Bradley developed a top-rate equine facility assembling breeding stock mostly from Europe at his farm named Idle Hour. After Colonel Bradley’s death, John W. Galbreath purchased the core property of Idle Hour in the mid 50’s. Renaming the farm Darby Dan, John Galbreath’s impact on the sport was quick and profound. In 1961, Galbreath imported the undefeated European superstar RIBOT from Europe with huge success followed. Today Darby Dan is a commercial facility offering a full array of services.
Bob Railbird Roberts will weigh in on the recent Kentucky Derby Points races and will analyze with John the $200,000 El Camino Real S. (G3) from Golden Gate; the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie S. (G2) from Laurel; the $200,000 Buena Vista S. (G2) from Santa Anita and the $200,000 Royal Delta S. (G2) from Gulfstream.
Ron Paolucci, who grew up going to the races since the time he could walk, started in the business with a $3,000 claiming trotter at Northfield Park near Cleveland. His Ria Antonia earned more than $1.5 million while winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and sold in 2014 for $1.8 million. 2 of his Looch Stables' charges Conquest Enforcer and War Story won graded stakes and his latest acquisition, Imperative, captured the $400,000 Poseidon Handicap. Ron will discuss his methods of finding promising prospects.
Eric Wing is Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com. A 17-year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the NTRA, the NYRA and the DRF. Eric will discuss the recent NHC Championship he helped host in Las Vegas and handicap some of Saturday's top races with John: the $350,000 Gulfstream Park H. (G1) at Gulf, the $250,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa, the $200,000 Arcadia S. (G2) at Santa Anita and the $125,000 Martha Washington S. from Oaklawn.
Tom Law penned a moving tribute to 2-time Eclipse Award winning Turf Writer Bill Mooney who passed away this week after a 2 year battle with cancer. Tom will reflect on his last visit with Mooney and as Bill would prefer - discuss the racing landscape. Bill's final words to the members of the NTWAB. I want to say thank you from the deepest depths of my heart to everybody. But the late autumn of my years have passed and winter's knocking hard on the door. So, here goes. So long my friends So long and Hail! I'm off to seek the Holy Grail! Tiddly, Widdly. Toodleloo, My dearest wish is to stay with you! But I can't Goodbye!
Award winning journalist, author and writer for the DRF Jay Privman will join us to reflect on the Pegasus Cup and California Chrome's legacy, and give us his insight into this year's Kentucky Derby. 3 Ky Derby Points races on Saturday: Aqueduct's $250,000 Withers S. (G3); Gulfstream's $200,000 Swale S. (G2) and Santa Anita's $150,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3).
Ryan Brady is currently a major force in exhuming the body of two-time Ohio Champion Glacial Princess who was reportedly buried at Beulah Park. The track is scheduled to be demolished and he wanted her memory rightfully preserved with her burial monument placed at Old Friends Farm, next to another “almost lost legend” Noor. Ryan was born into this industry through his father who was an owner, trainer and equestrian dentist. He will tell us about his involvement into horse racing.
Dan Illman will be the Quarterback for DRF Live on Saturday leading up to the richest race of all-time the $12 million Pegasus Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome will try to make amends for his defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic against the younger brilliant Arrogate, recently crowned Champion 3-year-old. Dan and John will analyze the race and will also look at the strong under card featuring the $400,000 Poseidon S. and the $200,000 W.L. McKnight S. (G3).
Jan. 4th, 2017 -The NTRA, DRF and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced that Natalie Voss has won the 2016 Media Eclipse Award for Writing in the News/Enterprise category for “‘Something’s Wrong With My Brain’ – The Lurking Danger of Concussions for Jockeys,” an examination of head trauma and the racing industry’s response to preventive measures. Natalie Voss is the features editor for the Paulick Report, where she focuses on issues related to horse health and investigative journalism. A freelancer before joining the Paulick Report full-time in 2013, her work has appeared in many horse publications such as The Blood-Horse and others.
Handicapper Rich Eng will weigh in on his Eclipse Award picks for 2016. There are 2 stakes at the Fair Grounds and a solid Grade 2 from one of Rich's specialty tracks - Santa Anita. The $200,000 Lecomte S. (G3) and the $150,000 Silver Bullet Lady S. from Fair Grounds and the $200,000 Santa Monica S. (G2) from Santa Anita.
Ray Paulick is proud that two of The Paulick Report's staff writers have won Eclipse Awards for articles that appeared on the website: Natalie Voss won the 2016 Media Eclipse Award for Writing in the News/Enterprise category for “‘Something’s Wrong With My Brain’ – The Lurking Danger of Concussions for Jockeys,” and John Scheinman won the 2016 Media Eclipse Award for Writing in the Feature/Commentary category for “Andrew Beyer: Rebel with a Cause.” Ray Paulick is currently in Florida awaiting the $12 million Pegasus Stakes. He will weigh in on that event and discuss potential divisional champions that will be decided at the 46th Annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony on Saturday, January 21, at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Racing Handicapper and Gulfstream track’s announcer Pete Aiello will join John to analyze the competition in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale S. (G 2), the $150,000 Hal's Hope S. (G 3) and the $150,000 Marshua's River S. (G 3).
With HRN and RCN at an impasse over contract for availability of live and replays of video feed, trainer Kenny McPeek who was involved in creating the racing app through Horse Races Now will be explaining the issue at hand. McPeek has said I firmly believe that until the horse racing industry figures out how to deliver races broadly to the fans, the sport will never grow. I believe Horse Races Now is the solution. We are fighting to make horse racing accessible for all fans.”
Joe Appelbaum, a 48-year-old horse owner, breeder and seller based in New York City, cashed a $13,000 cold exacta (Arrogate-California Chrome) on the Breeders’ Cup Classic to win this year’s Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. The wager net of $64,000 earned Appleton a first-place prize of $300,000. He will tell us about his journey in horse racing and will 'cap with John the 3 graded stakes at Santa Anita - the Gr. 2 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes; the Gr. 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes and the Gr. 3 $100,000 Las Cienegas.
Jennie Rees will be our 1st guest for our Winningponies Year in Review Edition. Since leaving the Louisville Courier-Journal, Jennie never missed a beat as the Multi-Eclipse Award winning writer she is. She attended the Breeders's Cup, is helping to promote the efforts of Jockey Talk 360 benefiting the PDJF and was a one-woman press corps for Ellis Park and Kentucky. She is currently on the scene in New Orleans and when not munching on a Muffaletta or attending a Crawfish Boil, she assists her husband, trainer Pat Dupuy with chores around the barn.
Since the Breeders' Cup took place in his back yard, we thought the Blood-Horse's West Coast correspondent Jeremy Balan would have excellent insights on the 2016 racing highlights. Santa Anita opened this week and they will host three graded stakes races on Saturday. Jeremy will join John in handicapping the Gr. 1 $300,000 American Oaks; the Gr. 3 $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes and the Gr. 3 $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes.
'Half a Chance,' about a down-on-his luck jockey agent who finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and larceny, follows John Perrotta’s racing memoir 'Racetracker: Life with Grifters and Gamblers' and his novel 'If Wishes Were Horses.' John Perrotta will share his racetrack experience and delve into his latest novel.
In the spirit of the Holiday Season, former Kentucky Derby winning jockey and current racing official Mike Manganello has set up a Go Fund Me page to help trainer Eric Reed and his wife Kay after the devastating fire at their Mercury Training Center this week. Eric will discuss his plans for re-grouping his training.
Penelope Miller is the Senior Manager of Digital Media for America's Best Racing. Miller has been involved with the racing industry for most of her life, having grown up on a farm near Ocala, FL. After graduating from Georgetown University in 2003, Miller worked in several areas of the racing industry at Tampa Bay Downs prior to her latest position.
Jason Neff will be discussing his father's book that he had published after his father's death. It is an excellent book on race riding from past to present. He will tell us a little bit about his father's love for racing and his motivation in publishing his father's book Stylin': Reviving The Lost Art of Race Riding.
Over the past 20 years Ron Nicoletti has been one of the most recognized and respected public handicappers, particularly when it comes to the racing at Gulfstream Park. He provides his analysis on their daily website and on-air live racing days with Acacia Courtney and Pete Aiello. The best graded stakes action on Saturday takes place at Gulfsteam Park and Ron will join John to break down this graded series of races from 6 furlongs to 1 1/16 mile: the $100,000 Sugar Swirl S. (G3) for 3 year olds and up at 6 Furlongs; the $100,000 Rampart S. (G3) for 3 year olds and up at 1 Mile and the $100,000 Harlan's Holiday S. (G3) for 3 year olds and up at 1 1/16 Mile.
Bill Doolittle will be our first guest - Kentucky Derby Book author Bill Doolittle knows the racetrack. Bill is a noted horse racing expert, with a specific interest in the Kentucky Derby. In fact, he is the only sportswriter to pick the last four Kentucky Derby winners in a row! Bill’s Kentucky Derby experience doesn’t end at the turf. Over the years, he has learned quite a bit about other aspects – historical, cultural, culinary and social – of the two-minute horse race that has become a two to three week party across the entire Bluegrass State.
Our second guest will be Brian Zipse. We'll be looking at the year in review and he will be our guest handicapper. Huge day at the Fair Grounds on Saturday dubbed Louisiana Champions Day. Brian and John will be comparing the state-bred challenges in the $150,000 Classic; the $100,000 Ladies Stakes; $100,000 Turf Stakes and the talent laden $100,000 Juvenile Stakes.
After winning four stakes races at Churchill Downs over the holiday weekend, Brian Hernandez, Jr. was named Shuffle Bean Coffee Jockey of the Week for the week of November 21-27, 2016. The award is voted on by members of the Jockeys’ Guild, which represents more than 950 riders in North America. He will tell us how that holiday weekend must felt like and also give us a glimpse into his life.
Gulfstream Park will be hosting one of the most challenging days of Handicapping of the year - The Claiming Crown! Bringing together horses of all divisions from all parts of the country who changed barns when their original connections decided to drop them for a tag and saw them go to a new barn. The connections of these horses have steadily improved on their performances and now it is time to meet their new peers on the big stage in a series of stakes races. Track announcer and respected handicapper Pete Aiello will give us his insights into the day's races.
We've been tracking the recent thoroughbred sales at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland. What exactly are the next steps to get them to a successful future at the races? We will be joined by Mary Mannis who heads Break To Race Breeze Racing, a training facility in Paris, Kentucky where according to Mannis, Our goal is to start your yearlings in a manner that they experience as positive, thorough, and sane. Our aim is to graduate a healthy, sound, fit, and mentally prepared young race horse that is able to withstand the rigors of training and racing at the highest level.
The popular handicapper and Winningponies writer Ed Meyer will give us his thoughts on the recent Breeders' Cup and then focus on some of Saturday's all stakes day at Delta Downs. John and Ed will concentrate on the Grade 3 events - the $1million Delta Downs Jackpot and the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess. A Dash for Cash in the $250,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Dash at Laurel and the Gr. 2 $200,00 Bessarabian at Woodbine.
Alicia Wincze-Hughes recently coordinated the Annual NTWAB Awards Banquet and subsequently covered the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita. Upon returning to Lexington, Kentucky, Alicia joined her Blood-Horse team in full coverage of this week's Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland Mixed Sales. She will be sharing her story of her entrance to the racing world and her last 2 weeks. Alicia is an award-winning writer who recently joined the Blood-Horse as their Racing Editor.
Jay Privman is uniquely qualified to write about the Breeders' Cup since he has seen every one, beginning with the inaugural at Hollywood Park in 1984. At that time, Privman had already won the Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Contest an amazing 5 times. A former President of the NTWAB Jay did another outstanding job hosting the Breeders' Cup for NBC. We will tap into his long standing experience and discuss this year's Distaff and Classic and where they stand with BC races he has witnessed since 1984.
This will be an all Breeders' Cup show with guest handicappers from both coasts! Dan Illman will be manning the DRF Desk to host DRF Live both days. Out at Santa Anita we have multiple Eclipse Award winning writer Jennie Rees, who has been working the backstretch all week. Also joining us from California will be handicapper extraordinaire Ed DeRosa. They will all help us with any late-breaking news or changes and give us their insights on their favorite races in these World Championships.
We are closing in on the Breeders' Cup and have been lucky enough to land Eclipse Award winning writer Marty McGee as a guest. His plane landed earlier this week and he has 'Boots on the Ground' on the backstretch and Press Box at Santa Anita covering all aspects of the World Championships of Racing for the Daily Racing Form. Marty will share his insights, observations and best bets for this two-day handicapping challenge.
Ed DeRosa is Director of Marketing for Bloodstock Research Information Services -BRIS- and a lifelong Thoroughbred racing enthusiast and astute handicapper. Ed joined Churchill Downs Inc. following 9 years as a writer and editor with Thoroughbred Times. He is currently Brisnet.com marketing and publicity director at Twinspires.com. Ed will join John in discussing the upcoming Breeders' Cup match ups and will analyze the G 2 200,000 Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland: the G 3 200,000 Bold Ruler S. at Belmont and the G 3 100,000 Autumn Miss S. at Santa Anita.
Horse Racing Radio Network broadcasting team of Mike Penna who is the President and Jude Feld who won an Eclipse Award as part of the Horse Racing Radio Network broadcasting team for their coverage of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, will talk about this year's Breeders' Cup. Jude Feld will layout in detail their on-air schedule leading to the Cup while Mike Penna will talk about his impressions of the best prep races and the HRRN schedule leading up to the Breeders' Cup. As time allows the races we will look at will be the 150,000 Pin Oak Valley View S. -G3- -Friday- and the 250,000 Lexus Raven Run -G3- from Keeneland: the 300,000 Empire Classic S. at Belmont and the 250,000 Cup and Saucer S. at Woodbine.
Evan Hammonds of the Blood-Horse will be our 1st guest. We will take a look at all of the major races that have taken place over the past few weeks that will lead to a berth in the many divisional Breeders' Cup races.
In the past Jody Evans has been a semi regular on the old Regular Guy Handicapping Show with John Engelhardt at River Downs and spent a season giving his selections out on the River Downs web site where his top selection won nearly 40 percent of time. This past year Jody reunited with John Engelhardt to handicap the Saturday Afternoon card at Beltera Park. Currently he follows the New York circuit as well as the Gulfstream Park Championship meet, Keeneland, the major stakes days, and of course Beltera Park.
We will be 'capping from Keeneland -Fri- the 100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. -Grade 3- and -Sat- the 500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. -Grade 1: and from Belmont Park the 200,000 Futurity S. -Grade 3- and the 200,000 Pebbles S.
It is time for another 'Super Saturday' and a bevy of Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' races. At Belmont Park they will contest 3 grade 1 stakes: the 1,000,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup: the 500,000 Champagne Stakes and the 500,000 Flower Bowl along with additional quality stakes races. For the Belmont races we will be joined by one of the top handicappers in the country Dave Litfin.
Keeneland opens this week and has an exceptional program Friday and Saturday. The Friday feature is the 400,000 Gr. 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes and Saturday's Fall Stars All Stars day offers the 1,000,000 Gr. 1 Shadwell Turf Mile: the 500,000 Gr. 1 Claiborne Farm Breeders' Futurity: the 250,000 Gr. 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes and an appearance by 'The Queen of the Turf'- Tepin, in the 400,000 Gr. 1 First Lady Stakes. Veteran Handicapper and Kentucky resident Frank Angst from the Blood-Horse will be covering the Keeneland races.
With the Breeders' Cup on the horizon, we gathered on this show an East and West Coast Commentators. Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, horse racing's number 1 destination for player-friendly qualifying contests. Eric will be our East Coast Commentator surveying the East coast talent. He will also join John in 'capping from Belmont Park: the 500,000 dollar Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. -G1-: the 400,000 dollar Beldame S. -G1- and the 350,000 dollar Vosburgh S. -G1-.
The Champions California Chrome and Beholder return to the races at Santa Anita on the road to the Breeders' Cup highlighting an outstanding Saturday card at Santa Anita. The Blood-Horse's Jeremy Balan has been covering all of the action and will be sharing his insights on the West Coast talent. He will 'cap the following: the 300,000 dollar Chandelier S. -G1-: the 300,000 dollar Frontrunner S. -G1-: the 300,000 dollar Zenyatta S. -G1-: the 300,000 dollar Awesome Again S. -G1- and the 300,000 dollar Rodeo Drive S. -G1-.
In recent weeks Winningponies has brought to light trainers who have been 'flying under the radar' for several years and now are winning graded stakes races like Pat Dupuy and Tommy Drury. This week we feature another 'trainer to watch' with Bill Denzik. On Saturday night in the 350,000 dollar Charles Town Oaks -G3-, his filly Covey Trace provided her trainer’s small stable and her jockey Arnaldo Bocachica with the first graded stakes wins of their careers. Bill will be on to talk about his stable star.
Award winning writer and accomplished handicapper Tom LaMarra, long-time news editor of the Blood-Horse, is taking his talents to the Mid-Atlantic region to help promote the horsemen of the region. John and Tom will focus on the outstanding card at Parx - highlighted by the 1,250,000 dollar Pennsylvania Derby -G2- featuring a rematch between Nyquist and Exagerrator. Champion Songbird will also compete in the 1,000,000 dollar Cotillion -G1- as her most likely start before the Breeders' Cup.
I attended the world's most legendary Yearling Sale on Monday - the Book 1 Keeneland September Sale. It was a collection of the best bred horses surrounded by the world's leading owners and trainers. DRF Breeding columnist Joe Nevills was in attendance and will give his observations of trends in the sale that will impact racing and the breed for years to come.
Handicapper, odds maker, track announcer and former host of Winningponies Ed Meyer will be going north of the border for two Grade 1 stakes at Woodbine - -one featuring the amazing Tepin.- The first 'Win and You're In' stakes for 2-year-olds takes place in the 150,000 dollar Iroquois -G3- at Churchill Downs on their opening week. From Woodbine the 1,000,000 dollar Ricoh Woodbine Mile -G1- for 3 Year Olds and Up on turf and the 300,000 dollar Northern Dancer Turf Presented by HPIBet -G1- for 3 Year Olds and Up on the turf. From Charles Town the 350,000 dollar Charles Town Oaks -G3- for 3 Year Olds at 7 Furlongs on the dirt
What is being called the first international horse racing convention and trade show has been scheduled for August 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 'Equestricon' is designed to bring together racing fans, horse players, and stakeholders throughout the sport in an atmosphere of non-stop entertainment and lively discussion, organizers said in a release. The event, scheduled for Aug. 13-15, will be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Dan Tordjman, as co-founder of Equestricon and a correspondent for America's Best Racing will share his thoughts about this new venture.
Gary West has been on the show numerous times. He is currently serving as part of the on-air team at the unique Kentucky Downs meet. There is a big handicapping contest there on Saturday offering guaranteed NHC seats to the top three finishers, and we will analyze the Gr. 3 600,000 dollar Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup: the 400,000 dollars More Than Ready Mile and the 350,000 Ky. Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes.
Our first guest is Alan Sherman half of the father and son team that forms Sherman Racing Stables with his father Art. They have come to national prominence through the historic achievements of North America’s leading money-winning thoroughbred California Chrome. We will be discussing Alan’s early years as the son of a jockey, his entrance into the training game and lessons learned through his partnership with his father. We will also look at the development of California Chrome, his unique racing history, recent Pacific Classic front-running victory and plans for the road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Our guest handicapper is DRF’s popular Matt Bernier – host of the weekly Matt Bernier Show on DRF.com. Didn’t want to go through the outstanding summer of 2016 without getting his views on the Saratoga Meet, Travers Stakes and analysis of this Saturday’s Gr. 1 600,000 dollar Woodward Stakes: Gr. 1 350,00 dollar Spinaway and the Gr. 3 300,000 dollar Saranac on the grass.
Robert Forbeck has been a lifelong fan of thoroughbred racing. DRF has hired him for the newly created position of National Advertising Director. He will discuss his career path in racing and join John in analyzing the races from Saratoga that will take place prior to the Travers Stakes : the 1 million dollar Sword Dancer S. -G1: the 750,000 dollar Personal Ensign -G1: the Ballerina S. -G1- and the 700,000 dollar Forego S. -G1.
Retiring Hall of Fame DRF executive and columnist Steven Crist will reflect over his career of over 35 years in one function or another involving thoroughbred racing. 'I’m fortunate to have spent my career in and around the greatest game ever invented,' said Crist, 59, 'and to have worked with so many talented colleagues at DRF for the betterment of the game and its customers. I’m really looking forward to doing some other things in retirement, but my heart won’t be far from the racetrack.' He will analyse for us the 'Midsummer Derby' the 1.25 million Dollar Travers Stakes.
First guest is Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron who just won the Lafitt Pincay Jr. Award and will receive the honor in ceremonies at Del Mar Aug. 21. For the first time, the Pincay Award will be part of a special relationship with one of racing's most important charities—the Winners Foundation, which for more than 30 years has aided those in racing adversely affected by substance abuse and-or mental health issues. He will be talking to us from Del Mar. He was a hero of mine, but since he moved to Lexington we have become friends.
Rich Eng will be our guest handicapper. We go back to the days when he was the Director of Publicity at Turfway Park and he would bring me in as part of the Press Team for the Spiral Stakes. Del Mar is in the spotlight this Saturday. The 1,000,000 dollars Pacific Classic -G1-has drawn an exceptional field headed by Champions California Chrome and Beholder. Also on the card are the 300,000 dollars Del Mar Oaks -G1- and the 250,000 dollars -G2- Del Mar Handicap..
Our 1st guest Pat Dupuy is a trainer who has been flying under the radar for years. He won his 1st graded Stakes race this season and just took the $100,000 Secretary of State Stakes on Saturday at Mountaineer with I'm A Looker. A New Orleans native, his father was a jockey and he employs a hotwalker who is one of the most accomplished people in racing - his wife, four-time Eclipse Award winning writer Jennie Rees.
Michael Spector is a horse racing writer currently covering the Saratoga meet for RacingDudes.com. He has written for various horse racing websites for the past 2 years including Danonymous Racing, In The Winners' Circle and recently his articles have appeared on the Paulick Report. He will talk about the start of the Saratoga meet (including reflections on Songbird & Frosted), and will cover the $400,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes, the $200,000 Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes and the $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes.
Known mostly for his years in the announcer's booth at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Longtime race caller Tony Bentley will take the mike in the announcer's booth at Suffolk Downs when live racing returns to the East Boston, Mass., racetrack Aug. 6-7.
Brian Zipse will be our guest handicapper. Brian and John will reflect on some of the big upsets from last week and highlight the major contenders in major races this weekend. They will preview the Grade 1 $1,250,000 Whitney and Grade 1 $500,000 Test Stakes from Saratoga and the Grade 2 $750,000 West Virginia Derby.
Pete Aiello is our 1st guest. When we last spoke to him he had secured the high profile job of track announcer at Oaklawn Park. The news broke last week that Pete was leaving that position to take the place of Larry Collumus who vacated his post at the premiere meet at Gulfstream Park. In addition to numerous graded stakes races, Pete will now be calling the world's richest race when Gulfstream premieres the 12 million Pegasus Stakes in January.
Our 2nd guest is DRF.com handicapping editor Dan Illman. He will talk about the continued success of California Chrome, the amazing Songbird - who refused to be buried at the 'Graveyard of Champions' and then examine the top contenders in the 600,000 Jim Dandy G2: the 350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt G1 and the 250,000 Bowling Green Hcp G2.
In June of 2016, Claiborne Farm has removed horses from the care of Al Stall, Jr., and distributed them to various trainers. Multiple graded stakes winner Departing, was transferred to the barn of Tom Drury. In his first start for Drury, Departing stormed home a two-length winner of the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes on the Indiana Derby under-card. Tom will tell how it felt to win that race with Departing for Claiborne Farms and give us an insight into his operation.
With Saratoga opening it's doors on Friday, Tom Law who teams up with the Clancy Brothers to publish the Saratoga Special, will join John Engelhardt in handicapping the opening day stake the $150,000 Schulerville (G3) for 2-year-old, a historic race that has launched the career of many outstanding fillies. The $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) on Saturday carries as much significance in racing with winners such as Upset that defeated Man o' War in 1919. Also on Saturday the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1).
A big day of racing this Saturday at Indiana Grand Racecourse, with the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2) and the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G2) on tap, we invited William 'Buff' Bradley to discuss his career and his late father Fred's influence, Brass Hat's second career and the quirky The Player, who will run in the Indiana Derby.
The 'Saratoga Tournament' is now offered as two separate one-day events instead of a two-day affair, and will take place Wednesday, Aug. 10, and Thursday, Aug. 11. Michael Beychok won’t have to buy his entry to the 2016 Saratoga Tournament, which was formally announced last week by the NYRA. Beychok has won two entries Saturday courtesy of DRF Tournaments. Michael Beychok will comment on the new format of the tournament and join John Engelhardt in 'capping the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1); the $300,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap.(G2) at Del Mar and two Grade 2 races from Indiana Downs - the $500,000 Indiana Derby and $200,000 Indiana Oaks.
The Jockeys' Guild and Kentucky tracks hope to take a big step forward this year in rider concussion protocol. Speaking at the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit June 28 at Keeneland, Dr. Carl Mattacola, professor of athletic training & rehabilitation sciences at the University of Kentucky, outlined plans for the concussion protocol pilot study to be conducted in Kentucky. The Guild and the Universtiy of Kentucky hope to have a point person hired soon who will oversee the program, set for a three-year pilot study. Dr. Mattacola will give us an insight into this study.
This week we are going to Dash For Cash with the Quarter Horses. Delta Downs is closing out its meet with an amazing card that includes 8 stakes races. We'll be bringing on Quarter Horse expert handicapper Don Stevens and analyze the top three events of Saturday evening - the $690,295 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG 1); the $150,000 Delta Downs Derby (RG 3) and the $100,000 Louisiana Classic (RG 2).
John Hancock is a third generation horseman who has been at Ellis Park for 49 years. This week racing returns to Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky. Hancock will discuss the changes he has seen at the “Pea Patch” over the decades and perhaps an update on his highly-regarded filly Whole Scoop who is scheduled to compete in the Grade 3, $100,000 Debutante at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Jude Feld began his horse racing career in 1978, making charts for the Daily Racing Form at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky. The 157th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate is Sunday, and as many as 15 could make a run at the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. Feld will be covering the prestigious race for HRRN. He will join John Engelhardt for a mix of challenging races to handicap over the holiday weekend including the $250,000 Grade 3 Iowa Derby from Prairie Meadows, the $300,000 Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont Park and Churchill’s $100,000 Debutante for 2-year-old fillies.
The widely popular website The Paulick Report is celebrating it's 8th anniversary this June. The site has a new look and founder Ray Paulick will be with us to discuss its growth in readership and address important stories and issues in the world of racing.
The richest race in the Buckeye State - the $500,000 Ohio Derby takes place on Saturday and popular track handicapper Rich Ruda will join the show to look at the Derby and other significant races on the undercard. He will also join John to analyze the top two races at Santa Anita - the $500,000 Grade 1 Gold Cup and the $300,000 Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes.
Joe Drape is a reporter for The New York Times who has covered thoroughbred racing for nearly two decades. He is a two-time Eclipse Award winner for outstanding coverage of horse racing. His book, Black Maestro: The Epic Life of an American Legend, is a biography of Jimmy Winkfield, the last African American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. He will give us a glimpse of his writing career and delve a little into his latest book.
Our seond guest is 28-year-old Gary Palmisano who was born in New Orleans and is the son of long time Louisiana based trainer Gary Palmisano Sr. He attended the University of Louisville, where he obtained degrees in Equine Business and Marketing. He is currently the VIP Player Services Manager for Churchill Downs Race Track and Twinspires.com.
We will handicap the $500,000 Gr. 1 Stephen Foster Hcp; the $200,000 Gr. 2 Summertime Oaks; the 200,000 Gr. 2 Wise Dan Stk and if time allows the $100,000 Gr. 3 Regret and Matt Winn Stks, all at Churchill.
Claire Novak has been covering all three legs of the Triple Crown with Boots on the Ground. She has been at Belmont Park this week and will give us her observations of the contenders, current updates and her analysis of the Test of Champions. br DRF's Marty McGee is our guest handicapper. He won his Eclipse Award for a story on the Desormeux brothers, so his appearance is very timely considering the Desormeaux (Kent and Keith) involvement with Exaggerator, the logical favorite in this the last leg of the Triple Crown. He will discuss Kent's current status with fighting alcoholism and will address with John, in addition to the Belmont Stakes, several of the sensational graded stakes races that will dominate the Belmont Stakes Day Program, including the $1,250,000 Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap; the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes; and the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes.
Linda Dougherty has been covering thoroughbred racing in New Jersey for more than two decades, writing for the Daily Racing Form, the Blood-Horse, The Trentonian, Mi-Atlantic Thoroughbred, The Horse of Delaware Valley and The Racing Biz.com. A New Jersey native, Dougherty is a longtime member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association and has owned and bred thoroughbreds. br She is now the author of “The Golden Age of New Jersey Horse Racing” and will be discussing the long and colorful history of the sport in the Garden State. br The best racing this weekend will take place at Santa Anita on Saturday with two Grade 1's : the $400,000 Vanity Mile on the dirt and the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile on the turf. Who better to analyze these races than the Daily Racing Form's west coast correspondent Jay Privman. br Jay will also weigh in on the Triple Crown races and the exciting returns of California-based champions - Beholder, Songbird and California Chrome.
As Director for the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), Reed is responsible for the coordination, administration, promotion and fund raising for the RTIP. His teaching duties include Organization and Administration of the Racing Department, Race Track Organization, Structure and Financial Management, Racing Business Strategies & Global Perspective and Senior Capstone: Current Issues in the Animal Racing Industry. He will tell us a little about his background and how he got involved with horse racing in the first place. br With the second Jewel of the Triple Crown behind us, Woodbine has scheduled to run the $200,000 Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes. The Windy City will kick off Memorial Day Weekend with several stakes including the $100,000 Grade 3 Arlington Classic on the Turf and the $100,000 Grade 3 Hanshin Cup. Joining us to discuss the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, in addition to handicapping those races, will be News Editor of the Blood-Horse Tom LaMarra.
Louise Osmond is the Award winning director of Dark Horse, a documentary depicting the joys of horse ownership. If someone in a bar—no doubt wearing a hat and smoking a cigar—told you the story of Dream Alliance, you'd probably hear them out for entertainment value and then question why real-life doesn't work out that way. But in this case, the story of Dream Alliance most assuredly is true, and a bar in Wales where you might hear stories that typically stretch the truth plays a central role. br The story of steeplechase Thoroughbred Dream Alliance is depicted in the new documentary, Dark Horse, The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance. br Tom Law will be on the grounds at Pimlico and will give us a first-hand account of the happenings and hot horses leading up to the second Jewel of the Triple Crown. In addition to the Preakness Stakes we will be 'capping the Pimlico Special and Black-Eyed Susan.
Frank Angst on the Blood-Horse has been covering the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks from workouts to the walkover. He'll share his observations, analyze both races and take a look forward to the upcoming Preakness Stakes. br DRF's Matt Bernier is one of the sharpest handicappers on the national scene. He'll weigh in on Derby 142 and the potential for another Triple Crown winner. There are some great stakes races on his home court at Belmont Park with the Gr.1 $400,000 Man O' War on the turf; the Gr. 2 $250,000 Ruffian and the Gr. 2 $200,000 Peter Pan - a race that has produced Belmont winners Gallant Man Coastal and A.P. Indy.
With the Kentucky Derby and Oaks this weekend at Churchill, we are bringing together a trifecta of popular handicappers to get their views on both events. br Daily Racing Form's Dan Illman will take the first leg, followed by writer and handicapper Bob Railbird Roberts and rounded out by the popular Belterra's odds maker and race caller Ed Meyer. br They will give us their impressions, first hand accounts of workouts and analysis of the contenders in both Grade 1 races.
A part of the Taylor Made team since its inception, VP of boarding operations Frank Taylor oversees the total operation of the farm including care of the horses, and farm maintenance. He also assists clients on an individual basis advising them in matings and sales and generally improving their bloodstock. Last July, the family-owned Nicholasville, Ky.-based operation bought out co-breeder Steve Coburn's interest in California Chrome. Mr. Taylor will tell us a little bit of what is in store for the leading money-winning thoroughbred in North America. br Leading up to the Kentucky Derby, who better to go to than the “King of Louisville” – Byron King a popular DRF handicapper and columnist. Keeneland closes on Friday and Churchill Downs opens for live racing on Saturday. Byron and John will analyze the Gr. 3 $150,000 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland; the $100,000 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs; the Gr. 3 $100,000 Miami Mile Hcp. and the Gr. 3 $100,000 San Francisco Mile.
Canterbury Park racing officials today announced a sweeping reduction in pari-mutuel takeout that will result in the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack offering a wagering product priced lower, on average, than any track in the country. Canterbury Park will be the best horse racing wagering opportunity in the United States when its 69-day race meet begins May 20. VP of Racing Operations Eric Halstrom will be our guest. br Our handicapper will be writer, oddsmaker and track announcer Ed Meyer. He's been going to Keeneland since he learned how to sneak into the back seat of his father's car. We'll handicap Friday's Gr. 3 $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes and then Saturday's Gr. 2 $250,000 Elkhorn Stakes. From there it is on to Charles Town for their rich Classic - a Gr. 2 race that carries a $1,250,000 purse. We'll close with a trip out west to Los Alamitos for the Gr. 2 $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes.
Kentucky based trainer Kenny McPeek travels the world looking for potential bloodstock for racing prospects. On Sat. April 23rd, McPeek’s Magdalena Farm in Lexington will be having an Open House at 10 am with discussions on conformation, training philosophy, co-ownership of horses, legal issues, and financial matters as they relate to horse ownership, A cocktail party to follow live racing at Keeneland. Kenny will give us all the details. br DRF’s Mary Rampellini is working the beat for “The Racing Festival of the South” at Oaklawn Park this weekend. Winchell Thoroughbreds' 2014 champion 3-year-old filly Untapable will bid for a repeat victory in the $600,000 Apple Blossom Hcp (G1) on Friday. On Saturday Bob Baffert trained Cupid returns to Oaklawn in hopes of capturing the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1). Also on the undercard is the $750,000 Oaklawn Hcp (G2). Mary and John Engelhardt will weigh in on these races and also review last weeks' Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps.
Our first guest Amy Owens, a Communications Associate at Keeneland will preview for us the opening this weekend of it's spring meet with some great racing showcasing the Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes and lots of innovative customer services at this historic track which opens on Friday. br Dick Downey founder of 'The Downey Profile' presents his annual analysis of the Triple Crown on his expansive website. One of his most popular free features are “Looking Good” which highlights the leading horses on the Triple Crown trail with detailed information on their Pedigree Profiles, sales records and an in-depth profile of their past and current racing career. It includes races they are being pointed toward, up-to-date training schedule and current quotes from their trainers an jockeys. The site also gives updates on “Road to the Kentucky Derby” races with current points and most importantly videos of all of the Derby Preps. He will update us on this year's Triple Crown's travails.
Last week and this weekend will go down as one of the greatest in racing's history and we are bringing together the Killer B's to talk about the buzz - National Handicapping Champion Michael Beychock and the Daily Racing Form's Matt Bernier. br Beychock was on hand to witness California Chrome's historic win in the $10 Dubai World Cup and will paint the picture of the unique Festival of Racing. He will also give his expert perspective on the Battle of the Unbeatens that will take place in the Florida Derby between Eclipse Award winner Nyquist and Mohaymen. br Outstanding DRF handicapper Matt Bernier recently debuted his new The Matt Bernier Show that airs every Friday on DRF.com. In addition to telling us about the show's format, Matt and John will analyze the Gr. 1 $100,000,000 Florida Derby; Gr. 2 $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks: Gr. 2 $300,000 Honey Fox and Gr. 3 $550,000 Spiral Stakes.
Brian Zipse who operates the site Horse Racing Nation has been tracking the horses who will compete for the rich purses in Dubai this week. Led by the 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome, and last year’s Wood Memorial and Pennsylvania Derby winner, Frosted, a field of 13 probables has been announced for the March 26 Dubai World Cup. Both American stars have been in Dubai for some time, and they each look to be coming up to the race in fine fettle. Brian will give us an update on the scene in Dubai.
New Orleans native and outstanding handicapper Gary West will join us to examine four graded stakes races from the Fair Grounds. Kentucky Derby hopefuls will square off in the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, Fillies pointing to the Kentucky Oaks will match strides in the $400,000 Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. Older horses will take to the turf in the $300,000 Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Handicap. An all-stakes Pick-4 starts with the $400,000 Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap.
Tom Amoss one of the country's top percentage leading trainers has horses on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks trail. Tom is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in marketing and a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, He had worked with horses while in high school and after completing his education went to work for trainers Frank Brothers, Larry Robideaux, and John Parisella. In 1987 he took out his trainer's license and set out on his own. He has won nine leading trainer titles. In 1998, Tom Amoss was inducted into the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame. He will give us a report on his charges Venus Valentine and Mo Tom both on the Derby and Oaks trail. br A frequent guest on the show Oaklawn Park's racing analyst and announcer Pete Aiello will join us as the spotlight switches to his new home track on Saturday. The featured race with Ky. Derby implications is the Gr. 2 $900, 000 Rebel S. teamed up with the Gr. 2 $300,000 Azeri S. and the Gr. 3 $300,000 Razorback S.
Terry Houghton, 46, a native of Burlington, KY began his riding career back in 1987 at Detroit Race Course and has averaged more than 180 wins a year while primarily campaigning in the Midwest and Florida. Along the way Houghton has earned leading-rider titles at Tampa Bay Downs, Mountaineer Racetrack, Detroit Race Course, Pinnacle Race Course, and the 2015 Winter/Spring title at Mahoning Valley Race Course. Overall he has ridden 33,470 races and his mounts have earned $54 million. He will take us through memory lane back to where it all started.
What do Seabiscuit, Round Table, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, John Henry, Tiznow and Lohn Henry, Tiznow and Lava Man have in common? They all won the Santa Anita Handicap. That Gr. 1 $1 million race will be the first of four graded races which Jay Privman and John will tackle. They will also analyze the Gr. 1 $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile; the Gr. 2 $400,000 San Felipe for 3-year-olds and the Gr. 2 $300,000 San Carlos Stakes.
Louisville’s Dr. Harvey Diamond is the founder and racing manager for the Skychai Racing LLC. He is a lifelong horse lover whose dad would get young Harvey out of school to go to the races. The outfit has been very successful with their claims and purchases such as Da Big Hoss claimed for $50,000 last spring and now winner of four races and three stakes. Other Skychai horses Twinspired, winner of Turfway Park’s WEBN Stakes; and multiple stakes-winner Cherokee Triangle. Skychai also bought 25% interest in Hansen before he won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Diamond, a physician, is an owner and President of Occupational Physician Services, which has evolved into one of the most distinguished and well-respected practices in the occupational health field. br DRF's Dan Illman will 'cap the Gr. 3 $400,000 Gotham Stakes at his home base Aqueduct; and at Gulfstream the Gr. 2 $500,000 Gulfstream Park Hcp., the Gr. 2 $200,000 Mac Diarmida and the Gr. 3 $150,000 The Very One Stakes.
This Saturday there will be plenty of reasons to focus on Gulfstream Park. Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day will be at Gulfstream to partake in a fundraiser for the PDJF called Jockeys and Jeans. Pat will reflect on some of the great races of his career and share some stories about his days with many of the other Hall of Fame riders that will be in attendance. In all 14 Hall of Fame riders are scheduled to attend among others Manuel Ycaza and John Rotz.
Also Gulfstream Park will offer many stakes. The Blood-Horse's Handicapper and Award-Winning writer Frank Angst will join John Engelhardt to analyze the top races that will include performances by the undefeated Mohaymen in the Gr. 2 $400,000 Fountain of Youth and the undefeated Cathryn Sophia in the Gr. 2 Davona Dale - both races should produce starters in the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. In addition to those races Frank and John will handicap the highly competitive $150,000 Gr. 3 Palm Springs and the $150,000 Gr. 3 Canadian Turf.
Mardis Gras is over, but there will be plenty of action in The Big Easy with 4 graded Stakes at the Fair Grounds.
Both our guests this week will be Boots on the Grounds and will give us their analysis of the Gr. 2 $400,000 Risen Star for 3-year-old colts and geldings and the Gr. 3 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra will feature the sophomore ladies. Also on Saturday the Gr. 3 $125,000 Mineshaft Hcp. and the Gr. 3 $125,000 Fair Grounds Hcp.
Ed DeRosa will also introduce us to a new Kentucky Derby Poll that he is taking part in. The brainchild of Jennie Rees has brought together some of the top national handicappers who will give their fresh selections on a weekly basis.
Jockey agent Rick Mocklin has Richard Eramia's book - a five-time leading rider in his native Uruguay and Louisiana Downs. They were recently featured in an article in the Blood-Horse depicting Eramia's journey to U.S. citizenship. We'll discuss this moving story and get Rick's 'inside track' on the Stakes.
There was a lot of great racing over the weekend that should have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Songbird absolutely romped in the Las Virgenes remaining undefeated. Nyquist, the 2015 champion 2-year-old colt did not race over the weekend, but he put in a sensational workout prior to the races at Santa Anita on Saturday. Bob Baffert unleashed his Triple Crown hopeful Mor Spirit and he was impressive in the Robert B. Lewis. Jay Hovdey will discuss his impressions of these performances and his view of the North American-based performers that are in or heading to Dubai.
Paul Matties, fresh off his $800,000 victory in the NHC XVII at Las Vegas will discuss his handicapping tactics and with John will look at top Saturday Stakes from around the country - the Gr. 3 $250,00 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay; Laurel's Gr. 2 $300,000 Barbara Fritchie; the Gr. 3 $200,000 El Camino Real at Golden Gate and Santa Anita's Gr. 2 $200,000 Santa Maria.
As a jockey agent, Doug Bredar may be the most credentialed horseman in the country, with over 25 years of experience in almost every official capacity from coast to coast. Bredar elected to leave the confines of the racing office and use his knowledge of the game and nationwide contacts to try his hand as a jockey agent. He will tell us how that switch has worked out for him and jockey Florent Geroux. br DRF player development handicapper Matt Bernier has just won the 2nd Annual NHC Charity Challenge. A popular guest on Winningponies, he will join host John Engelhardt to look at some of the stakes races this week-end. At Gulfstream Park the prestigious Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Hcp. will be contested accompanied by the Grade 1 $350,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Hcp. Out at Santa Anita 3-year-olds will match strides in the Grade 3 $150,000 Robert B. Lewis S.and the Grade 2 $500,000 San Antonio S. will also be contested Saturday.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Gina Gans has over a dozen years of experience with training thoroughbreds, racehorse care, and exercise riding. After graduating from Ohio State University, where she earned a bachelor of sciences degree in animal science and a minor in agriculture business, she joined the Tim Hamm Racing Stable as an assistant trainer. She will be joining the EQUIX team as a bloodstock analyst where she will offer their clients a high degree of expertise in selecting young racing prospects for purchase.
Award-winning journalist and reporter with over 25 years experience in various mediums covering a variety of sports and human interest stories with an emphasis on horse racing, she is considered among the foremost female experts and commentators on Thoroughbred Horse Racing. Caton Bredar will lend her skills in analyzing Gulfstream's feature Gr. 2 $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes, also the Gr. 2 $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes and the Gr. 2 $150,000 Swale Stakes.
With the National Handicapping Championship 17 set for Jan. 28-30 at Treasure Island, what better time to bring on two of the top contest players to share their techniques with our listeners. The first is the current points’ leader Jonathon Kinchen who stands to win a $2 million bonus with a win in Las Vegas. Kinchen, a 33-year-old realtor who has taken the contest world by storm since playing his first tournament less than two years ago, is now eligible for a $2 million bonus should he go on to win.
Our guest handicapper will be Lisa Blevins who could take down the $800,000 first prize from a pool of more than $2.5 million at NHC 17 in January. It’s a goal she’s had for more than a decade, since her husband, Jobby Blevins, qualified for NHC IV in 2003. Lisa will look at three races from three different tracks - the Gr. 3 $200,000 Santa Monica S. from Santa Anita; the $100,000 Busanda S. from Aqueduct for 3-year-old fillies and Tampa's $100,000 Pasco S. for for 3-year-old males.
‘At the Races with Steve Byk’ is thoroughbred racing’s only national daily news and talk show and features a roster of the leading voices in the game from virtually every perspective. Steve will tell us a little about his talk show and about his venture with trainer Chuck Simon Dee Tee Stables, his way in bringing racing fans into the game as owners at a minimal cost. br Dean Keppler is our guest handicapper. He will talk Eclipse Awards and about his next endeavor since leaving the PAULICK REPORT. He will analyze two races from the Fair Grounds that will serve as preps on the road to the Derby and Oaks with the $200,000 Grade 3 Twinspires.com Lecompte Stakes and $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes. We will also look at the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic from Gulfstream Park and the $200,000 Grade 2 La Canada Stakes from Santa Anita.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced Jan. 4 that Digital Kitchen's production of Ironman Perry Ouzts, directed by the Hennegan brothers, has won the Media Eclipse Award for Television-Feature. Brad Hennegan has teamed up with his brother John to capture their second Eclipse Award with this year's production of Perry Ouzts - Ironman. It sheds a light on the career of perhaps the greatest jockey the nation hasn't heard of. Brad Hennegan will talk about the idea behind this latest production.
Three graded races at Gulfstream Park this weekend and Pete Aiello currently calls the Sunshine State home - so for now, he is our go-to-guy for the races in his home state, while he is about to make a career move that will take him to Oaklawn Park. We will talk about his new job and handicap the $150,000 G 3 Marshua's River S,, the $150,000 G 3 Hal's Hope S. and the $200,000 G 2 Fort Lauderdale S.
Jockey Chantal Sutherland plans to come out of retirement the day after Christmas. The most high-profile female rider in the world landing three Grade 1's on Game On Dude, announced her retirement back in October of 2012, only to return to the saddle in June of 2013. Her second stint in the saddle lasted a little more than a year and she retired again in July of 2014.
Corey Johnsen is president of Kentucky Downs and founder of Jockeytalk 360. We'll discuss the first year of the new website and potential expansion of racing at Kentucky Downs. In the Holiday Spirit of giving he is making donations to the PDJF through a unique concept in creating a Digital Replay application that will compliment an on-line version of the new and popular book Ride To Win authored by Winningponies' guests Gary West and Bob Fortus.
The always entertaining Belterra race caller Ed Meyer will look in the rear view mirror and examine the highlights of 2015 in a Year In Review segment.
Stu Kirshenbaum is a TV sports producer, editor, and writer and a five-time Sports Emmy winner. He became familiar to us through his role as coordinating producer of Thoroughbred World, a popular nationally-televised magazine show, hosted by Tom Durkin.
Stu is a great ambassador of the sport and he will share his insights into what steps can be taken to keep racing a vibrant sport.
Rick Mocklin is a well-known character on the southern racing scene. He called the races at Jefferson Downs from 1974-1993. Currently he has the book of Richard Eramia and bug Andre Ramgeet. Eramia won the riding title at Louisiana Downs for the 5th consecutive year this summer by 47 wins over the second leading rider.
Rick has secured mounts for his talented reinsman on the 4 races he and John will handicap on the rich Louisiana Champions Day at the Fair Grounds – the $100,000 Turf Stakes; the $100,Juvenile Stakes; the $100,000 Sprint Stakes and the $150,000 Classic Stakes.
Joe Nevills of Daily Racing Form breeding is our first guest. Churchill now has a new futures bet where you pick the sire of the winner of the next Kentucky Derby. We will address that and other breeding trends. Since last on our show Joe is no longer with the Thoroughbred Times but with the Daily Racing Form as staff writer on breeding. He will also give us some insight on his new position at the DRF.
Bob Railbird Roberts is our guest handicapper. Based in Ohio we will look at two $75,000 Stakes in his backyard at Mahoning Valley being the Joshua Radosovich and Bobbie Bricker Memorials. Gulfstream Park opens its gates with the Claiming Crown Series headed up by the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. We will also take a look at the $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara.
Mike Battaglia, one of horse racing’s great ambassadors, will be feted this Saturday by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners with the organization’s prestigious Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award.
This award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion for the industry exemplified by Jones, founder of Oldham County’s renowned Hermitage Farm and who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track’s resurgence. Jones was the inaugural winner in 1988.
Mike will tell us what this particular award means to him at this juncture in his illustrious career in Thoroughbred horse racing.
In the second segment DRF correspondent and handicapper Mary Rampellini will tackle all the action from Delta Downs this Saturday notably the $1,000,000 Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot; the $250,000 Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess; the $250,000 Delta Mile and the $200,000 Delta Treasure Chest.
Scott Calder Sales & Marketing manager at Coolmore/Ashford Stud is coming on to talk about the acquisition and days ahead for American Pharoah from racetrack to stallion. He will also tell us a little bit about Coolmore and his responsibilities at the facility. brbr In the second segment Blood-Horse award winning writer Tom LaMarra will review the Breeders' Cup and then join John in ‘capping the $200,000 Grade 2 Mrs Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs; the $250,000 Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct; the $100,000 Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar and the $350,000 DeFrancis Dash at Laurel Park.
Gary West will give us his insights into the Breeders' Cup as he was there and on the backstretch each morning. After getting his impressions on the races and their impact on divisional championships, we will talk about his recently released Ride to Win - An Inside Look at the Jockey's Craft. He co-authored the book with veteran writer Bob Fortus and it is a fascinating look into the careers and techniques of some of the best riders in North America. br Ed Meyer who had a good Breeders' Cup weekend at the windows, will give us his read on the Breeders' Cup and handicap the only Graded race on Saturday - the $200,000 Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs.
It's Heeeeeeere! One of the most historic Breeders' Cups ever. Hosted for the first time at the iconic Keeneland Race Course with its new dirt course, and for the first time ever a Triple Crown winner will compete as American Pharoah goes to post in the Classic.
We have assembled racing experts from coast-to-coast to cover all the action. DRF's Dan Illman will give us his perspective from the East Coast while Rich Eng will analyze the Best of the West. Right in the middle is multiple Eclipse Award winning writer Jennie Rees, who is based in Lexington this week and will have the latest breaking news from Keeneland.
Closing in on racing's biggest day - we will visit with Wesley Ward, one of the country's top trainers who has five horses entered in Breeders' Cup races including two-time champion Judy the Beauty.
Last week we broke the news with Marty McGee that multiple Eclipse Award winning writer Jennie Rees was leaving the Louisville Courier Journal. This week we will visit Dick Downey creator of the Downey Profile, who will be assisting Jennie through her grand exit on Breeders' Cup weekend covering all the latest stories.
Ed Meyer has been having a very profitable meet at Keeneland and he will update us on track trends and handicap the $150,000 Grade 3 Valley View Stakes from Keeneland and the $200,000 Grade 2 Twilight Derby from Santa Anita.
At 76 years old Gary DesRoche hasn't slowed down a bit. From hot walker, groom and owner of thoroughbred race horses, he has been involved in the thoroughbred industry for over 56 years. Nowadays he is a genuine holistic equine therapist. He had developed the LEG SAVER in 1998 and has been developing it for all horse disciplines. He will give us a window into the exciting life Of Gary DesRoche in horse racing.
Marty McGee will stop by to give us his read on the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on October 30-31. We will pick our spots, and obviously go over the BC Classic, as main contenders may have been overlooked in the headlines. Also we will take a look at Keeneland's $250,000 Gr. 2 Raven Run Stakes; the $150,000 Gr. 3 Hawthorne Derby at Hawthorne and if time allows the $200,000 Gr. 2 Futurity at Belmont.
With the major Breeders' Cup preps in the rear view mirror, we'll visit with an up and coming jockey who will ride in her first Breeders' Cup race and handicap a state-bred version of the Breeders' Cup, Ohio-breds' divisional showdown in the Best of Ohio.
Jockey Sophie Doyle upset champion Judy the Beauty with her well timed ride aboard Fioretti in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland - a Win and You're In Filly & Mare Sprint Division race. Sophie hails from a racing family in England and is the sister of James Doyle who rides for Godolphin in Europe. Sophie was the leading female apprentice in England and has an interesting story to tell about growing up in a riding family and her transition to the American style of riding.
Rich Ruda, the house handicapper at Thistledown that will host The Best of Ohio series on Saturday, will join John in 'capping this state-bred program which will feature 5 divisional championship races.
With the Breeders' Cup around the corner, this will be an all-handicapping show with first at bat NYRA lead handicapper Andy Serling who will dissect all the grade 1 races from Belmont Park on their 'Super Saturday' and then closing with Blood-Horse writer/handicapper Frank Angst who will look at Keeneland's Fallstars Allstars.
From Belmont - the $500,000 Champagne Stakes, the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes, the $400,000 Frizette Stakes and the $1 mil. Jockey Club Gold Cup.
From Keeneland - the $400,000 First Lady Stakes, the $500,000 Clairborne Breeders' Futurity and the $1 mil. Shadwell Turf Mile.
We are gearing up for the Breeders' Cup and we have the best races and handicappers from both coasts. It's an all-handicapping show.
In the first segment east coast DRF handicapper Matt Bernier will help us dissect this weekend's 3 grade 1 stakes races at Belmont Park: the $400,000 Beldame Stakes; the $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational and the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational.
We pick up next with west coast DRF handicapper Jay Privman who will try to cover all the grade 1 stakes races at Santa Anita: the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes; the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes; the $250,000 Zenyatta Stakes; the $300,000 Front Runner Stakes and the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes.
Our first guest is G.D. Hieronymus the award winning Keeneland's Director of Video Production. We'll address their coverage of the September Sale and the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Lexington's iconic track.
Handicapper Jude Feld who works with Horse Racing Radio Network, will update us on their Road to the Breeders' Cup coverage and look at the big races at Parx this Saturday - The $1 million Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes; the $1 million Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby and the $300,000 Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes. If time allows we may check in on the $300,000 Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Engelhardt got to spend some time with Michael Blowen the founder of Old Friends Retirement Facility this weekend. The DRF have just published a special edition celebrating the farm and highlighting its Stable of Stars. That elite group will be getting a new member when Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem will soon be calling Old Friends. Michael will also be hosting a post-Breeders Cup event at the farm and several high profile horsemen will be in attendance. Michael will get us up to speed at what has been happening and talk about the post-Breeders Cup event that will take place at his farm.
Churchill Downs opens its gates this week and who better to preview the meet than the popular DRF Handicapper Byron King who calls Louisville home. They will be running the Gr. 2 Pocahontas and the Gr. 3 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday. We'll also look at the Gr. 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs an head west to Louisiana Downs for the Gr. 2 Super Derby.
Julie Kagno is a former jockey who turned outrider at numerous tracks through the U.S. Over the past several years she became a world traveler helping to develop tracks in Dubai and China. She also served as a consultant at several foreign jockey schools and racing official at several tracks overseas. She will talk about her life since she hung up her tack and became a consultant to major overseas racetracks..
With the world's eyes on Saratoga we'll be tapping into the editor of the Saratoga Special Tom Law for his feel on the weekend's events an emotions pre and post Travers. Tom will also give us his insight to the 4 graded stakes at Saratoga this Saturday - the $600,000 Wooward Stakes (G.1), the $350,000 Spinaway Stakes (G.1), the $300,000 Saranac Stakes (G.3) and the $200,000 Glens Falls Handicap (G.3).
In the first segment broadcaster Mike Penna, founder of Horse Racing Radio Net, will tell us about the growth of the HRRN network and how our listeners can tune in to all of the Travers week coverage on Sirius 93, XM 93 and horseracingradio.net. On Travers Day coverage starts at 3:00 p.m. ET with Mike being joined by Jude Feld and Anthony Stabile.
Then we will be following the Pharoah Show as he goes on the road to the Travers Stakes at Saratoga! What a day of racing - Six Grade 1 races! John will be joined by DRF's Dan Illman, and with the $1.6 mil Travers Stakes as the headliner they will try to reel through the top picks in the $500,000 King's Bishop Stakes, the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes, the $1 mil Sword Dancer Invitational, the $700,000 Forego Stakes and the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes as time allows. Dan Illman is based in New York and has had the chance to see most of the competitors perform.
Successful trainer Kenny McPeek continues to bring new owners into the sport through his partnerships and he encourages all owners to join the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to broaden their knowledge of racing and breeding. We'll discuss these points and Kenny's approach to sales purchases and training.
Gary Johnson is one of the top handicappers in the country at the present and has already qualified for the NHC Championship. We'll look at the top races at Del Mar the $1 Million Pacific Classic(G1); the $250,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap (G2) and the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2) and then head east to Saratoga for the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1).
Justin Zayat at age 23 is already helping, as racing and stallion manager, to run his father Ahmed Zayat’s racing operation which owns the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. Justin has just graduated with a degree in economics from New York University. With 'American Pharoah' dominating his field in the $1-million William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), Justin may be able to give us insight into his next start and his path to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. What does the future hold for such a young up-and-coming individual in the sport of racing?
In the second segment, Belterra's race caller, odds line maker, blogger and may we mention previous host of this show, Ed Meyer together with John will set their sights on the Windy City where the Arlington Million (G1); the $750,000 Beverly D Stakes (G1); the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1) and the $400,000 American St. Leger Stakes (G3) are run this Saturday.
Tom Hamm General Manager at Taylor Made Sales Agency will be joining us. It is the time of the season for the major sales and Taylor Made leads the nation in success stories. Tom will touch on all aspects of the sales, from prepping at the farm to the nuances showing and going to the sales ring.
Billy Johnson is one of the best handicappers and agents in the country. For 15 years he and his rider DeShawn Parker have dominated the standings in West Virginia and twice led the country in number of wins. This week he rode a rare longshot, former $5,000 claimer to win a stakes race at Mountaineer Park prior to his 3rd-place finish in the West Virginia Derby.
The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) is holding a special day at tracks across America this Saturday August 1.
All the tracks have been asked to help build awareness about the permanently disabled jockeys on this day and special promotions are being put in place at different tracks across the country, from banners, wristbands, and commemorative magazines to talking points encouraging racing fans to donate to the fund. Nancy LaSala who is the president of the PDJF will be our guest to talk about this special event.
Brian Zipse who is managing editor of Horse Racing Nation will handicap all the action from across the country:
- from Saratoga - the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Hcp. (G1) and the $600,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2);
- from Mountaineer the $600,000 Virginia Derby (G2)
- from Del Mar the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1).
Of course we will discuss the Haskell, but the shared belief American Pharoah's opposition is running for second money.
Steve Bourmas, or “LaserMan” as he is known from coast to coast in the industry, is considered the leading expert on Equine Photobiostimulation Sports therapy in American Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. As a therapist, Steve has worked both on human and equine clients, preparing horses for Graded Stakes races and football players for the NFL playoffs. He will enlighten us as to what he does, and how that which he does helps the equine population.
In the second segment Tom Law, managing editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times, will take a look at stakes on Friday and Saturday at the Spa - the $200,000 Lake George S. (G2), the $150,000 Schuylerville S. (G3), the $500,000 Diana Hcp. (G1) and the $150,000 Sanford S. (G3).
Barry Berkelhammer is an accomplished Bloodstock agent. With the sales season kicking in, it will be a timely interview with the man who recommended the purchase of two-time Eclipse Champion Ashado (earnings $3,911,440) and Canadian 2-Year-Old Filly Champion Fantasy Lake. Berkelhammer's keen eye also found clients the likes of Grade 1 winners Harlan's Holiday, Octave, Purge, Nothing To Lose and Monba to name a few. He has the unique advantage of continuing his relationship with his buyers through breaking their purchases at his Ocala-based Abracadabra Farms. He also recommends trainer relationships that would benefit the owners needs.
Blood-Horse editor and handicapper Tom LaMarra is on site for the $750,000 Grade 1 Delaware Handicap , and we will also look at the $300,000 Grade 1 Eddie Reed Stakes on opening weekend at Del Mar; in addition to two Grade 2 races the $500,000 Indiana Derby and the $200,000 Indiana Oaks both at Indiana Grand.
Eric Reed, a lifetime horseman from a family of horsemen with his wife Kay also from a family steep in the horse racing industry, run the Mercury Equine Center in Lexington, Ky.
Eric's father Herbert trained for over 40 years apprenticing under the guidance of Mack Miller. Eric has trained since 1983. Kay Reed’s mother and father were horse trainers as was her great uncle, Charlie Kurtsinger. She was working as an exercise rider before meeting Eric.
Eric will give us a feel for what the Mercury Equine Center offers to breaking yearlings and to horses recuperating from injury.
With the action moving to Arlington Park, self-proclaimed horse racing ambassador Joe Kristufek will re-cap the Churchill Downs highlights and set the table for Chicago racing at Arlington Park. He will join John in 'capping the main stakes races for this Saturday: - the $100,000 G3 American Derby, the $100,000 G3 Arlington Handicap, the $100,000 G3 Modesty Handicap and the G3 Stars & Stripes.
A native of Australia, Byron Rogers has spent many years in the thoroughbred breeding industry. Eight years at Arrowfield Stud and another three years at Taylor Made Farm. He will tell us about this important field of genetics which determines matings that breed equine athletes that fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at the sales and produce superstars such as American Pharoeh.
Since all the top action on Saturday is at Belmont Park, NYRA TV host and handicapper Andy Serling will share his observations of the Triple Crown, and reactions to the Belmont Stakes. He will join John in the analysis of the $1,250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, the $1,000,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational and the $500,000 Suburban Handicap.
Mary Rampellini is a correspondent and handicapper for the Daily Racing Form. She is a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in a racing family. Her father, Ralph Rampellini, was the racing manager for Nelson Bunker Hunt in the 1980s'. With a big Day at Prairie Meadows on Saturday she will cover for us the trio of Grade 3 races - the $250,000 Iowa Derby; the $200,000 Oaks and the $300,000 Cornhusker Hcp. In the second segment Brad Free who is based in Southern California covering Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Fairplex for the Daily Racing Form and the author of Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets, will talk about the return of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah to California and look at the main races at Santa Anita for this Saturday - Grade 1 $500,000 Gold Cup and $300,000 Triple Bend S. and Grade 2 $200,000 Royal Heroine S.
Multiple Eclipse Award winner Jennie Rees will be our first guest. She witnessed at Churchill Downs this past Saturday the American Pharoah's parade and the presentation of the Triple Crown trophies to jockey Victor Espinoza, trainer Bob Baffert and owner/breeder Ahmed Zayat. John Engelhardt was there too.
In the second segment Las Vegas Review and DRF writer Richard Eng will give us his thoughts on the Triple Crown and American Pharoah's future and will join John in 'capping the 3 graded stakes on Saturday: - the $200,000 Gr. 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita; the $150,000 Gr. 3 Bed O' Roses at Belmont Park and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park.
With all eyes on Louisville Saturday, with Triple Crown hero 'American Pharoah' set to parade at Churchill Downs before the fans, senior director of communications & media services Darren Rogers will tell us about this media event to happen in the paddock at Downs After Dark with trophies presentations to 'American Pharoah's winning jockey Victor Espinoza, Hall of fame trainer Bob Baffert and owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat. He will also elaborate on the increase in purse structure at Churchill which is having its best meeting since the Kentucky Derby with record attendances and handles.
Byron King DRF Kentucky handicapper and columnist will give his take on the Triple Crown and will look ahead to this Saturday's major stakes at Churchill. The $100,000 Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes, the $200,000 Grade 1 Fleur de Lis Handicap, the $500,000 Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap and the $100,000 Grade 3 Regret Stakes.
Mike Battaglia is a member of the NBC Sports broadcast team for the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since the network gained broadcast rights in 2001. He also worked the Belmont Stakes for NBC from 2001 through 2005, the Breeders' Cup from 1993 through 2005, and various other races televised by NBC from 1993 onward. He will give us his valued opinion on this year's Belmont Stakes and assess 'American Pharoah's chances of becoming the long awaited Triple Crown winner.
Also on the show Eric Wing who has left the NYRA from his position as director of communications and media relations.to join the Daily Racing Form, will contribute his analysis of some of the major stakes races on the undercard, and give his opinion on the Belmont Stakes.
Kentucky-based jockey Jon Court was announced as the 2015 recipient of the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, Jon Kenton Court was born November 23, 1960, in Gainesville, Florida. Having grown up in Florida, Jon began riding in Colorado at the now closed Centennial Park in 1980. He rode in Louisiana for 12 years before moving to Kentucky and Indiana in 1995, where he was a top rider at Hoosier Park from 1996 to 1998. In 1999, he gained his 2,000th win at Kentucky Downs. Court received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2007. He will give us an insight into the life of a jockey.
Jeremy Balan, assistant editor for the Blood-Horse covering racing on the West Coast, is a third generation horseplayer, in Baltimore, Md. He will join John in 'capping - the $400,000 Gr.1 American Oaks and the $200,00 Gr. 2 Californian Stakes both at Santa Anita. The $500,000 Gr. 3 Penn Mile at Penn National features 2 west coast invaders Ocho Ocho Ocho and Papacoolpapacool.
With two legs of the Triple Crown in the bag Victor Espinoza's agent Brian Beach will be on the show to tell us a little about his journey into horse racing from a job in publicity and broadcasting at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields to becoming the agent of a jockey who will be the next Triple Crown winner on 'American Pharoah' with a win in the Belmont Stakes.
Writer/Handicapper Bob Roberts will be our guest handicapper. We'll be talking Triple Crown, handicap the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap. and selected races from Santa Anita's California Gold Rush Day.
Mike Manganello, who is celebrating the 45th Anniversary of his Kentucky Derby win on Dust Commander will be our 1st guest. He is currently working as a Steward at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mike will reflect on his Derby win and successful career in the saddle and transition to racing official. In the second segment Dean Kepler will give us his Derby analysis and will look at the $150,000 Grade 3 Black-Eyed Susan, the $100,000 Grade 3 Pimlico Special and the $1,500,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes.
Racetrack Warriors, by EQUUS INTERACTIVE, have signed an agreement with the Jockeys’ Guild and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) that will bring a new fantasy draft game to market called “Jockey Draft.” The game is set to launch May 8, 2015. It is a daily fantasy league style game in which players select a lineup of jockeys, in a “salary cap” style draft, riding at various race tracks from around the country. Each game is assigned a salary cap in which players must stay at or below when picking their eight (8) jockeys, who are assigned an individual salary. Each jockey receives a score for their mount’s finishing position, and the collective score of each lineup in the game determines the winner. Jen Viens founder of Equus is our first guest and will shed some light on this new fantasy game with horse racing. DRF Handicapper Matt Bernier will join in 'capping the stakes races this Saturday at his home track Belmont Park - the Man O'war, Peter Pan and Ruffian Stakes.
John Asher, Vice President of Communications at Churchill Downs will be our first guest and will lay out for us all the festivities in store for the highlight weekend of the meeting this Friday's running of the Kentucky Oaks and Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Later on the show DRF.com handicapping editor and host of the DRF news desk Dan Illman will join John in discussing the two biggest races in horseracing, the Oaks and the Derby. They will also delve into some of the other Stakes races on both cards. They will also look into some betting strategies as guaranteed minimum pools for multiple lucrative P-4's will be in place on both days.
Jeff Platt is the President of Horseplayers Association of North America H.A.N.A. which is a grass roots Non Profit organization made up of horseplayers just like you. Simply put, they are not happy with track management and horsemen's groups and what they are doing to the sport instead of promoting its awareness and growing handle, they have become bogged down with industry infighting and have completely forgotten something: The importance of the customer. Jeff will tell us more about what his organization is all about, his background and what his role and duties are.
We are then going coast to coast with one of the country's top handicappers Michael Beychok 2012 DRF/NTRA handicapper of the year. We will take a close look at the top Kentucky Derby candidates and handicap a trio of Grade 3 stakes races - the $200,000 Excelsior Stakes from Aqueduct; the $100,000 Miami Mile Handicap at Gulfstream and the $100,000 Santa Anita's Last Tycoon Stakes.
With 2 weeks until the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Dick Downey will be looking at Derby prospects and trends he has discovered in handicapping the race over the years. We will also handicap the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne - a race that could produce some new players in the Preakness Stakes. Dick Downey, a native Kentuckian, is an attorney and retired Circuit Judge. In 2003, he founded The Downey Profile a seasonal website dedicated to coverage of the Kentucky Derby, the Triple Crown Trail and other events.
Who better to have on Keeneland's closing weekend than a man nicknamed Keeneland Dan? Back with us is outstanding handicapper Dan Cronin. Dan and John will be breaking down the $250,000 Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes from Keeneland, the $150,000 Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita, and the $1,500,000 Grade 2 Charles Town Classic where a talented group of older horses are lining up for a chance to beat the Champ - Shared Belief on his first foray away from California.
Mirror, mirror on the wall - who is the best 3-year-old of all? We'll get a full analysis from one of the top turf writers and handicappers in the country - the Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman. Is it East vs. West or is the best in Kentucky? Jay will provide us with his insights on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Our guest handicapper will be DRF's Byron King. We have a rare racing schedule where four Grade 1 races will be run on a Friday and Saturday at two different tracks. At Oaklawn they have the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on Friday and the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby on Saturday. At Keeneland, the Friday feature is the $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes, while the Saturday headliner is the $300,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes.
Our first guest Amy Owens, a Communication Associate at Keeneland will preview for us all the new changes at the track with the opening this weekend of it's spring meet with some great racing showcasing the Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes and lots of innovative customer services at this historic track which opens on Friday. The track is revving up to it's holding the Breeder's Cup this fall. brbr Our second guest is Eclipse Award-winning writer and handicapper Marty McGee from the Daily Racing Form. We will look at the 3-year-old male and female divisions heading towards the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. We will analyze some of this weeks traditional paths to Churchill Downs such as the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes from Keeneland ; the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Wood Memorial from Aqueduct and the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Mindy Coleman will be our first guest covering legal issues and efforts surrounding the Jockeys Guild. The Guild was founded in May 1940 and has approximately 1,270 members, including active, retired and permanently disabled riders. The purpose of the organization is to represent jockeys throughout the country and to monitor developments in local, state and federal laws affecting the racing industry, and in particular, the jockeys.
In the second segment veteran writer Gary West who is very familiar with racing in New Orleans, will join us to cover Derby and Oaks BIG points races as we enter the period where the top four finishers collect points now based on totals of 100-40-20-10. We will examine the top contenders in the $600,000 Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and the $300,000 Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds and the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Florida Derby and the $300,000 Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks both from Gulfstream Park.
Following his recent appointment as executive director of the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance, Steve Koch will explain the scope of his new position and will walk us through his extensive career in Thoroughbred Racing from his early years at Claiborne Farm to his many executive positions at Woodbine and now to the NTRA.
It's March Madness and it's all about the points - Derby and Oaks points Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky will host two points races in the Spiral and Bourbonette Stakes. Who better to help us break those races down than Ed Meyer who worked at Turfway Park for many years in Player Development. In addition to those races we will travel to Sunland Park for their Derby which gives 50 points to the winner.
With Shared Belief's huge win in the Santa Anita Handicap this past weekend Hall of fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will comment on Shared Belief's win and the schedule for his future races and will take us through his life as a conditioner with all the ups and downs and will give us some insight on his 3 year-olds he will be sending to the Kentucky Derby this year. Last year Shared Belief was his best shot at winning his first Derby but the colt never made it to the Race. In the second segment Mary Rampellini will be our handicapper with all that good action at Oaklawn Park , including the only Derby points race the $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes.
With the weather in the headlines each day we will talk to trainer Jeff Greenhill who races on the Kentucky/Indiana/Ohio/ West Virginia circuit. Jeff will discuss the challenges of training through a harsh winter, balancing training schedules and racing dates that could be cancelled due to the weather. He will also address the advantages of owning state-bred runners and bringing in new owners through partnerships.
New staff writer and Assistant Editor for the Blood-Horse covering racing on the West Coast, Jeremy Balan is the son of a horseplayer, who was the son of another horseplayer in Baltimore, Md. He will help us dissect the competition in the legendary $1,000,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and the Derby points $400,000 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and also analyze the important $250,000 Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct and the $350,000 Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs
In the first segment Ms. Maggi Moss will tell us about how she got involved with racehorses and a little about her journey from a chief Prosecutor in Polk County, Iowa to becoming the President of H. A. R. T. the only racehorses' retirement facility in Iowa, while along the way compiling an impressive string of leading owner for races won records at different racetracks from coast to coast.
Peter Aiello who currently divides his race calling abilities between Hialeah and Gulfstream Park will be closing out the Hialeah Meet this weekend. Pete, who has also served as odds maker at several tracks will join us to analyze the trio of graded stakes races held in Southern Florida on Saturday - the Grade 2 Swale; the Grade 3 Palm Beach and the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride from Gulfstream.
Pellom McDaniels - former NFL player who wrote a new book on legendary jockey Isaac Murphy and is doing a signing this week at the Kentucky Derby Museum. McDaniel's recently authored The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy. He was one of the most dynamic jockeys of his era. Still considered one of the finest riders of all time. Murphy was the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three times, and his 44% win record remains unmatched. McDaniels will reflect on the book and the life of one of the greatest jockeys to ever ride a horse. Our handicapper is nationally-known Matt Bernier from the DRF. In a new format, he and Dan Illman are hosting a new live show during the races on Saturday afternoons. We will be covering the Derby Preps the $400,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth from Gulfstream Park; the $400,000 Gr. 2 Risen Star Stakes from the Fair Grounds along with Ky. Oaks prep the $175,000 Gr. 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes.
Our first guest John McEvoy, a former editor and executive columnist for the Daily Racing Form, is now the author of six mystery novels and 'High Stakes' is his most recent and 5th featuring the colorful racing character Jack Doyle. Two of his books won Ben Franklin Awards from the Independent Publishers' Association. He has been a horse owner and widely published poet. In the second segment Frank Angst who has been a frequent guest on the show, will join John in discussing last week's matchup between Shared Belief and California Chrome and their future paths. They will also handicap the Derby Points race El Camino Real at Golden Gate; Gr. 2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita and Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie from Laurel.
Jennie Rees has had quite a week. Last Thursday she was selected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor and on Feb. 4th, 2015 she is getting the Tom Hammond Media Award along with Chris Collinwood, Don Atkins and Mitch Barnhart at the Lexington Convention Center's Bluegrass Ballroom. She will reminisce on the kind of year she has had. O'Neil won the NHC Handicapping Contest in Vegas (and $800,000)! We will learn about his winning approach to handicapping an look at the Clash of the Titans - California Chrome vs. Shared Belief in the San Antonio at SA; the Gr.3 Withers at Aqueduct, which carries Derby Points and the Gr. 1 Donn Hcp. at Gulfstream Park.
The Jockey Guild has just wrapped up their annual meeting last week in Miami, FL. Jeff Johnston will discuss the new measures the Guild is promoting for the health and safety of the jockeys. In the second segment DRF writer/handicapper Steve Andersen will give us his insight into the progress of Horse of the Year California Chrome, Shared Belief and Bayern. He will also join John in 'capping the following races from Santa Anita : the $300,000 Gr. 1 Las Virgenes Stakes, the $200,000 Gr. 2 Arcadia Stakes and the $200,000 Gr. 2 Palos Verdes Stakes.
NYRA recently retired track announcer Tom Durkin will expand on his amazing career in Horse Racing as a standardbred owner, a track announcer for 24 years at NYRA and now embarking on a new career as equity partner in West Point Thoroughbred partnerships. He will reflect on his most thrilling moments in the booth and his thoughts about racing in general. In the second segment recently crowned DRF/NHC champion Eric Moomey will go over the kind of year he has had handicapping the DRF/NHC Tour and will join John in giving us some insight into 3 stakes races this weekend notably the $400,000 Gr. 2 Holy Bull Stakes, the $200,000 Gr. 2 Forward Gal Stakes and the $150,000 Gr. 3 Hutcheson Stakes all from Gulfstream Park.
Travis Stone, the race-caller at Monmouth Park in 2014 and backup announcer at the New York Racing Association this winter, has been named the new track announcer at Churchill Downs Racetrack and voice of the world-famous Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) - America's greatest race which has been run every year without interruption since 1875. He will be our first guest and will talk about his journey as an announcer that lead him to his new position at Churchill Downs. In the second segment award-winning journalist Scott Jagow will join John in 'capping the Gr. 2 La Canada S. from Santa Anita, the California Derby from Golden Gate and the Sunshine Millions Classic from Gulfstream Park.
Joe Clancy will tell us about his lengthy career from a sports writer of high school and college sports, then semi-pro baseball, the odd Phillies and Orioles games and any number of topics involving Thoroughbred Racing to the DRF, New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Baltimore Sun to publisher and owner of ST Publishing Inc. He is about to receive an Media Eclipse Award for writing. In the second segment Equibase John McDulin will review the Eclipse finalists and then join John in handicapping the 3 graded Stakes at Gulfstream Park - the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, the Grade 3 Hal's Hope Stakes and the Grade 3 Marshua's River Stakes.
Jim Mulvihill was just elected President of the Turf Publicists of America and will report on happenings at the recent International Symposium on Racing and Gaming at the University of Arizona in addition to new happenings at the NTRA.Tom Law will join me in looking back at the Best of 2014 in racing and we will handicap Saturday's only Grade 1 race - the Los Alamitos Futurity. We will also handicap the 2 features at Gulfstream Park the Tropical Park Derby and Oaks.
Bill Mooney the author of 'The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing' will be our first guest. A staple in the Keeneland press box, Mooney has some strong opinions about the Breeders' Cup coming to the track in 2015. He will share his thoughts with us. In the second segment Robert Earle founder and CEO of 123gaming.com will tell us how he came to conceive 123gaming and will share with us his vision for his company. With 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner and champion Silver Charm settling in at Old Friends president and Founder Michael Blowen will tell us about all the preparations made to receive the old Champion at Old Friends.
Brian Zipse is the Managing Editor of Horse Racing Nation since 2010 and a Derbywars' team member since inception. He is also Board member on the ReRun Thororughbred Adoption and a Vox Populi committee member for Secretariat.com. He will talk about 2014 Horse of the Year, specially after California Chrome made easy work of the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. brbr In the second segment we are going to handicap some of the races from the Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park with Mike Welsch who is the Gulfstream Park Handicapper/Writer for Daily Racing Form.
Mahoning Valley's Racing Secretary Ed Vomacka on North America's newest racetrack is our first guest. He has been long associated with thoroughbred racing, having been the Racing Secretary at Beulah Park, River Downs, Belterra Park for 12 years. Now with Beulah defunct, he has taken over at Mahoning. He will tell us a little about his past experience and give us some insight into this newest North America racetrack.
In the 2nd segment Belterra Track Announcer and line-odds maker, also previous host of this show will join John to discuss potential divisional championships post-Breeders' Cup, some of Ed's recent winningponies' blog posts and take a look at some races you may want to handicap while getting out of the house after Thanksgiving Day.
Thoroughbred trainer James E. (Jim) Morgan may be the greatest trainer you may have never heard of with one of the most interesting sports backgrounds. A native of Kentucky, the first horse race he ever witnessed was when Dark Star upset the great Native Dancer in the Kentucky Derby. While born in the bluegrass he made his reputation on the hardwood basketball floors of Dayton, Ohio where he led Stivers High School to be ranked #1 in the state. Jim will discuss his career and the evolution of the racing game since he first witnessed the Kentucky Derby as a young man in 1953. In the second segment DRF correspondent and handicapper Mary Rampellini will be looking at the top stakes at Delta Downs on a day when they feature 8 stakes, 2 of them graded. Delta Downs is having a $200,000 guaranteed Pick 4 on the $1,000,000 Gr. 3 Delta Jackpot Stakes, the $500,000 Gr. 3 Delta Princess Stakes, the $200,000 Delta Treasure Chest Stakes and the $150,000 Louisiana Jewel Stakes.
Matt Darby and his wife Darci designed Speed Silks® over two years, and built the product from the ground up exclusively for use by jockeys. Both their blueprint and manufacturing process allow for seamless designs; no matter how complex the silks pattern, no seams are added to the garment, as the colors are dyed directly onto the Aero Dimplex fabric. The state-of-the-art dye sublimation process allows for very bright, saturated colors and razor sharp detail. Matt will tell us about this product which has taken the racing world by storm. brbr In the second segment DRF contest editor Peter Fornatale will join john in 'capping all the major stakes from around the country: - from Aqueduct the $250,000 Gr. 3 Red Smith Handicap; from Churchill Downs the $100,000 Gr. 3 Commonwealth Turf Handicap; from Del Mar the $100,000 Gr. 3 Bob Hope Stakes and from Laurel the $300,000 De Francis Memorial Dash.
Jay Privman, who hosted the 2 days of the Breeders Cup coverage will be our first guest. We will be looking in the rear view window going over the 2-day event. We will discuss all the Breeders' Cup races, the expected and the surprises. In the second segment veteran contest player Gary Johnson who has already qualified for the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC), will join in for the handicapping portion of the show. We will look at the only 2 graded races - at Churchill Downs the $150,000 Gr. 3 River City Handicap and at Aqueduct the $200,000 Gr. 3 Long Island Handicap; the Sunshine Million Preview from the newly named Gulfstream Park West and from Thistledown for the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap. Mark A. from Florida, who made $100,000 on Friday's Breeders' Cup card and a whopping $311,452 on the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Winningponies' recommendation, will call in and tell us how he managed to hit that windfall.
We'll be tackling All Things Breeders' Cup. Our first guest is Jim Gluckson who heads up the media team for the Breeders' Cup. Jim will give us the latest breaking news as we have already seen some major defections of some of the top races. He will also update us on the two-day schedule, wagering formats and outlets where the races can be viewed. Our second guest is the Young Gun as he was referred to as one of the featured handicappers on the television show Horseplayers. Impressed with his handicapping skills and on-camera presence, he was asked to join the staff of the Daily Racing Form. He is often seen at DRF.com hosting the weekend analysis with Dan Illman. Bernier is on site at Santa Anita and will give us his up-to-the-minute observations of the Breeders' Cup fields.
Lenny Shulman author and now humorist has a new feature called Lenny's Place that airs on the Blood-Horse website. In a new and different twist he does a stand up comedy act touching on all aspects of racing and then follows with an interview with a major racing personality. A very refreshing and unique perspective of the sport. Lenny is no stranger to comedy as he had worked with comedian Andrew Dice Clay on the feature film “Dice Rules” and on several HBO comedy specials. Lenny author of many books Ride of Their Lives, Long Way From Home and others, will tell us about his new venture in equine comedy. In the second segment Belterra new track announcer and previous host of this show Ed Meyer will join John to go across the country with the $200,000 Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap from Belmont; the $200,000 Grade 3 Fayette Stakes from Keeneland; the $100,000 Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes from Santa Anita and the $200,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes for 2-year-olds at Delta Downs.
A graduate of The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. John Piehowicz opened his small business, Cincinnati Equine, LLC, and built an unparalleled reputation locally as a caring and compassionate physician with a client list that includes 10 Kentucky Derby winning trainers and countless Breeder's Cup winning trainers. With the injury to Horse of the year Wise Dan, Dr. John Piehowicz will be our guest to discuss that injury and the horse's health in general. Eric Wing from DRF will be our guest handicapper. Last week he went on air live at the Best of Ohio and gave out the winner of the Endurance Stakes at a juicy price. We have 2 all-state series on tap this week. We will look at the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic and the $150,000 Maryland Million Distaff. West Virginia is also having their big day Saturday and we will handicap the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic and then go to Keeneland to handicap the $300,000 Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes.
Our first guest will be Mike Penna, the President of the Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN). HRRN broadcasts more than 100 major thoroughbred stakes races including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup.
This week we will feature the Battle of the Buckeyes (and we don't mean THE Ohio State). John Engelhardt will be hosting The Best of Ohio championship series live on Saturday afternoon from North America's newest thoroughbred track - Belterra Park. The card features a Pick-5 of $150,000 stakes races. In the second segment, Rich Ruda will join in to help handicap these races. Rich's home base is Thistledown so he is close to the horses and horsemen up there. The Best of Ohio will be featured in every Daily Racing Form sold nationally on Saturday.
Amy Owens will be our 1st guest talking about all the many of the special events on tap for the Keeneland Meet. Events such as this weekend Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 5 - the 'Win and You're In Challenge' gives fans a chance to win a VIP trip for two to the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. The fan who picks the most winners from the Fall Stars Weekend Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In Challenge' races will earn a prize that includes Breeders' Cup clubhouse seating for two, airfare, a three-night stay and Breeders' Cup merchandise. A full calendar of special events augments Keeneland' s 17 days of world-class Thoroughbred racing during its Fall Meet on Oct. 3-25. In the second segment 'Keeneland Dan' Cronin will join in to help with his insight on all the graded stakes that compose Fallstars Allstars Saturday at Keeneland.
This week we are handicapping East Coast versus West Coast. Long a fixture on the rail near the paddock at Del Mar, Tom Quigley has parlayed his perfect attendance at the races into a full time job. He will represent the West Coast and handicap all the Grade 1 races at Santa Anita - the $500,000 Awesome Again Stakes, the $250,000 Zenyatta Stakes, the $250,000 Chandelier Stakes, and the $200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes. And representing the East Coast, DRF national handicapper Mike Watchmaker will join in to handicap all the Grade 1 Stakes from Belmont Park - the $1,000,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes, the $600,000 Flower Bowl Stakes, and the $600,000 Beldame Stakes.
Jim Mulvihill is currently director of media and industry relations at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Since October 2009, Mulvihill has served as the communications and pari-mutuel marketing manager at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans. Mulvihill has started his new position on July 15 2014 in New York City with the other members of the NTRA communications department. He will share his experiences in Horse racing and describe his responsibilities with NTRA as director of media and industry relations. In the second segment Michael Beychok a regular on the show Horseplayers and winner of the $1 million first-place prize and title of 2012 Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapper will join John in handicapping all the stakes races. A big day at Parx with California Chrome running in the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Pensylvania Derby; the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Cotillion Handicap; the $300,000 Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes all at Parx and the $150,000 Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.
Frank Taylor is one of the team that makes up Taylor Made Sales Agency that has ranked as the Keeneland September Sale's leading consignor by gross 16 times since 1988. His father was the legendary horseman Joe Taylor who developed John Gaines' Gainesway Farm into a leading stallion farm during his 40-year management. The Taylor brothers were bred and raised in the horse business. Taylor Made Sales Agency quickly developed a reputation for quality care, and in 1978 expanded its operations with its first Keeneland consignment. Frank Taylor will share with us their sales at this year's recently held Keeneland September Sale. In the second segment Gary West who has the unique position of being the handicapper at Kentucky Downs, America's most European racetrack, will give his insights to four stakes on Saturday - the $200,000 More Than Ready Mile; the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint; the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and the $600,000 Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup
Bill Thomason President and CEO of Keeneland will discuss Keeneland Race Course's conversion from synthetic back to dirt as it announced Thursday that its new dirt main track has been installed and open for training. The historic track replaced the synthetic surface during the summer in time for the fall meet, beginning Oct. 3. A major purpose of the removal of the synthetic racing surface and installation of a dirt track was for Keeneland to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which it had never done. The track was rewarded with 2015's Breeders' Cup. In the second segment Byron King, a native of Louisville, Ky., and Kentucky handicapper and columnist for Daily Racing Form will join John in handicapping the major stakes this week-end: - the $200,000 Grade 2 Pocohontas Stakes and the $150,000 Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes both from Churchill Downs; the $250,000 Dueling Grounds Derby From Kentucky Downs and the $500,000 Grade 2 Super Derby from Louisiana Downs.
Old Friends' founder and President Michael Blowen discovered his unique bond with Thoroughbreds while working as a volunteer groom at Suffolk Downs during the 1990s, eventually buying and racing a small stable of claiming-level horses before leaving his position as Arts & Entertainment reporter and film critic for The Boston Globe to become operations director for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Blowen will look back on last year and forward to next year at Old Friends Farm. In the second segment Ed Meyer prior host on this show, is currently the track announcer and odds maker at the new Belterra Park, on the site of the old River Downs, He will join John in handicapping the $500,000 Gr. 1 Forego Stakes, the $750,000 Gr. 1 Woodward Stakes and the $250,000 Gr. 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap all from Saratoga; and on the west coast they will analyze the $250,000 Gr. 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes at Del Mar.
Jockey Ben Creed is the leading graduate of the North American Racing Academy founded by Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron. The native of Louisville had no previous riding experience, but through a chance meeting with jockey Mark Guidry he learned about the newly formed school. After an internship with trainer John Sadler, Creed took out his jockey’s license and since then has won two riding titles at Turfway Park. Creed became the first graduate of NARA to win 500 races. On this show he will recall his early days under the tutelage of Chris McCarron and his development as a rider. In the second segment Bob joins John in handicapping the major stakes races this week-end from around the country: - Friday's $500,000 Gr. 1 Personal Ensign Stakes from Saratoga; Saturday's $500,000 Gr. 1 King Bishop's Stakes and $1,250,000 Gr.1 Travers Stakes both from Saratoga; and Sunday's $1.000.000 Gr. 1 Pacific Classic Stakes from Del Mar.
Kentucky photographer Rick Capone, who has captured hundreds of gorgeous images of ex-racehorses frolicking at Old Friends Equine, has now found the words to describe the amazing undertaking to create the world-renowned home for retired Thoroughbreds. In his new book, 'History of Old Friends, A Home for Retired Thoroughbreds,' Capone tells the story of Michael Blowen’s farm. In addition, he includes biographies of the farm’s famous residents, including Sunshine Forever and Creator, the first two residents to be flown from Japan to the sprawling retirement facility. Capone will discuss his background, entrance into the sport of horse racing and photography and his eventual association with Old Friends. In the second segment Thoroughbred Times writer and handicapper Frank Angst will join John in dissecting the main stakes races around the country - the $1,000,000 Gr. 1 Arlington Million, the $750,000 Gr. 1 Beverly D. Stakes and the $400,000 Gr. 1 Secretariat Stakes all from Arlington and the $600,000 Gr.1 Alabama Stakes from Saratoga.
Joe Nevills, Bloodlines writer for DRF has been covering the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Kentucky and Saratoga. He will discuss trends in those sales and preview the upcoming Keeneland September Sale. This week's handicapper will be Ralph Siraco. Many times a guest on this show, he will join john in 'capping the $150,000 Gr. 3 Gardenia Stakes at Ellis Park; the $500,000 Gr. 2 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga: the $150,000 Gr. 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park
Corey Johnsen who is the President of Kentucky Downs is a returning guest on our show. He has added to his lengthy resume his being the force behind JockeyTalk360.com. Corey will elaborate on the creation of this website which stated mission is to promote and celebrate the sport of horse racing by showcasing jockeys from across the nation and around the world. By utilizing social media and other vehicles, JockeyTalk360.com will bring fans closer to these talented, fit and fearless athletes with stories and statistics you won’t find anywhere else. They understand their responsibility to the industry, and a majority of proceeds from their sponsors will go the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund. Winningponies is in full support of their efforts and will continue to promote the efforts of the PDJF. Our guest handicapper this week is Rich Eng. He is a frequent guest on the show, and with John will breakdown the $500,000 Gr. 1 Test Stakes and the $1,500,000 Gr. 1 Whitney Stakes both at Saratoga, the $300,000 Gr. 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar and the $750,000 Gr. 2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer.
Nancy LaSala has served as Board President of Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF) since its inception in the spring of 2006. In January of 2009, she additionally accepted the role as Executive Director. Among her duties in that capacity is the administration of the fund in accordance with the by-laws set by its board of trustees. LaSala’s business background is highlighted by her 30-year employment with a global leader in power generation. Currently, she is responsible for contract administration and commercial activities. She will tell us about the mandate of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund (PDJF) and her responsibilities as its Executive Director. Our Handicapper this week is Dan Illman of DRF.com and we will be talking Haskell Stakes (at Monmouth on Sunday) and handicap three Gr. 2 stakes - the $600,000 Jim Dandy and the $200,000 Amsterdam both from Saratoga and the $200,000 San Diego Handicap from Del Mar.
Gary Falter, a Columbus, Ohio native, joined The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc. in February 2000. He served as Vice President of Development and Operations until 2012. During that time frame Gary was responsible for the development of commercial products for horsemen including the Equineline Portfolio service, the Horse Farm Health-book software for tablets and more recently the iPad Sale Catalog App. Since 2012, Gary has been leading Thoroughbred OwnerView, a nationwide industry initiative to encourage Thoroughbred ownership. Gary will tell us about the efforts being made through Thoroughbred OwnerView to recruit, support and retain Thoroughbred owners.
Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times. He assists in the marketing, sales, and editorial efforts at a satellite office in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. since early 2013. Law, a native of Saratoga Springs and current resident of Lexington, Ky., is currently the Vice President of the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters. He will don his handicapping hat and help John with 'capping the main Stakes races on display this week-end across the country.
Conor grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. Drawn to the thoroughbred business since a young age, his experience in the industry began during his teenage years when he gained hands on experience working with horses while also analyzing data at Equibase. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Conor accepted a position as the Stakes Coordinator for the Breeders’ Cup. This job allowed him to experience the entire scope of the North American thoroughbred industry. By managing the Stakes program for the Breeders’ Cup for several years, Conor had an intimate view of the best horses and horseman in America. “For me, working at the Breeders’ Cup was like putting on the Olympics; it created the foundation for my progression to becoming the professional that I am today”. After four years at the Breeders’ Cup, Conor was awarded a place in the Darley Flying Start program. This is a full time, two-year international management training program for potential thoroughbred industry leaders. It sets itself apart from any other program in the world with its dual focus on personal development and leadership as well as its specialization in the international thoroughbred business. Management training is provided by established universities including University College Dublin and the University of Sydney. During the program, trainees live and learn in Ireland, the UK, the US, Dubai and Australia. Each trainee receives a full scholarship from HH Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai. Conor will tell us about his journey from working at Equibase to the Breeders' Cup and ultimately to his current position with Darley America.
The face of ABR's Racing 101, Joe Kristufek is a self-proclaimed horse racing ambassador, and fan development has been his passion since the moment he took his first job in the industry. Kristufek is the morning-line maker for Arlington Park and Kentucky Downs and he serves as the handicapper and racing writer for the Daily Herald newspaper. Kristufek has developed and executed several horse racing-related, fan-education projects both online and onsite and he is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. He has co-owned five horses in partnership and is the process of developing an ownership group of his own. Kristufek is also becoming an increasing presence on the tournament scene. And with Arlington Park offering a big day of racing this Saturday, Joe will help us find some winners in the $150,000 Gr. 3 Modesty Handicap, the $250,000 Gr. 2 American Derby, the $150,000 Gr. 3 Stars & Stripes Stakes and the $200,000 Gr. 3 Arlington Handicap.
Dr. James Robertson DVM is currently the track veterinarian at Belterra Park. He will discuss “A Day in the Life” of an on-track vet. He will also explain in laymen terms common horse injuries, what is being done to treat and prevent them. Dr. Robertson has an impressive resume in the field of equine experience, both as a surgeon and a professor.
There is a lot of great racing this weekend and Tom LaMarra who has been many times a guest on this show will weigh in on the following races: - the $1,250,000 Gr. 1 Belmont Derby Invitational, the $1,000,000 Gr. 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational and the $400,000 Gr. 2 Suburban Handicap - all from Belmont Park. Los Alamitos opens its doors and features champion Shared Belief in the $500,000 Gr. 2 Los Alamitos Derby from Los Alamitos, and if time permits we will also look at the $250,000 Gr. 2 Delaware Oaks from Delaware Park.
After having California Chrome's farrier on the show last week, our first guest David McGlothin is the Manager of Harris Farms in California where California Chrome's sire Lucky Pulpit stands. He also raised California Chrome on the farm, from birth to breaking. California Chrome is back at the farm and Dave will give us an update on his recuperation from the Triple Crown trail.
In the second segment, a previous guest on the show Les Instone who is the VIP Customer Service Manager at Twinspires.com is back to help us handicap some of the main races this week-end: the $150,000 Gr. 3 Bashford Manor Stakes and the $225,000 Gr. 2 Firecracker Handicap both from Churchill Downs; the $500,000 Gr. 1 Santa Anita Gold Cup From Santa Anita and the $250,000 Gr. 1 Mother Goose Stakes from Belmont Park.
Judd Fischer is the farrier for North America’s most popular horse – California Chrome. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, he started shoeing horses at the age of 23. He started with show jumping horses and soon picked up some thoroughbred farms, eventually finding his way to the tracks in California. He will talk about the art of being a blacksmith and how be became the farrier for the horse all of America has come to love - California Chrome.
In the second segment Eric Wing who was asked recently to join the Daily Racing Form will tells us about his recent move from the NYRA to DRF. Also we will handicap the $150,000 Gr. 3 Bed O' Roses Handicap from Belmont Park; The $100,000 Gr. 3 Eatontown Stakes from Monmouth Park and the $200,000 Gr. 2 Summertime Oaks from Santa Anita.
For the last 28 years Jennie Rees has been associated with the Louisville Courrier-Journal as a turf writer. Prior to that, she had a stint of 2 years with the Rochester Times-Union as a sportswriter copy editor. She will give us her take on the Triple Crown races now that they are finally in the books and highlight the lasting winning and loosing moments.
Evan Hammonds has worked at The Blood-Horse for 15 years, first as managing editor in 1998 and was named executive editor in 2007. Prior to that, he worked for eight years at Daily Racing Form in their main offices in New Jersey and Arizona. He will discuss the results of the Belmont Stakes, his article on California Chrome's co-owner Steve Coburn and give his analysis of the main graded races at Churchill Downs this Saturday - The $500,000 Gr. 1 Stephen Foster Handicap; the $200,000 Gr. 2 Fleur De Lis Handicap; the $100,000 Gr. 3 Matt Winn and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Regret Stakes.
Marty McGee who has been covering the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form since 1992, will report on all the happenings for this the 146th Belmont Stakes with implications for a potential Triple Crown winner this year. Marty is a frequent guest on the show and will give us his opinion about this Belmont Stakes and discuss California Chrome's chances of getting the third jewel which has eluded so many greats before him.
In the second segment Dan Illman who is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor, also host of the DRF News Desk and author of the book 'Betting Maidens and Two-Year-Olds,' will handicap some of the many stakes on the Belmont Stakes card such as - the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes, the $750,000 Gr. 1 Just A Game Stakes, the $500,000 G. 2 Woody Stevens Stakes, the $1,250,000 Gr. 1 Metropolitan Handicap, and the $750,000 Gr.1 Acorn Stakes. He will also share his opinion about the Belmont Stakes and give us his picks in that race.
Jay Hovdey has been executive columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered horse racing for The Blood-Horse and the Thoroughbred Record, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Reader's Digest. He is the winner of four Eclipse Awards and the author of the biographies Whittingham - A Thoroughbred Racing Legend and Cigar - America's Horse. He will tell us about his recently released book – Long Rein: Tales From The World of Horse Racing, which contains 81 individual stories that he has authored over the years. Jay Privman has been covering the road to the Triple Crown very closely this year as he is based in California and has seen California Chrome's rise to stardom. He is a frequent guest on this show and will share his insights into this storybook tale and examine the field for next week's Belmont Stakes. Jay will also report on the major players in this weeks Grade 1 $350,000 American Oaks and Grade 2 $200,000 Californian Stakes from Santa Anita.
Sam Gooding, is a returning instructor to the Kentucky Horseshoeing School which offers a curriculum in the fundamentals of farrier craftsmanship. The school's staff members are practicing professional farriers and honor graduates of KHS, trained to instruct students in basic farrier techniques and to ensure continuity within the KHS curriculum. During their tenure, students will master the fundamentals of farrier craftsmanship. They will learn how to trim a horse for proper balance and how to recognize and treat common types of lameness and gait problems. They will also be guided through basic and advanced forging techniques, using both coal and gas forges. Instructor Sam Gooding will tell us how he got involved with KHS and what the school is all about with professional farriers being in such great demand today.
In the second segment a frequent guest on our show, Daily Racing Form columnist and handicapper Byron King will join John in 'capping the $150,000 Arlington Classic Stakes at Arlington Park; the Gr. 2 $200,000 Matron Stakes and the Gr. 2 $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes both at Belmont Park; and the Gr. 3 $100,000 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Winner of the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1974 and the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 1980, Chris McCarron led North America by races won three times and by money won four times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. Not one to rest on his laurels, he founded the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. Chris is a wealth of knowledge of the sport on so many levels and his enthusiasm is infectious. He will talk Preakness with John, reminisce on his wins on Alysheba and Pine Bluff and share his impressions of California Chrome in the 139th Preakness Stakes this coming Saturday. Our second guest Richard Eng covers the Horse Racing industry. Handicapping for Dummies is one of the many handicapping books he wrote. He also is a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form. He will join John in handicapping the 139th Preakness Stakes, the $500,000 Gr. 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the $300,000 Gr. 3 Pimlico Special Stakes all from Pimlico.
With his obscure breeding many are saying California Chome was the most improbable Derby winner. And Ironically Milt Toby has just penned a new book 'Canonero II - The Most Improbable Kentucky Derby winner.' It is quite a tale from the award winning writer. Milt Toby is an attorney, author, and photographer with a lifelong involvement in the horse industry. He has been writing professionally about horses since 1972, first as a staff writer and photographer for The Blood-Horse and since 1984 as a freelancer for a number of publications. He will try to highlight the similarities between the two improbable Derby winners. In the second segment Tom LaMarra of the Daily Racing Form will be our guest handicapper. He will be at the opening at Belterra Park (the old River Downs site) today. We will get his impressions of the opening day there and his thoughts of the Kentucky Derby. He will join John in handicapping the $200,000 gr. 2 Peter Pan Stakes, the $600,000 gr. 1 Man O' War Stakes both at Belmont and possibly the $100,000 gr. 3 Laz Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita.
For this year's Kentucky Oaks and Derby previews, we have lined up 3 expert handicappers representing the country from coast to coast, who will help put the Oaks and Derby picture into perspective. Dan Illman who is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the Daily Racing Form News Desk, Gary West who currently is a frequent contributor to ESPN, and was a regular columnist for the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram and Daily Racing Form's East coast handicapping editor Dan Cronin will join John in previewing the two major races this weekend at Churchill Downs - The Kentucky Oaks to be run on Friday and the 140th Kentucky Derby Presented by YUM! BRANDS to be run on Saturday. They will also delve into some of the supporting features such as the $500,000 Gr. 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes, and the $300,000 Gr. 2 Alysheba Stakes.
In a news breaking show our first guest is jockey agent Jeff Perrin who is a native of Sydney, Australia and is now a successful jockey agent in the Midwest. He will be discussing the nuances of finding the right horses for his riders and how to keep his many trainers happy, with his riders in demand being named on several horses in a single race. Perrin has handled the book of Peruvian rider Edgar Paucar and together they have won over 2,500 races. Perrin will be breaking news exclusively right on this show about a new rider he has, that has won titles at three tracks and is returning to a track where he had broken a long-standing record set by Hall of Fame rider Steve Cauthen. Listeners' favorite and former show host Ed Meyer will be our guest handicapper. After analyzing the Derby field, Ed and John will handicap the $200,000 Gr. 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs and two Friday graded stakes races - the $250,000 Gr. 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Last Tycoon Stakes at Santa Anita. Ed will also pull back the curtain on a new position he will be holding in Thoroughbred racing.
After many years as a leading rider in Pennsylvania Stewart Elliot has moved his tack to Kentucky and is having a very successful meet thus far at Keeneland. John and Stewart will discuss the reasons for his decision, his entrance into racing and the thrill of being part of the Smarty Jones Triple Crown bid. Our handicapper this week is no stranger to the show. Rich Eng will join John for an overview of the Derby and Oaks fields. They will also handicap the $200,000 Gr. 3 Lexington Stakes and the $150,000 Gr. 3 Ben Ali Stakes both from Keeneland; the $200,000 Gr. 2 Distaff Handicap from Aqueduct and the $500,000 Gr. 3 Illinois Derby from Hawthorne Race Course.
Handicapping contests are becoming very popular as is the Esquire's show 'Horseplayers' which gives us a rare perspective at a group of contest players trying to pick winners. Peter Thomas Fornatale will talk about the contests, DRF's involvement in the contest world, and his own experiences playing in them and also interviewing 25 of the best contest players for his book 'The Winning Contest Player.'
Rich Nilsen will be our guest handicapper. We will look in-depth at the $750,000 Gr. 1 Blue Grass Stakes and the $300,000 Gr. 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland; the $1,000,000 Gr. 1 Arkansas Derby and the $500,000 Gr. 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
Amy Owens from Keeneland will address the late-breaking news that Keeneland is replacing its Polytrack surface with dirt after this spring meet that starts on Friday. She will also update us on numerous new efforts by the iconic racetrack to cater to their patrons through technology and innovative events. The rumor is that Keeneland is jockeying for a shot at hosting a Breeders Cup event.
Bob “Railbird” Roberts, longtime turf writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealers is a native Clevelander who grew up in Willowick, an eastern suburb. Roberts is a multiple award-winning writer who has covered racing for over 40 years. He and John will handicap four Grade 1 races with Derby and Oaks implications – The $1,000,000 Wood Memorial Stakes from Aqueduct; the $500,000 Asland Stakes from Keeneland; the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby and the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks both from Santa Anita.
Veteran Midwest-based jockey Corey Lanerie has been named the winner of the 2014 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Lanerie, currently competing at Gulfstream Park, plans to venture to Santa Anita Park to accept the award in March or April. The Louisiana native who won his first career race in April 1991 at Evangeline Downs, out-polled four other finalists: David Amiss, Dennis Carr, Aaron Gryder, and Scott Stevens. Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the Woolf Award is one of the most highly coveted honors in all of racing as it recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for both the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. He will take us through his experience in the saddle and tell us about future plans in his career. In the second segment Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc. Tom Law is our guest handicapper who will 'cap for us the major stakes races this week-end - the $1,000,000 Gr. 1 Florida Derby and $200,000 Gr. 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks both at Gulfstream Park; the $1,000,000 Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby and the $500,000 Gr.2 Fair Grounds Oaks both at Fair Grounds.
Lenny Schulman is back to update us on his latest. A novel his first Long Way From Home in which we follow the exploits of wise-cracking New York author Dan Henry as he lurches forward from unemployed writer to host of a TV sports talk show--with help and hindrance from his brilliant, sex-addicted attorney, and from a murky, mysterious source who feeds him inside information. To Lenny's duties at The Blood-Horse, we can now add novelist. Lenny's great sense of humor comes across in this book while it weaves its way through intrigue. Our second guest is Byron King, columnist and handicapper from the Daily Racing Form. We will be handicapping three big points races for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The $800,000 Gr. 3 Sunland Park Derby from Sunland Park; the $550,000 Gr. 3 Horseshoe Spiral Stakes and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Pure Romance Bourbonette Stakes both from Turfway Park.
For those of you who do not recognize the name, Andy Beyer is one of the greatest minds in the thoroughbred racing industry. While attending Harvard in the 1960s, he decided to pursue his passion -- beating the horse races. Over the past four decades, his research and insights have revolutionized and legitimized the industry. Using his math skills, Mr. Beyer created a new way to rate the speed of a horse in a race which became known as the Beyer Figures. Andy has been on our show a few years ago and we are happy to have him back to discuss the evolution of the Beyer Speed Figures and give us his insight into this year's 3-year-old crop. With a big weekend shaping up in Hot Springs, we are pleased to have DRF columnist/handicapper Mary Rampellini from Oaklawn Park as our second guest to help us with the top 3-year-olds squaring off in the $600,000 Gr. 2 Rebel Stakes and we will also try to find the winners in the $200,000 Gr. 3 Azeri Stakes and the $200,000 Gr. 3 Razorback Handicap. Mary Rampellini is based in Hot Springs, Ark., and Grand Prairie, Texas, covering Oaklawn Park and Lone Star Park as well as major stakes at other tracks in Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. She joined the Daily Racing Form in 1996.
With the premiere of the movie 50 to 1 the story of Mine That Bird's win at the Kentucky Derby, being only two weeks away, Mr. Wilson has agreed to come on our show and tell us a little about how from film making he got involved with the world of thoroughbred horses. This is a great movie based on the true story behind Mine That Bird, and racing fans should not miss seeing it. Some of Mr. Wilson's notable achievements in film making to name a few were -Dances with Wolves, The Bodyguard, Rapa Nui, Wyatt Earp, 500 Nations, The Postman, Message in a Bottle, Mr. Brooks and Swing Vote. Born in Pasadena, California, and educated at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and the University of California at Berkeley, Jim Wilson began making sports documentaries in 1977. As an equine lover, Wilson has been an avid racehorse owner since 1992.
Jay Privman will be our handicapper since the big races of the weekend are on his stomping grounds. Mucho Macho Man, who defeated the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Will Take Charge by a nose in the Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 2, has been assigned high weight of 124 pounds. Will Take Charge will carry 123. Two-time Big 'Cap winner Game On Dude, who is trained by Bob Baffert, has been assigned 122. Stevens will be aboard Mucho Macho Man Saturday, while Will Take Charge will be reunited with regular rider Louis Saez. Game On Dude will be paired with regular pilot Mike Smith. Entries for the 77th running of the Santa Anita Handicap will be taken March 5. Santa Anita will offer an 11-race program that also includes the $350,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) on turf, the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds, and the $250,000 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II) for sprinters. We will 'cap the Big Cap and two 3-year-old Derby points races - The San Felipe at Santa Anita and the Tampa Bay Derby.
For those of you who do not recognize the name, Andy Beyer is one of the greatest minds in the thoroughbred racing industry. While attending Harvard in the 1960s, he decided to pursue his passion -- beating the horse races. Over the past four decades, his research and insights have revolutionized and legitimized the industry. Using his math skills, Mr. Beyer created a new way to rate the speed of a horse in a race which became known as the Beyer Figures. Andy has been on our show a few years ago and we are happy to have him back to discuss the evolution of the Beyer Speed figures and give us his insight into this year's 3-year-old crop. With all the top racing in New York this week-end, we are bringing in New York-based handicapper Mike Beer to break down the $500,000 Gr. 3 Gotham Stakes; the $200,000 Gr. 3 Tom Fool Handicap and the $200,000 Gr.2 Top Flight from Aqueduct. We will also look at the $150,000 Gr. 3 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Peter Rotondo, Jr. has been working for the Breeders' Cup since 2006 and currently holds the position of Vice President of media and entertainment. His experiences have led him to be part of a new reality show for the recently launched Esquire Network. The show is aptly named ³Horseplayers² and follows Rotondo and his castmates on a tour of the best racing venues in the U.S. in the pursuit of the title of Handicapper of the Year and a $750,000 prize at the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. He will take us through his journey in horse racing and imparts with us some stories from his involvement with the Esquire's show. Rick Mocklin will be our second guest. He has done a little of everything in racing, and is currently a jockey agent at The Fair Grounds. Using Rick's intimate knowledge of The Fair Grounds we will handicap the $400,000 Gr. 2 Risen Star Stakes; the $200,000 Gr. 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes and the $150,000 Gr. 3 Mineshaft Stakes from Fair Grounds and the $400,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth from Gulfstream Park.
The nominations are out in Dubai with some heavy hitters from the U.S. among them. The nominations for the 2014 $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline represent a unique line-up of international stars that includes the current winners of the Breeder’s Cup Classic, the Breeder’s Cup Turf and Irish 2000 Guineas, the Japan Cup, the Epsom Derby, the Hong Kong Cup, the Durban July victor and a previous Melbourne Cup winner. Breeder’s Cup Classic star Mucho Macho Man, Breeder’s Cup Turf winner, Magician, Japan Cup Dirt winner, Belshazzar, Epsom Derby hero, Ruler of the World, Hong Kong Cup victor, Akeed Mofeed, Heavy Metal the winner of the Durban July and former Melbourne Cup winner, Dunaden are among 341 nominations for the world’s richest race. Patrick Cummings who helps coordinate this massive international undertaking, will be our first guest and give us an insight on this year's renewal.
Jockey John Velazquez, back from a serious injury sustained last fall during the Breeders' Cup World Championships, got his first win at Gulfstream Park on 2-5 choice Got Lucky this past Wednesday Jan. 29. He will be our guest in our first segment. He was scheduled to be on the show prior to the Breeders' Cup, unfortunately a scheduling conflict did not allow it. So he is taking time out to be on and walk us through his amazing journey from his first win at El Nuevo Comandante racetrack in his native Puerto Rico to becoming the all-time leading money winner among North American jockeys. In our second segment Steve Anderson, West Coast correspondent for Daily Racing Form will give us his impressions of the California-based 3-year-olds and his views on the $300,000 Gr. 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes; the $300,000 Gr. 2 San Antonio Stakes and the $200,000 Gr. 2 San Marcos Stakes all to be run at Santa Anita this week-end.
Our first guest Marty McGee returns fresh off his first Eclipse Award for writing. It was a featured story on Kent and Keith Desormeaux. Prior to his employment at Blood-Horse, he worked for eight years at Daily Racing Form in their main offices in New Jersey and Arizona. In the second segment Evan Hammonds host of After the Wire on Blood-Horse, will review the top 3-year-old races already in the books - Holy Bull, Sham and Jerome and will handicap this week's 3-year-old races - the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for colts at Tampa Bay Downs, the $250,000 Withers Stakes for colts at Aqueduct and the $300,000 Las Virgenes for fillies at Santa Anita.
Susan Salk is the creator and writer for the blog Off-Track Thoroughbreds.com, a site dedicated to telling success stories of ex- Thoroughbred racehorses in new careers, and of the people, on and off the track, who help them. She started the blog nearly four years ago after previously working as a marketing writer for Northeastern University in Boston, and before that, as a newspaper reporter for dailies and weeklies in Greater Boston and New Hampshire. She will take us through her journey as a reporter and blogger and how she developed a love for the thoroughbred horses. In the second segment Dan Tordjman will join John in 'capping the $400,000 Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes and the $200,000 Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes from Gulfstream Park; the $200,000 Grade 3 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita, and the $400,000 Ladies Classic from Sam Houston.
Jennie Rees, the veteran horse racing writer for The Courier-Journal, was named the 2013 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. It is her second time receiving the award. For the last 29 years Jennie Rees has been associated with the Louisville Courrier-Journal as a turf writer. She was a member and former president of the National Turf Writers Association. Rees has been in The Courier-Journal sports department since 1981, covering horse racing since 1983. She is a three-time individual winner of racing’s Eclipse Award for outstanding writing — in 1988 for magazine writing, 1993 for newspaper writing and 2011 for news/enterprise. She also was an integral part of the C-J team that won the 2008 multimedia Eclipse. Rees also is a five-time winner of a Red Smith Award for writing on the Kentucky Derby. Our second guest is no stranger to this show. Richard Eng is a columnist/handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and author of Horse Racing for Dummies & The Guide to U.S. Casinos and Racinos. You can follow him on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick. Last week at Santa Anita Rich had 9 listed winners, not all were top choices, but the early Pick 5 paid $1,127 and he received a couple e-mails from readers who cashed in off of his selections. We have a big Saturday at Gulfstream and Fair Grounds, but we are just going to pick one major race at each. The $200,000 Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes for 3-year-ols at Fair Grounds and the $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park. In Rich’s neck of the woods we will cover the $200,000 Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita and 'Cap the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate.
We have two timely and experienced guests on the show this week. Tragedy struck the racing world when Caixa Eletronica, winner of the 2012 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct, a popular four-time graded stakes winner, died as the result of injuries he suffered in a training accident at approximately 8 a.m. on Saturday at Belmont Park. The 9-year-old was galloping on the training track when he collided with another horse, Six Drivers, who was running loose after having unseated his rider behind the starting gate. Our first guest is Janice Blake a jockey, exercise rider and now the author of How To Exercise A Thoroughbred Race Horse. Janice also produced a series of educational videos that take the viewer through the experience and complete duties of an exercise rider. Beulah Park, in operation since 1923 will be closing its doors after this season. Oaklawn Park will be opening its gates for a new season of racing on Friday. John McDulin of the Daily Racing Form will share some humorous stories of his many years in the press box at Beulah Park and reflect on his days at Oaklawn Park. We will handicap their opening day feature - the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-olds and two graded races from Santa Anita - the Grade 2 $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes and the Ky. Derby-point earner Grade 3 100,000 Sham Stakes.
In the first segment, retired jockey Frank Lovato, Jr. will share an interesting journey that took him from jockey to writer, inventing along the way the Equiciser. As a writer, Frankie has had some articles published in various magazines through the years. Topics include his passion for horse racing and his personal adventures outside of racing. He enjoys educating people on the insides of racing and mentoring those who have the same passion as he did when he was a kid. There are people starving for information about racing. I have been blessed with a great career and being able to work along side and ride with many other legends in horse racing. It makes me happy to offer my advice and share my experiences and knowledge whenever I can! Frankie is also a talented musician/song writer and occasional performer at local events and celebrations. The complete series of 365 Days of Racing Terminology is now available free of charge to viewers at http://jockeyworld.org/racing-term-videos.htm. In the second segment Tom Quigley is the VIP Player Concierge at Santa Anita as well as doing his paddock profiles on Twitter (@Quigleys_Corner. We will take a look in his rear view mirror of 2013 and Crystal Ball of 2014 for our first show of the New Year. Two of the top graded stakes races of the weekend will take place at his home base - the Grade 1 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes and the Grade 2 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes.
For a final show of 2013, we will feature two guests who have experienced the racing game from all sides. Pete Aiello and Ed Meyer have experience from the racing office, as PR and Marketing men. As horse owners, radio and television hosts, track announcers and handicappers, they both have a real love of the sport. While ESPN will count down their top 50 NFL plays this week, Pete and Ed will give us their top 5 racing events of 2013. We will also be handicapping 3 races - the $200,000 (gr. 2) W.L. McKnight Handicap from Calder; the $100,000 (gr. 3) Mr. Prospector Stakes from Gulfstream Park and the $100,000 (gr. 3) Daytona Stakes from Santa Anita.
As the curtain falls on Hollywood Park, we will have two guests that have an intimate relationship with the track that will close its doors after 75 years Sunday. Daily Racing Form's executive columnist Jay Hovdey who started going to the races at Hollywood Park with his father in 1964, will share his many memories of the great horses he has witnessed run there over the years. Our second guest will be Kentucky Derby winning trainer Doug O'Neil who campaigned the world's greatest claimer - Lava Man, who went on to win the Hollywood Gold Cup three times. He will also update us on plans for his Breeders' Cup winner Goldenscents, who plans a 4-year-old career at the races. Our handicapper will be Billy Johnson, who certainly knows how to pick a winner. As a jockey agent, he currently has the top 2 riders at Mountaineer Park including two-time national champion DeShawn Parker. In a weekend void of any major races, we will be getting the inside track on several races at Moutaineer.
Our first guest is Barbara Murphy founder and chairman of Equilume Ltd. After some thoroughbred industry work with Coolmore USA and Darley Ireland, Barbara did some research in chronobiology and the implications of circadian rhythm on equine reproduction, performance and immunology. Her current interest is in mobile blue light therapy solutions for improved breeding efficiency in the horse. She will explain to us where her interests are today and shed some light on this exciting field of research and how it relates to Equilume. In the second segment John G. Dooley track announcer at Arlington Park and Fair Grounds will be looking at their big Louisiana Championship Day.
Racing at Calder is now live year-round Friday thru Sunday with first post daily at 12:30pm. Who better than track announcer Bobby Neuman to keep us abreast of what has been going on at Calder. He will tell us how he got involved in horse racing leading to his current position of track announcer at Calder and share his thoughts on the national racing scene. In the first segment Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Ria Antonia's owner Ron Paolucci will be our guest. He will share his journey into horse racing and how he got to acquire Ria Antonia and his feelings on Breeders' Cup day when his filly won at odds of 32-1. In the second segment Bobby Neuman will join John in handicapping all the major stakes races at Calder for this Saturday including: the $100,000g Fred W. Hooper Handicap (gr.3), for 3&up the $100,000g My Charmer Handicap (gr.3T), for 3&up, fillies & mares; and the $100,000g Tropical Turf Handicap (gr.3T), for 3&up.
This week we will be shining the spotlight on two tracks that don't normally get any attention, but will be having big days on Saturday and Sunday - Delta Downs and Zia Park. It will be an all-handicapping show with handicapping contest guru Gary Johnson taking on the races at Delta Downs and Jonathan Horowitz reporting from his home court at Zia Park. Currently the racetrack announcer at Zia Park and Arapahoe Park Jonathan Horowitz will give us a scoop on the inaugural Land of Enchantment Day to be held at Zia Park Racetrack & Casino on Sunday, November 24. Several graded stakes winners from around the country have been nominated to the Land of Enchantment Day which will feature the first running of the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks for 3yo fillies at 1 1/16 miles, the $200,000 Zia Park Derby for 3yo at 1 1/16 miles, the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship for older horses at 1 1/8 miles, the $140,000 Eddy County Stakes for 2yo bred in New Mexico at 1 mile, and the $55,000 Zia Park Distaff for fillies and mares at 6 furlongs. Jonathan will join John in handicapping those races. In the second segment consistent qualifier for the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas, Gary Johnson will join John in handicapping the major stakes races at Delta Downs on Saturday, November 23. The $1,000,000g Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) for 2yo at 1 1/16 miles, the $500,000g Princess Stakes (gr. III) for 2yo fillies at 1 mile, the $150,000g Delta Mile Stakes, for 3&up at 1 mile, the $150,000g Louisiana Jewel(R) for 2yo fillies, Louisiana-bred, at 1 mile, the $150,000g Louisiana Legacy(R) for 2yo colts & geldings, Louisiana-bred, at 1 mile and the $150,000g Treasure Chest for 3&up fillies & mares at a mile.
Sunday will put Oregon-breds in the spotlight at Portland Meadows. We have featured several state-bred cards on WinningPonies, but have never traveled to Oregon. Jason Beem is our go-to guy at Portland Meadows. He will join John in handicapping some of the state-bred races at Portland Meadows this Sunday: the $15,000g Bill Wineberg Stakes (R), 2yo, colts & geldings; the $15,000g Janet Wineberg Stakes (R), 2yo fillies; the $15,000g Lethal Grande Oregon Sprint Championship (R), 3&up the $15,000g Oregon Hers Stakes (R), 3yo fillies and the $15,000g Oregon His Stakes (R), 3yo, colts & geldings. In the first segment Kentucky trainer Buff Bradley will let us in on how he got involved with thoroughbred horses and recall for us the highlights of an exciting training career. He will share with us his feelings on Breeders Cup day Saturday when his home-bred Champion Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll repeated in the Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Sprint, and her subsequent sale.
From the start, Larry Collmus had a one-track mind. A race announcer, he would be. As a kid, he would watch the horses run at Timonium, then rush home to Ellicott City and re-create what he'd seen and heard. Some people sing in the shower, said Sally LaHart, Collmus' sister. Larry would call races in there. In high school, Collmus amused his friends by recollecting races that had been run the day before. Larry will tell us how he got the horse racing bug and how he became the voice that called the Breeders' cup races this year. In the second segment Joe Nevills will talk about this past week's Breeders' Cup races and the record-breaking sales at Fastig-Tipton and Keeneland.
This week's show will be All Things Breeders' Cup. We are lucky to have top handicappers from coast to coast giving overviews of the championship events and picking their favorite plays over the two days at Santa Anita. NTRA's Director of Communications and Media Relations Eric Wing will be our first guest, followed by award-winning writer and frequent contributor to ESPN Gary West; and 9 times qualifier for the National Handicapping Championship (NHC) and AGameofSkill's creator Rich Nilsen. They will each give us their insights on most of the main Breeders Cup' events with special focus on the Ladies' Classic on Friday's card and the Classic on Saturday.
Our 1st guest Eclipse-Award winning writer and former jockey Eddie Donnally will discuss his new book Ride The White Horse: A Checkered Jockey's Story of Racing, Rage and Redemption. Donnally rode for 19-years in over 10,000 races from coast to coast and his life was a roller coaster ride that included drug addiction, involvement with the notorious Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang, a miraculous jail cell conversion that led to his current position as a hospice chaplain. Our 2nd guest is Dan Kenny, a bloodstock agent and writer who has been covering the recent successful Fasig-Tipton Sale. Lexington-based Kenny will also handicap the Gr. 2 $200,000 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland. Also on the program will be Daily Racing Form writer John McDulin who will join John to handicap Belmont's Turnback The Alarm Stakes, the $200,000 Jean Lafitte from Delta Downs and the Gr. 3 $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita.
Jim Gluckson of the Breeders Cup will be our 1st guest. Senior Communications Consultant at Breeders' Cup Ltd., he currently is the owner at Jim Gluckson Communications. He will talk about all the happenings for this year's Breeders' Cup to be held at Santa Anita in a 2 days extravaganza this November 1st and 2nd. In the second segment Evan Hammonds who is a writer/handicapper with the Blood-Horse will talk about his background, connection to the sport, and Breeders' Cup preps that impressed him. He will join our host in handicapping the following races: Friday's Grade 3 $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View at Keeneland ; Saturday's Grade 2 $250,000 Raven Run also at Keeneland; the $150,000 Laurel Maryland Million Classic at Laurel and the $250,000 Empire Classic Hcp at Belmont Park.
Sue Finley from Thoroughbred Daily News will tell us about her journey in thoroughbred racing from Belmont Park to her current employment with the Thoroughbred Daily News. Along the way she was First Vice President of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a national organization dedicated to the humane retirement of former racehorses. In the second segment DRF's John McDulin will be our guest handicapper. We will review the recent Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races and the impact they will have on the big day at Santa Anita. We will also handicap the Grade 1 $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland; the Grade 3 Knickerbocker at Belmont and Ohio's two top state races the $100,000 Distaff and Endurance from Thistledown.
As Keeneland Communications Associate, Amy Owens assists Keeneland’s Communications Department with a variety of projects related to races and sales. She has assisted in managing Keeneland’s race track press box since 2006, and has served as editor of the track’s race-day program wrap for the past six years. She will tell us what her typical day at Keeneland is like. In the second segment who better to address Fallstars Allstars weekend at Keeneland than veteran handicapper Mike Battaglia? Mike will analyse all of these races which have an impact on the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita and his insight will be invaluable in getting your picks to the winner's circle. He will focus on the following races: - the $750,000g (gr. IT) Shadwell Turf Mile; the $400,000g (gr. I) Dixiana Breeders' Futurity; the $400,000g (gr. IT) First Lady Stakes; the $200,000g (gr. II) Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes; and the 150,000g (gr. IIIT) Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select.
With 11 Win and You're In Breeders' Cup races on tap this weekend we will feature one of the games top authorities on the sport in Steven Crist. John and Steve will discuss the past, present and future of the Breeders' Cup and some of the great races that will take place on Saturday. 11 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Stakes which are: - From Belmont Park the $1,000,000g (gr. I) Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational; the $600,000g (gr. IT) Flower Bowl Invitational; the $600,000g (gr. IT) Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational; the $400,000g (gr. I) Beldame Invitational; the $400,000g (gr. II) Kelso Handicap and the $400,000g (gr. I) Vosburgh Invitational. From Santa Anita the $250,000g (gr. I) Awesome Again Stakes; the $250,000g (gr. I) Chandelier Stakes; the $250,000g (gr. I) FrontRunner Stakes; the $250,000g (gr. IT) Rodeo Drive Stakes and the $250,000g (gr. I) Zenyatta Stakes. Our first guest will Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day. We will review his career in racing, discuss some of his greatest races, favorite horses and his current involvement in racing.
From an internship in the NYRA press department while a cum laude graduate of New York University with Bachelor's Degrees in French and Journalism, Sue Finley has spent her entire career in horse racing. She spent her childhood commuting to Belmont Park from her home in Weston, Connecticut. While still a senior at NYU she accepted a full-time position at NYRA in her final term. Her career took her from Senior Media Coordinator at NYRA to a researcher for ABC's Wide World of Sports, to Director of Administration and Publicity at one of ABC's properties, the American Championship Racing Series, to Co-Publisher of the Thoroughbred Daily News(TDN). She will tell us about her wide reaching career in horse racing and what got her involved in the first place. In the second segment a familiar guest on this show, News Editor of the Blood-Horse, Tom LaMarra who is familiar with the horses from the Philadelphia area will be handicapping two $1,000,000 races from Parx - the Grade 1 Cotillion stakes and the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby. There is a big weekend at Charles Town headlined by the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks which we will analyze in addition to the Grade 2 $200,000 Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park.
This week we will be finding out What's Up at the Downs? - Kentucky Downs, that is. First guest is Corey Johnsen the GM who has seen this quaint track on the border of Kentucky and Tennesee grow in leaps and bounds with unprecedented handle and purses this year. Following Corey, award winning writer and handicapper Gary West will discuss the PDJF fundraiser that took place Tuesday with five Hall of Fame Jockeys. Then Gary and John will handicap several of the Saturday Stakes on the European-style turf course including the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup, the Kentucky Turf Mile, the Juvenile and the Juvenile Fillies.
With the world's most prominent horse sale starting on Monday, we could not have landed a more timely guest for insights into the Keeneland September Sale than Sid Fernando. He is currently president of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc. (WTC),and eMatings.com owner of eNicks. A former bloodstock editor and columnist at Daily Racing Form, Sid is an internationally known pedigree writer whose articles have appeared in leading thoroughbred racing and breeding publications around the world, including Owner-Breeder, Racing Post, North American Trainer, The Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred Daily News, Turf Diario, and Pacemaker. He will tell us about his journey and what brought him to where he is today. He will also give us an insight into what goes on at the Keeneland sales. Longtime handicapping partners John Engelhardt and Ed Meyer will team up again in this week's handicapping portion of the show. The Regular Guys as they were known to their viewers and listeners, John and Ed will look back at the summer highlights of racing and give their selections for opening weekend at Churchill Downs with the Grade 2 $150,000 Pocahontas Stakes and the Grade 3 $150,000 Iroquois Stakes. They will also tackle the opening week feature at Belmont Park the Grade 2 $250,000 Bowling Green Handicap and Louisiana Downs' marquee race the Grade 2 $500,000 Super Derby.
Craig Milkowski is the chief figure maker for TimeformUS. He is the founder of PaceFigures.com, where he developed an innovative approach to calculating ratings for thoroughbred horse races. His methods earned a loyal following for well over a decade at his website, which in turn spurred the move to TimeformUS. Craig served for 23 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 2008 from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Belgium, where he was a network administrator. He will tell us how he got into horse racing handicapping and explain his approach to calculating figures. In the second segment, a frequent guest on this show Byron King will review with the host Will Take Charge's upset in the Travers and Game On Dude's slam dunk in the Pacific Classic. They will 'cap the Gr. 1 $500,000 Woodward; Gr. 1 $500,000 Forego and Gr. 2 $250,000 Bernard Baruch from Saratoga and then go out west and look at the Gr. 1 $300,000 Del Mar Debutante. Lots of top racing all weekend with the close of Saratoga, they will try to include the Gr. 1 $300,000 Spinaway and the Gr. 1 $300,000 Hopeful.
This week, with all the great racing we are putting on a new version of The Man Show. We will be going Coast to Coast with Jay PrivMAN covering the West and Dan IllMAN 'capping the best in the East. From Del Mar we will look at the Gr. 2 $200,000 Del Mar Handicap; the Gr. 1 $1,000,000 Pacific Classic and the Gr. 2 $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes. Under the ancient Elms at Saratoga we will cover The Midsummer Derby, Gr. 1 $1,000,000 Travers Stakes; the Gr. 1 $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational: the Gr.1 $500,000 Kings Bishop and the Gr. 1 $500,000 Test. And again Winning Ponies is organizing another handicapping contest, on the Travers Stakes.
Jockey Garrett Gomez, fresh off his triumphant return to racing and release of his book The Garrett Gomez Story - A Jockey's Journey Through Addiction & Salvation, will give us an insight to his life through his addiction to drugs and alcohol in 2003 and his successful battle to return in the saddle. Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States. When Gomez was in the tenth grade, he dropped out of school to start his career as a jockey, and began riding at Santa Fe Downs in New Mexico in September 1988, picking up his first victory at that venue aboard Furlong Circle. Gomez is one of 5 jockeys to be considered for induction into racing's Hall of Fame for 2013. The others are Calvin Borel, Chris Antley, Craig Perret and Alex Solis. In the second segment a previous guest on this show, Michael Beychok who won the $1 million first-place prize and title of 2012 Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapper of the Year last January at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will help our host with breaking down the Gr. 1 Arlington Million Stakes, and the Gr.1 $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (both Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races) and both from Arlington Park; the Gr. 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes from Saratoga and the Gr. 1 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks from Del Mar.
Former trainer Richard Lundy apprenticed as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham. He went on to train for Virginia Kraft Payson and won the 1984 Travers Stakes with Carr De Naskra. He was hired by Allen Paulson to train his horses the day after the 1988 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs. The following year, Lundy won 15 stakes and $3 million and had the 1989 Eclipse Award winner as the nation's best older horse in Blushing John. He will reminisce for us about his early years with Charlie Whittingham and will tell us about his involvement with LubriSyn and the current advances in nutritional supplements for horses. In the second segment, a previous guest on this show Ralph Siraco is a former track announcer who became a turf writer, and currently hosts the racing radio show Race Day Las Vegas, broadcast on KSHP AM 1400 in Las Vegas. He will join John Engelhardt to handicap Saturday's stakes races from around the country: - the Gr. 3 $100,000 Gardenia Stakes from Ellis Park; the Gr. 2 $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap from Saratoga; the Gr. 3 $100,000 Monmouth Oaks from Monmouth Park and the Gr. 2 $150,000 LaJolla Handicap from Del Mar.
Dr. John Piehowicz a graduate of The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine, has been an Equine Veterinarian for nearly 20 years. He then opened his small business, Cincinnati Equine, LLC, and built an unparalleled reputation locally as a caring and compassionate physician with a client list that includes 10 Kentucky Derby winning trainers and countless Breeder's Cup winning trainers. He will be our first guest discussing changes in equine care over the years and addressing the current injuries sustained by Take Charge Indy, Oxbow and St. Nicholas Abbey. In the second segment, a frequent guest on this show DRF's Marty McGee is on-site at Mountaineer Park for their big evening of racing highlighted by the West Virginia Derby and West Virginia Governor's Cup. He will help our host handicap those races and two Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races. They will also review last week's major races and the impact they may have leading to the Travers Stakes. The BC Win and You're In races are : - the Gr. 1 $750,000 Whitney Handicap from Saratoga and the Gr. 1 $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes from Del Mar. From Mountaineer the Gr. 2 $750,000 West Virginia Derby and $200,000 West Virginia Governor's Cup will also be analysed.
With all of the great races from coast to coast, we have called on 2 professional handicappers to bring us home some winners. 'Money won is twice as sweet as money earned,'' Fast Eddie Felson (played by the late Paul Newman) says in The Color of Money. Rich Eng will handicap the return of Paynter in Grade 2 $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar and then go to the east coast to Monmouth Park for the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational. Our second handicapper Rich Ruda is a lifelong horseplayer, who has been the on-air handicapper for Thistledown for 10 years. On Saturday, Thistledown will feature the state's top stakes race, the Grade 3 $100,000 Ohio Derby. Rich Ruda will also break down the top races at Saratoga including the Grade 1 $300,000 Prioress Stakes; the Grade 1 $600,000 Diana Handicap and the Grade 2 $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes featuring the return of Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice.
Over the last 12 years 'Horse Whisperer' Ed Crothers and his staff at Cedar Brook Farm have broke and trained over 3100 horses including horses that others could not break. Ed has continued to use and perfect the techniques that he has developed over the years, by combining all the lessons he has learned. His holistic approach to horsemanship is to use veterinarian and chiropractic treatment to ensure soundness before beginning training. Currently Ed is entrusted with the care and stud career of stallion Arctic Bright View – better known as “Silver” to the public – one of the selected horses starring in the recently released “The Lone Ranger.” He will walk us through a lifelong of equine experiences and will explain his approach to handling bad behavior horses. In the second segment, a frequent guest on this show Tom Law who is a native of Saratoga Springs, will look at the 150th year at the historic track and handicap Friday's Grade 3 $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes and Saturday's Grade 3 $200,000 Shuvee Handicap and Grade 1 $$300,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks. It is also opening week at Del Mar and Tom will also handicap Saturday's Grade 1 $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes.
Terence Collier, the director of Marketing at Fasig-Tipton Sales and the Senior Sales Announcer has been with the Lexington, Kentucky based company since 1976. They are holding a unique sale on Monday featuring many stakes horses currently racing. The select yearling auction season kicks off at Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky headquarters July 15, 2013 and this year there’s a bonus. Immediately following the yearling session, Fasig-Tipton will offer a new auction: the summer sale of selected horses of racing age. With this sale, Fasig-Tipton is attempting to establish a new tradition of selling an estimated 50 to 65 “horses with meaningful racing potential to showcase to the sport’s leading buyers,” as chief executive Boyd Browning describes it in the auction’s promotional material. Mr. Collier will tell us about this new venue for his company and what are his feelings and expectations about it. In the second segment, we will tour the country with Ed Meyer as our handicapper - BC win and Your In Grade 3 $200,000 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park; The Grade 2 $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs; the Grade 3 $200,000 American Derby at Arlington Park and the Grade 1 $600,000 Man O' War Stakes at Belmont Park.
Since there is a lot of good racing this week, we will focus on handicapping and picking winners. Our first guest will be DRF's writer/handicapper John McDulin. We will focus on the big day at Prairie Meadows with three Gr.3's races - the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap; $250,000 Iowa Derby and $200,000 Iowa Oaks. Then we go to California for two Breeders' Cup Win and you're In stakes. DRF's west coast columnist Steve Anderson will break down the Gr.1 $300,000 Shoemaker Mile and the Grade 1 $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap from Hollywood Park. On the east coast, we will be joined by NYRA's new Director of Communications and longtime handicapper Eric Wing who will handle for us the big races at Belmont on Saturday, the Gr.2 $200,000 New York Stakes and the Gr.3 $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes.
Sid Fernando is president of eMatings.com and Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc. (WTC), owner of eNicks. A former bloodstock editor and columnist at Daily Racing Form, Sid is an internationally known pedigree writer whose articles have appeared in leading thoroughbred racing and breeding publications around the world, including Owner-Breeder, Racing Post, North American Trainer, The Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred Daily News, Turf Diario, and Pacemaker. He will talk about the breeding industry and his involvement as the president of eMating.com and Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc. In the second segment handicapping maven Dan Cronin, himself a son of legendary handicapper Hap Cronin, with many documented streaks of winners which included sweeping entire cards with top winners many times, will join our host in handicapping the $300,000 Gr.1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park; the $150,000 Gr.2 Hollywood Oaks at Betfair Hollywood Park; the $300,000 Gr.2T Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs and the $100,000 Gr.3 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Mandy Minger, Vice President of Marketing, has been with Daily Racing Form since 1992. Minger began her career in thoroughbred racing as a groom at Philadelphia Park and in the publicity department at the Atlantic City Race Course. In 1991, she joined The Racing Times and, following the publication's closing, moved to Daily Racing Form as marketing coordinator in 1992. She held various marketing positions before assuming her current position in 2000. Minger is President of the Turf Publicists of America, a member of the Eclipse Awards Steering Committee and is active in thoroughbred retirement causes. She will tell us about her responsibilities in her current position at the Daily Racing Form and talk a little about her involvement with organizations such as Old Friends Equine active in thoroughbreds retirement causes. In the second segment, John Asher, Vice President of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs Race Track (“CDRT”), has worked in the Thoroughbred racing industry as an award-winning journalist and publicist for more than 30 years. He will join our host in handicapping the Gr.1 $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap; the Gr.2 $175,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes and the Gr.3 $100,000 Regret Stakes all to be run at Churchill Downs this Saturday June 15th.
Claire Novak won top honors in the feature/advance division for her story that appeared on June 8 on ESPN.com entitled “Unforgettable Day at Belmont Park.” The article chronicled the events of June 8, when Triple Crown hopeful I’ll Have Another was scratched from the Belmont, becoming the first horse in 78 years to win the Derby and Preakness and miss the third jewel of the series. She will give us the inside scoop of what is going on at Belmont Park these days in preparation for the last leg of the Triple Crown. She will be receiving an engraved Tiffany crystal bowl, to be presented June 5 at Belmont Park during the official draw breakfast for the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes. Another frequent guest on this show, Dan Illman will undertake with our host the task of separating the contenders from the pretenders in this Belmont Stakes. They will also dissect some of the other graded stakes on the card. Winning Ponies is offering some unique prizes in a Belmont Stakes handicapping challenge. For the contest 12 prizes for 12 furlongs: 2 autographed Van Berg Books, 5 Alysheba photos winning the BC Classic donated by Pat Lang's patlangphoto.com and 5 Wise Dan HOY posters donated by Kurtis Coady.
The richest night of racing in the 40-year history of Penn National is unfolding on Sat. June 1 with the inaugural running of the $500,000 Penn Mile anchoring a card that will also include the $250,000 Mountainview Handicap, the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup, the $50,000 Penn Dash, and a pair of $60,000 sprints for Pennsylvania-bred or Pennsylvania-sired horses. Dan Silver who recently took up his new responsibilities as director of racing operations at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course since the last time he was on our show, will talk about the challenges of his new job, and the huge racing action night at Penn National Saturday June 1st. In the second segment, Dick Jerardi who will be the paddock handicapper that evening, will team up with our host in 'capping the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap; $250,000 Mountainview and the new $500,000 Penn Mile Stakes.
Our first guest Frank Mitchell will discuss classic winning bloodlines and who has the stamina to get the distance in the grueling 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes. Frank Mitchell is the author of Racehorse Breeding Theories, as well as the book Great Breeders and Their Methods: The Hancocks. In addition to writing the column “Sires and Dams” in the Daily Racing Form for nearly 15 years, he has contributed articles to Thoroughbred Daily News, Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred Record, International Thoroughbred, and other major publications. Our second guest is writer/handicapper Frank Angst from the Blood-Horse. We will review the Derby and Preakness and discuss the major races to be run on Memorial Day Monday. Frank and John will handicap the $150,000 Gr.3 Arlington Classic and the $150,000 Gr.3 Arlington Matron from Arlington Park; the $150,000 Gr.2 Sheepshead Bay from Belmont Park and the $150,000 Gr.2 American Handicap from Betfair Hollywood Park.
This is Preakness weekend and we have 2 guests with different connections to the race. This is also the 40th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown and no one captured his essence on film over the years other than photographer Tony Leonard. After his passing last year, Bobby Shiflet put together a partnership to protect Leonard's legacy. Many in the industry thought Leonard's work would be broken up, but through Shiflet's efforts he has ensured that his work will be preserved for posterity. His goal is to preserve and provide access to his body of work and to keep the memory of of the historic horses he immortalized alive for future generations to enjoy. Secretariat's final time for the Preakness was changed to a track record after review of the tapes this year. Our second guest Tom Law, is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces the Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times. He has been at Pimlico all week watching the works and the behind-the-scene happenings. He will report to us and join John in handicapping The $500,000 Gr.2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, the $300,000 Gr.3 Pimlico Special and the $1,000,000 Gr.1 Preakness Stakes, all to be run at Pimlico Racecourse this week-end.
Mike Watchmaker is the national handicapper for Daily Racing Form. He first joined the Form in 1980, and was named New York columnist in 1983. He left the Form in 1991 to join The Racing Times, then worked for NYRA, where he was program handicapper and morning line maker before rejoining the Form in 1998. He will review his observations of Oaks/Derby weekend and the impact the Derby will have on upcoming Triple Crown races. In the second segment our own Ed Meyer will be our guest. He was its original host for over 2 1/2 years, beginning in December of 2008. He tackled this task while he was Publicity Director at River Downs. For those of you who missed his blog on Derby eve, he gave out ORB as his top pick. He will join John in analyzing some of the main stakes races this week-end: at Belmont The $200,000 Gr.2 Peter Pan Stakes; at Betfair Hollywood Park the $100,000 Gr.3 Senorita Stakes and the $70,000 added Came Home Stakes; and finally at Woodbine the $150,000 Queenston Stakes.
For this year's Kentucky Oaks and Derby preview, we have lined up a trifecta of handicappers representing the country from coast to coast, who will help us put the Oaks and Derby picture into perspective. West-coast based Jay Privman, Louisville's own Jennie Rees and Daily Racing Form's East coast handicapping editor Dan Illman. Jay Privman covers the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. He is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions. Jennie Rees has been associated with the Louisville Courrier-Journal as a turf writer for the last 28 years. Prior to that, she had a stint of 2 years with the Rochester Times-Union as a sportswriter copy editor. She was a member and former president of the National Turf Writers Association. She was also a key member of team that won Eclipse Award for on-line/multi-media coverage, in 2008. Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the Daily Racing Form News Desk. Illman's “Spa Babies” and “Keeneland Babies” columns are also featured on DRF.com during the Saratoga and Keeneland meets. Prior to DRF, Illman worked as racing writer, analyst, and handicapper for Sports Eye Inc. In 2005, Illman authored the book Betting Maidens and Two-Year-Olds, and he released the DVD Trip Handicapping in 2008, both for DRF Press. He also co-hosted the weekly New York City-OTB TV show “Out of the Gate” from 2007-2010. All three will join forces with our host to sort out the contenders from the pretenders of both the Kentucky Oaks to run on Friday May 3rd and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday May 4th both at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Derby is almost upon us and our first guest is last year's Kentucky Derby winning trainer Doug O'Neill. He won both the Derby and the Preakness Stakes with 'I'll Have Another'. He knows how to get his colt in top shape for the first jewel of the Triple Crown. This year he will be represented by 'Goldencents', winner of the Santa Anita Derby in his last. He will give us a comparison between both colts and a feeling of how confident he is about his charge this year. In the second segment our host will be joined with Horseplayer Magazine publisher Tom Quigley. He will tell us a little about the Horseplayer Magazine and then lend his expertise in handicapping the #300,000 Snow Chief Stakes and the $300,000 Melair Stakes both at Hollywood Park, the $150,000 Gr.3 Westchester Handicap at Belmont Park, and possibly the $200,000 Gr.3 Derby Trial from Churchill Downs.
Remi Bellocq will talk a little about what keeps him busy at Equine Programming for Bluegrass Community and Technical College these days, which he joined after 18 years in various management positions at racetracks across North America, notably Santa Anita in southern California. Remi will tell us about their trip to Abu Dhabi in Nov. 2012, and all the fund raising efforts to support their teaching horses at the College. He will brush over the new online course offerings, summer classes in the field of horse racing, and talk a little about the Equine Industry Workforce Certificate obtained by its graduates. He will give us a feel of what a typical day is like for NARA students. He will go over some NARA statistics and how we can get in touch with that organisation. In the second segment DRF columnist Byron King will be our guest handicapper. He will help John analyze the Doubledogdare Stakes on Friday and the Coolmore Lexington on Saturday, both at Keeneland; and the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne and the Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita.
Darren Rogers is the Senior Director of Communication and Media Services at Churchill Downs. As one of the busiest men in racing over the next four weeks, he'll be discussing the impact of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks point system on this year's races. Darren will also update listeners on any new activities that will be incorporated into Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs. As horses begin to ship in for training at the historic oval, he'll give us updates on any training plans for those on the grounds and those ready to ship in. In the second segment, Mike Battaglia will be handicapping for us the three Grade 1 races at Keeneland on Saturday - the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, the Jenny Wiley Stakes and Madison Stakes. He will also be giving his handicapping insights into the Arkansas Derby and a sneak peak into the odds for Kentucky Derby 139.
Julie Balog is the Director of Communications at the Keeneland Association, the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company and a world-class Thoroughbred race course, where she joined in 1999. She has led Keeneland’s media outreach relations efforts. Keeneland is unveiling a host of enhancements for the upcoming spring meeting to help make betting easier and more enjoyable for fans. Aditional race analysis this spring from handicapper Katie Mikolay Gensler and longtime Keeneland handicapper Mike Battaglia for each race with Gensler concentrating on offering up-to-the-minute analysis from the Keeneland Paddock. In addition, staff from such local and trade media outlets as the Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form and Lexington Herald-Leader will provide their daily selections for each race on in-field board and in-house televisions. Gensler, along with handicappers Jeremy Plonk and Joe Kristufek, will give selections on Keeneland’s twitter handle @keenelandracing. Julie will give us the lowdown on all the innovations taking place at Keeneland this spring, such as additional guaranteed money pick-4 and pick-5 on marquee days such as Toyota Blue Grass Stakes day. In the second segment Daily Racing Form handicapper Steve Anderson will go over with John some of the important stakes races slated for this week-end. Races which will be analyzed are the $750,000 Gr.1 Santa Anita Derby and the $300,000 Gr.1 Santa Anita Oaks both at Santa Anita; the $1,000,000 Gr.1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the $500,000 Gr.1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.
Anna Ford from New Vocations will be our first guest. She is the program Director in charge of the Thoroughbreds & Adoption Office. This program produces the simulcast television feed for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race which runs informational slates that feature retired racehorses available for adoption. All of the featured horses are from recognized racehorse adoption and aftercare organizations, such as the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and CANTER. Anna will fill us in about this wonderful program. In the second segment, Michael Beychok, who won the $1 million first-place prize and title of 2012 Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapper of the Year by a single dollar at the 13th annual DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship last January at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will reminisce on how it felt to win that title, and join our host in handicapping some of the major events happening this week-end: the Gr. 1 $1,000,000 Florida Derby and Gr. 2 $500,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks both at Gulfstream Park; the Gr. 2 $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby and Gr. 2 $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks both at Fair Grounds.
John Engelhardt will host three guests this week. Newly appointed Editorial Director at the Daily Racing Form to lead its national editorial operation based in New York, Mark Simon will be our first guest. He will tell us a little about his new responsibilities and what plans he has for the publication. Peviously the founding editor of Thoroughbred Times, he was hired by Dick Broadbent, owner of Bloodstock Research, at the time to start the publication. Under his direction the Thoroughbred Times was published weekly for 27 years, until its demise. Our second guest Marty McGee has been covering the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form since 1992. He will give us an inside track on the main contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby and handicap some of this week-end's stakes races - the Spiral and Bourbonette Stakes from Turfway Park and the Sunland Park Derby from Sunland Park. Our third guest will be trainer Jeff Greenhill. He is the hometown hope with multiple stakes winner 'Mac the Man' in the Spiral Stakes.
In the first segment previous host of this show and WinningPonies blogger Ed Meyer will join our host and his long time good friend John Engelhardt to discuss his blogs and other current events stories in thoroughbred racing circles. In the second segment Matt O'Neil steps in for Jude Feld and tell us about their site www/myfantasystable.com. In addition Matt will join John in handicapping this week-end important stakes races: From Oaklawn Park, the $600,000 Gr.2 Rebel Stakes and the $150,000 Gr.3 Azeri Stakes; from Santa Anita, the $300,000 Gr.1 Santa Margarita Stakes and the $150,000 Gr.2 Turf San Luis Rey Stakes.
Chantal Sutherland is our first guest. During her 13-year career, Chantal a Toronto native, won 931 races and purses worth more than $47 million. She retired at the top of her game as one of racing’s all-time leading female jockeys. She has just started with TVG and covered Game On Dude winning the Santa Anita Handicap - a race she had won on him in 2011. Handicapper Tom Law has created a new website called thisishorseracing.com with updated columns and blogs on thoroughbred racing. He will tell us about his new endeavor and handicap with John the $300,000 Gr.2 San Felipe Stakes from Santa Anita; the $300,000 Gr.2 Gulfstream Park Handicap from Gulfstream Park; the $350,000 Gr.2 Tampa Bay Derby and the $150,000 Gr.3 Hillsborough Stakes, both from Tampa Bay.
Kenny McPeek is not cut from the same bolt of cloth as many of today's trainers. A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in business administration, McPeek, now 50, interviewed on Wall Street before deciding to make a go of it as a Thoroughbred trainer. Concerned with the sport's flagging popularity, he helped developed an iPhone app, HORSE RACES NOW, which permits fans to watch races without paying a fee. Mr. McPeek has discovered and/or trained such quality racehorses as Kathmanblu, Tejano Run, Harlan’s Holiday, Repent, Leah's Secret, Einstein (BRZ), Sarava and Curlin, among others. In the second segment Dan Illman of the DRF will join the host in analyzing some of the important stakes races for the week-end. This week it will be the $250,000 Gr.3 Gotham Stakes and the #150,000 Gr.2 Top Flight Handicap both from Aqueduct, the $750,000 Gr.1 Santa Anita Handicap from Santa Anita and $150,000 Gr.3 Swale Stakes from Gulfstream Park.
Rick Violette, Jr. has had many achievements in a career that took him from showing hunters and jumpers to becoming the President of the National Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. He will be discussing the growth of the racing program in New York, and stake his opinions on why there should be year-round racing and the organizations' efforts to find second careers for retired thoroughbreds. In the second segment DRF columnist Marcus Hersh will be our handicapper. He concentrates his efforts on the Fair Grounds and Chicago racing scene, and will tell us who's hot, and who's not, pointing out any horses which have impressed him and how the track bias has been playing. He will then join John in handicapping the $400,000 Gr. 2 Risen Star Stakes and $200,000 Gr. 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes from the Fair Grounds and then look at Gulfstream Park's $400,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and $225,000 Gr. 2 Davona Dale Stakes. All of these races will have an impact on the KY Oaks and KY Derby.
Gary Stevens, who won 2 stakes this past weekend, has returned to the saddle in January of this year after being away for over seven years. On January 12, 2013, Stevens won the first race of his comeback. He will tell us about his fabulous career as a jockey and everything else which he engaged in until his comeback to the saddle this year. He was a racing commentator for HRTV and NBC Sports. He was an actor and television personality and became a regular cast member on the short lived HBO television series Luck. In the second segment, NTRA Media Director Eric Wing will talk about news of the NTRA and the Handicapping contest, and will join John in handicapping some of this week-end stakes races: the $150,000 Gr. 2 El Camino Real Derby from Golden Gate; the $200,000 Gr. 2 Santa Maria Stakes from Santa Anita; the $150,000 Gr. 2 Barbara Fritchie from Laurel and the $150,000 Gr. 2 Turf Mac Diarmida Stakes from Gulfstream Park.
Mr. Ned Toffey representing Spendthrift Farm will tell us about which young stallions the farm is investing in and talk about the state of the breeding industry in Kentucky. There is a new program at Spendthrift Farm which now offers incentives to mare owners called Breed Secure, which Mr. Toffey will get a chance to explain. In the second segment J.J. Graci who hosts It's Post Time show from Gulfstream Park is our handicapper. J.J. Graci who has a vast experience in horse racing and broadcasting, will join John in handicapping the following races from Gulfstream Park: the $500,000 (gr. I) Donn Handicap, the $300,000 (gr. IT) Kitten's Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, the $150,000 (gr. III) Gulfstream Park Sprint, and the $150,000(gr. IIIT) River Stakes.
Shane Sellers will be our first guest and will tell us what he has been doing lately after a successful career of 26 years. He had partnered up with trainer Patrick Huffman working on a farm in Lexington, breaking yearlings and working with horses on lay-ups. In the second segment Ralph Siraco will be our handicapper. He is a former track announcer turned turf writer and currently hosts the racing radio show Race Day Las Vegas, broadcast on KSHP AM 1400 in Las Vegas. He will join John in handicapping Aqueduct's Withers Stakes; Santa Anita's Robert B. Lewis Stakes; Tampa Bay Downs' Sam F. Davis Stakes and Gulfstream Park's Hutcheson Stakes.
In the first segment Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg will tell us a little about his career as a thoroughbred trainer. He will reminisce about the many milestones he has accomplished. A book From Grit to Glory about Jack's lifetime achievements is in the works and should be out this spring. He currently lives in Los Angeles and still maintains a small stable at Hollywood Park. In the second segment Tom LaMarra of the Blood-Horse will review the Eclipse Awards and will join John in analyzing from Gulfstream Park the $400,000 Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and the $200,000 Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes; from Fair Grounds the new $75.000 Van Berg Stakes and from Santa Anita the $300.000 Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes.
In the opening segment Kimpton Williams, owner of Fair Winds Farm in Waynesville, Ohio will discuss the revitalization of racing in Ohio now fueled by alternative gaming and the challenges facing horsemen, breeders and owners. Kim is also a board member with the Ohio H.P.B.A. In the second segment Ed Meyer will be our guest handicapper. From Gulfstream Park we will handicap the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic and $300,000 Distaff; from the Fair Grounds the Grade 3 LeCompte Stakes and from Santa Anita the Grade 2 Palos Verdes.
In the first segment jockey Rodney Prescott who attained his 3,000th career win this past Thursday will describe his feelings on reaching this milestone in his career. “It feels good,” said Prescott. “Three thousand wins—I don’t know what that means. Not many get to do it, so I’m thankful to have won that many. I’ve had a good career.” Fittingly, the win came for trainer Wayne Mogge, who has called on Prescott since the jockey was an apprentice. In the second segment, a frequent guest on the show Jay Privman will do a Year in Review and his opinions on Eclipse voting. He will also join John in handicapping the $150,000 Gr.2 San Fernando Stakes and the $150,000 Gr.2 San Gabriel Handicap both at Santa Anita, and the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate.
Jen Roytz of Three Chimneys Farm will be our first guest. She is involved with numerous charities, the Make A Wish Foundation’s Kentucky chapter, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass and The Race For Education. She will talk about her responsibilities at Three Chimneys Farm and how she finds the time to be give her time to all those wonderful causes. Richard Eng is a columnist/handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies & The Guide to U.S. Casinos and Racinos. You can follow him on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick. He will team up with John to handicap the $150,000 Grade 2 San Pasqual Handicap and the $100,000 Grade 3 Sham Stakes both at Santa Anita, the $200,000 Grade 2 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, and the 100,000 Grade 3 Turf Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
There are no sacred cows in the sport of thoroughbred racing when it comes to the pen of “Indian Charlie.” He has been publishing his humorous and sometimes scathing newsletter since 1994. He works the backstretch, sales rings and press boxes for any and all inside information on the movers and shakers of the sport – and everybody is fair game. As he states on the masthead of his publication –“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!” He will give us some scoops on what is happening lately in the world of thoroughbred racing. In the second segment of the show, Bob “Railbird” Roberts will join John Engelhardt in handicapping the $100,000 Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes from Gulfstream Park; the $100,000 Dave’s Friend Stakes from Laurel; the $150,000 Grade 2 Robert Frankel Stakes and the $100,000 Grade 3 Daytona Stakes both from Santa Anita.
In the first segment jockey Shane Sellers will tell us about his 26 years career as a jockey and will update us about his new venture in thoroughbred racing. He will tell us about his most memorable moments in the saddle and talk about how he got into horse racing in the first place. In the second segment Daily Racing Form's writer/handicapper Byron King will handicap with our host Fair Grounds' the $75,000 Blushing K.D. Handicap and the $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes; Gulfstream Park's $75,000 El Prado Stakes and Laurel's $100,000 Thirty-Eight Go Go Stakes.
Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc., the award-winning publishing company that produces The Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times. Law is expected to play a role in the Fair Hill, Maryland-based company’s expansion and will assist in marketing, sales, and editorial efforts at a satellite office in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in early 2013. He will share with us the challenges of his new job. Ed Meyer prior host of this show will join John in handicapping the following races: Hollywood Park - Gr. 1 $750,000 Cash Call Futurity and Gr.2 $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup; Gulfstream Park - Gr. 3 $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes; Aqueduct - $75,000 Gravesend Handicap.
Republican Sen. Damon Thayer floor leader of the Ky Senate, supported a measure in a bi-partisan effort with Gov. Steve Beshear earlier this year that would have put the issue of expanded gaming on the 2012 ballot allowing the people of Kentucky to vote on the issue. Thayer works as a marketing consultant in the horse industry and has previously held positions with the Breeders' Cup and Turfway Park. He will discuss the merits of that expanded gaming legislation. A favorite guest on this show, Daily Racing Form John McDulin returns to make selections in four races from three different tracks that will take place on Saturday - from Hollywood Park the Grade 1 $500,000 Hollywood Starlet and Grade 2 $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes; at Gulfstream Park the Grade 3 $100,000 Sugar Swirl and at the Fair Grounds the $100,000 Louisiana Champions.
Our first guest is Milton Toby - since interviewing him months ago, the book we reviewed Dancer’s Image: The Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby, which was published in 2011 is an Award winner. Since Joe Nevills was last on our show, he is no longer with the Thoroughbred Times but is now a staff writer for the Daily Racing Form’s breeding and sales wing, DRF Breeding. He will be our guest handicapper as we look at the Claiming Crown hosted by Gulfstream Park this Saturday.
Billy and Gary Johnson two brothers who got attracted to the sport of kings at an early age, got involved in different capacities, had their professional lives intersect midway and strode to find their individual calling in the game. They both achieved a great measure of success in their fields and will tell us how they got started and where they are today. Gary will discuss his approach to handicapping and give us his selections for the $1,000,000 Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot; Aqueduct's Grade 3 Discovery Handicap; and Churchill Downs' Grade 2 Ms. Revere Stakes and Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf.
Brian B.J. Hernandez the jockey who piloted Fort Larned to victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic will be our first guest. He will tell us about his exceptional ride in that race and the exhalirating feeling as he held off Mucho Macho Man to win it. In the second segment, News Editor of the Blood-Horse Tom LaMarra, who was at the Breeders' Cup will report on all that action and handicap the main stakes races to be run this week-end: the $100,000 Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs, the $150,000 Grade 3 Long Island Handicap at Aqueduct, the $150,000 Carl G. Rose Handicap at Calder, and the $150,000 Grade 2 Autumn Stakes at Woodbine.
Again it is this time of the year and the 2012 Breeders' Cup is with us. So the call goes out to Ms. Jennie Rees, a multiple award winning writer with the Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky to cover for us who looks good, and what is going on behind the scenes of the 2012 Breeders' Cup. We will also have Marty McGee who covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form, weigh in with his predictions in this year's Breeders Cup two days extravaganza to be run at Santa Anita on Friday & Saturday, Nov. 2nd & 3rd.
Bill Mooney, a writer who served as associate editor at the old Thoroughbred Record and the Thoroughbred Times, has written books on the sports of kings. He also has contributed to a number of horse racing programs on ESPN. In the second segment Frank Angst will join in to handicap some of the important stakes races this week-end: the $150,000 (Gr. II) Fayette Stakes at Keeneland, the $350,000 Frank DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel, the $150,000 (Gr. III) Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park, and the $150,000 (Gr.III) Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita.
In an age where many horses are retiring at 3, Jeff has the unique ability to keep horses sound. A graduate of Auburn University, Greenhill decided at age 38 to indulge in his dream of training horses. Starting as a hotwalker for D. Wayne Lukas, Greenhill today is big on putting together partnerships and taking advantage of state-bred programs. He will share with us his journey since those early days. In the second segment, previous host of this show Ed Meyer will help us handicap the most important races this week-end. Races on tab: On Friday - the two Divisions of the $150.000 Grade III Pin Oak Valley View at Keeneland, on Saturday - the $250,000 Grade II Lexus Raven Run at Keeneland, and the $500,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic at Charles Town.
Mark Simon was the founding editor of Thoroughbred Times in 1985. He will tell us about his experience creating and running the Thoroughbred Times for those 27 years. He will delve into the reasons why the publication has folded since. Rich Nilsen has qualified 9 times for the National Handicapping Championship (NHC) and is the only player to finish in the top 10 twice in the history of the event. He will join the host to handicap some stakes races to be run this week-end, notably the $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf for fillies & mares Friday at Keeneland; the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Keeneland; the $200,000 Hawthorne Derby (G3) at 1 1/4 miles on the turf for-year-old Saturday at Hawthorne; the $100,000 Spend A Buck Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 on the main track for 3-year-old and up Saturday at Calder.
Julie Balog will update us with all the happenings in Kentucky in general and Keeneland in specific. She is currently the Director of Communications at the Keeneland Association which is the world's largest thoroughbred auction company and a world class thoroughbred racecourse. In the second segment Ellis Starr will be our handicapper. The following Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races will be analyzed in depth with the hope that our listeners will come out winners this week-end: - the $400,000 Grade 1 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes, and the $400,000 Grade 1 Frizette Stakes both to run at Belmont Park. - the $750,000 Grade 1T Shadwell Turf Mile, the $400,000 Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity and the $350,000 Grade 1T First Lady Stakes all 3 to run at Keeneland.
Eric Wing NTRA Media Relations Director, worked at Reader's Digest for 13 years before joining the NTRA in 1999. He is an avid horseplayer and had owned thoroughbreds at times. He will tell us about the different issues facing the thoroughbred industry today. He will also join our host in handicapping four Breeders' Cup Win and You're In! stakes races to be run this week-end:
the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park the $400,000 Grade 1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park the $400,000 Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park the $250,000 Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes (formerly named the Goodwood Stakes) at Santa Anita
We are thrilled to have Ed Meyer back for this show. He was the original host for almost three years. We have also been privileged to run his blogs on our site which are so insightful. His first guest, a gentleman who has been many times on our show and currently Racing Secretary for Colonial Downs, and Turfway Park, Mr. Tyler Picklesimer. Prior to his present duties, he was Racing Official at Keeneland, and Churchill Downs, as Certified Racing Steward and Placing Judge. He has been in the racing business in the Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia racing circuits for over 20 years. He will update us on what's going on at the racing scene in Kentucky. In the second segment another past frequent guest on this show, Dangerous Dan Moore, will join Ed in handicapping some of the main stakes races to run this week-end.
Dede Biles is currently the bloodstock sales editor for The Blood-Horse. She has worked for The Blood-Horse for nearly 30 years. She is a native of North Carolina and a graduate from UNC- Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism and recreation administration. Dede worked for newspapers in North Carolina and South Carolina covering sports before coming to The Blood-Horse. She will talk about the current September Sales at Keeneland and she has been in the past a great predictor of many of the top sales-toppers. In the second segment Byron King, a prior guest on this show, has worked as the paddock host and morning-line odds maker for Sam Houston Race Park before joining DRF in 1995. Since he has covered racing from across the country for the Form, with his primary focus now being on the Kentucky circuit, and Churchill Downs in particular. He will join our host in handicapping some of the major stakes races to be run over this week-end.
Julie Krone followed in her mom's footsteps and had a huge successful career as a jockey. She had retired from race riding, got married and is now raising a family with her husband Jay Hovdey, an executive columnist for the Daily Racing Form (who also was a guest on the show.) They have a daughter Lorelei Judith. (Hovdey also has a son, Ed, from his previous marriage.) When she is not caring for her family, Julie has been occupied as a racing broadcaster, a motivational speaker, and an instructor in the discipline of natural horsemanship. She will tell us about the highs and lows of her riding career. In the second segment, Dave Litfin of the Daily Racing Form will join the host in analyzing the major stakes races to be run this week-end around the country.
Old Friends' founder and President Michael Blowen will tell us about his journey from his position as Arts & Entertainment reporter and film critic for The Boston Globe to racing a small stable of claiming-level horses and to ultimately becoming operations director for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. In the second segment Richard Eng who covers the Horse Racing industry for the Las Vegas Review Journal, and author of Handicapping for Dummies will join our host in handicapping some of the important stakes races to be run around the country this week-end, among others the $750,000 Grade I Woodward Stakes, The $500,000 Grade I Forego Handicap and the $250,000 Grade II (T) Bernard Baruch Handicap all at Saratoga, and the $85,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes and the $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Debutante Stakes at Del Mar.
Jay Hovdey has been executive columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered horse racing for The Blood-Horse and the Thoroughbred Record, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Reader's Digest. He will talk about the racing game in general, will tell us why the HBO racing show Luck got cancelled and will give us some insight into the upcoming Pacific Classic. In the second segment Tom LaMarra, news editor from the Blood-Horse and a guest many times on this show will join our host in handicapping some of the most important stakes races to be run this week-end, most notably Saratoga's Mid-Summer Derby the $1million Grade 1 Travers Stakes and Del Mar's $1million Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes.
Rosie Napravnik will tell us on how she became interested in a career as a jockey and share with us some of the exciting moments in her brilliant career. She will tell us how it felt to be the first woman jockey to ever win the Kentucky Oaks (Believe You Can). Recently Rosie has moved her tack to the New York circuit and will share her feelings about competing against the toughest jockey colony in the country. In the second half Brian Zipse will tell us about his website DerbyWars.com, and join our host in handicapping some of the most important stakes races to be run this week-end, 3 from Arlington Park: the $1,000,000 Grade1 Arlington Million, the $500,000 Grade1 Secretariat Stakes and the $750,000 Grade1 Beverly D. Stakes and one: the $600,000 Grade1 Alabama Stakes from the Spa.
Brian “B.J.” Hernandez has always been considered a quality rider since he vied for the Eclipse Award as leading apprentice in 2004. A quality jockey who has “flied under the radar,” he was the early pilot of Horse of the Year Rachael Alexandra and has most recently won the Grade I Whitney Stakes aboard Fort Larned, a potential Handicap Horse of the year. He will tell us about his journey to where he is today. In the second segment, David Grening, the most recent winner of the Walter Haight Award presented by the National Turf Writers and Breeders, will share the handicapping duties with our host of the main stakes races to be run this week-end, possibly the $150,000 Grade II Four Star Dave, the $150,000 Grade II Adirondack Stakes, the $150,000 Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes, to be run at Saratoga, and the $250,000 Grade II(T) John C. Mabee Handicap, and the $150,000 Grade II(T) La Jolla Handicap both to be run at Del Mar.
Patricia P.J. Cooksey is a trailblazer for women in the sport of racing. The Ohio native started in the leaky-roof circuit of West Virginia and made her way to the Kentucky Derby and became the first woman to ride in the Preakness Stakes. Pat who has since retired from the saddle, will take us through her experience as a pioneer female jockey of her time and will update us as to what keeps her busy today. In the second segment, Matt McCumber a long-time lover of horse racing who first got hooked on the sport traveling the county fair circuit as a kid with his grandfather’s standardbreds, became an avid fan and horseplayer during the early days of Cigar’s great streak in the mid-90’s. He will join our host in capping all the important stakes races to be run this week end around the country including the 43rd running of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Racetrack, and the 85th running of the G1 $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga, both to be run also on Saturday, August 4th.
Dr. Jim Chiapetta, co-inventor of the FLAIR® Equine Nasal Strip, will tell us how he got involved with thoroughbred racing and shed some light on how effective his invention, the FLAIR® Equine Nasal Strip is, and how much it could have helped I'll Have Another and others in improving their performance. We should note that the New York Racing Association (NYRA) had banned its use on their racetracks. In the second segment Brad Free of the Daily Racing Form, will join our host in handicapping all the major stakes races to be run this week-end around the country most notably Saturday's 49th running of the $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga and Sunday's 45th running of the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
Vic Zast was a Thoroughbred breeder and owner during 30 years he spent as a fragrance industry leader. He is the author of the award-winning book The History and Art of 25 Travers and the keeper of the Saratoga Diary at bloodhorse.com, which begins tomorrow and runs every racing day during the Saratoga meet. He will tell us how he got into the thoroughbred game and share with us his thoughts on how to improve the sport of racing. In the second segment, our guest Jason Beem has been a lifelong handicapper and has worked at Emerald Downs in 2004 as a turf writer and media assistant. He also had hosted a weekly horse racing show in Portland called The Winning Ticket as well as filled in on the weekday sports talk shows on 750am the game sports radio. He will join our host in handicapping the major stakes races to be run this week-end around the country.
Dr. Tom Beckman D.V.M. a graduate of Auburn University has been practicing veterinary medicine for 45 years. He specializes in the treatment of Thoroughbred horses and other large animals. Dr. Beckman is the On-Call vet for large animals at the Cincinnati Zoo. He will tell us what attracted him to veterinary medicine in the first place. In the second segment of the show, writer Frank Angst will join our host in handicapping some of the important stakes races to run this week-end from around the country.
In the first segment, Sean Clancy a critically acclaimed writer and former champion jockey, will tell us about his journey in horse racing. How his father, Joe Clancy Sr., who trained flat and steeplechase horses had instilled in sons Sean and Joe Jr. a love of racing. Sean had quite a career as a jockey, riding steeplechase races professionally for 13 years. Currently Clancy is the author of Saratoga Days and co-author of The Best of the Saratoga Special. He has also written for the Daily Racing Form, The Blood-Horse, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred and Newsweek among others. In the second segment Bobby Neuman who started his career in racing as a hot walker and groom for Charlie Whittingham then for Bobby Frankel, then from a job as a pari-mutuel clerk, to his first announcing job on Arizona Fair circuit (Duncan, Safford, Douglas, Sonoita and Globe). Bobby started at Calder in 1999 as Paddock/Television Host and became full-time announcer there in 2005. He will join our host with his insight into Calder's Summit of Speed to be the highlight of racing at Calder this weekend.
Steven Crist has been the publisher and a columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered racing for The New York Times from 1981-1990; was founding editor-in-chief of The Racing Times in 1991-92; and a vice-president of the New York Racing Association from 1994-97. He produced an instructional DVD titled Exotic Tickets, and is the author of several books including Exotic Betting, Betting on Myself, “Offtrack,” and “The Horse Traders.” He will tell us how he got interested in the sport of Kings and about his journey that took him to where he is today. In the second segment Dan Johnson who has worked as a reporter for a suburban Chicago newspaper for over nine years, and a correspondent and photographer for Blood-Horse Magazine and the Thoroughbred Times, will tell us how he fell in love with horse racing in the first place. For the past 22 years, Dan has covered horse racing at Prairie Meadows for the Des Moines Register. He was inducted into the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame in 2006 for his award-winning journalism. He will handicap for us the main races from the Iowa Festival of Racing to be run over Friday June 29th and Saturday June 30th at Prairie Meadows.
Tom Drury has been a licensed trainer for the last 22 years. He covers a variety of services at the Skylight Training Center such as breaking, and starting young horses. He also supervises horses coming out of surgery rehab as well as laying up older horses needing a break from the racetrack environment. Tom will tell us how he became involved with thoroughbreds in the first place. In the second segment Jude Feld will join our host in handicapping some of the important stakes races to be run over the week-end around the country.
John worked in various creative environments in television, radio, print and film, with a special focus on writing and physical production. Whether he was in the newsroom at CNN working on Burden of Proof with Greta Van Susteren, on the set of the Hollywood film 28 Days with Sandra Bullock, or helping to develop feature films at Ted Field's Radar Pictures, his grand plan was always to make films with his brother. He will tell us about his journey from those early days to the production of the Hennegan Brothers' film First Saturday In May. In the second segment handicapper Pete Aiello, a friend of this show, and the voice of River Downs, will help the host handicap some of the stakes races to run over the week-end around the country.
The interview with Mr. Charkoudian will cover his involvement in the sport, and the changing times in websites - using video production to keep the audience on line and engaged. He will talk about the It's My Job series - how it came to be and where it is going. Greg will also tell us what is going on at Belmont this week. In the second segment Marty McGee, who has been covering the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form since 1992, will join the host in discussing the possibility of a Triple Crown this year and handicapping all the stakes races on the Belmont Stakes' undercard.
Barbara D. Livingston is one of America's most respected horseracing photographers, having photographed the sport she loves for more than 40 years. She has twice been awarded the highest photographic honor in Thoroughbred racing, the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Photography, and Livingston is currently the chief photographer for the Daily Racing Form. She will tell us about her journey. In the second segment Managing Editor Tom Law at the Thoroughbred Times, will discuss the new It's My Job segment at TT, the impact of a potential Triple Crown and will join our host in handicapping some of the major stakes races to be run this week-end: - The Vagrancy at Belmont Park, The Californian at Betfair Hollywood Park and the Aristides and Early Times Mint Julep at Churchill Downs.
Dan Silver who has been with NYRA since January 2008, first serving as marketing communications manager before being promoted to director of communications and media relations in April 2009, will tell our listeners about the events surrounding the Belmont Stakes, seat availability, etc.. and their efforts to promote a potential Triple Crown. Our guest handicapper this week will be Tom Law. He will give us his thoughts about the results of the 137th Preakness Stakes, talk about the upcoming 144th Belmont Stakes and join our host in handicapping all the major week-end stakes around the country.
Winner of the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1974 and the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 1980, Chris McCarron was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. Not one to rest on his laurels, he founded the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. Chris who has won the Preakness twice (among 6 Triple Crown races won), will tell us how it feels winning the Preakness and what his pick is for this year's renewal. In the second segment our handicapper will be Ralph Siraco who currently hosts the racing radio show Race Day Las Vegas, broadcast on KSHP AM 1400 in Las Vegas. He will join the host in examining the 137th Preakness Stakes to be run this Saturday at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Jim Gluckson currently Senior Communications Consultant at Breeders' Cup Ltd., will tell us about the journey that led him to his current position at Breeders' Cup Ltd. In the second segment Tom LaMarra, a New Jersey native, and writer/handicapper for the Daily Racing Form, will join the host to revue the 138th Kentucky Derby, handicap the week-end stakes races, and prevue the 137th Preakness Stakes to be run on Saturday May 19th, at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Award-winning writer Jennie Rees has been associated with the Louisville Courrier-Journal for the last 28 years as a turf writer. She will come on the show to give us the last minute news about all the happenings at Louisville, as to who is training well and what backstretch stories she may have heard. Rich End author of Handicapping for Dummies one of the many handicapping books he wrote, will join in to handicap the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. He also is a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form. In the final segment prior host of this show Ed Meyer will unveil his selections for both major races on this Saturday May 5th at Churchill Downs.
Horse owner Marty Grunder discovered his entrepreneurial spirit as a young man with a lawn mower and grew that passion into a multi-million-dollar company. Along that journey, his success story was amplified by The New York Times and acknowledged with numerous honors, including three “Entrepreneur of the Year” awards by various institutions. He will tells us what got him involved with thoroughbreds in the first place. In the second segment Mike Watchmaker will analyze the week-end stakes races around the country and will explore the field in the upcoming 138th Kentucky Derby.
Nicholson provides an intriguing and thorough history of the Kentucky Derby, examining the tradition, spectacle, culture, and evolution of the Kentucky Derby—the brightest jewel of the Triple Crown in his recent book The Kentucky Derby : How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event. He will also tell us how he got involved in writing about horse racing in the first place. James C. Nicholson recently received a PhD in history from the University of Kentucky. In the second half of the show. public handicapper Jude Feld will tell us how he got into the Sport of Kings and will join our host in handicapping the week-end stakes including the $200,000 G3 Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland and the $200,000 G2 Jerome Handicap at Aqueduct.
Kenny McPeek will tell us how he got introduced to training thoroughbreds. He is currently involved in creating a racing app through Horseracesnow and will be explaining the creation and the many uses of this innovative racing tool. 15 years as Voice of the Wildcats for University of Kentucky football and 11 seasons for men's basketball, Tom Leach will join our host in the second segment of the show to handicap all the major stakes races this week-end specially the $1,000,000 (G1) Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the $750,000 (G1) Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.
After his Nates Mineshaft recorded a smashing track record in the $400,000 Grade II New Orleans Handicap over some of the top handicap performers in the country, Austin “Kep” Smith is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He will tell us how he first got involved with training thoroughbreds and what on the radar for his stable with spring upon us. In the second segment, veteran reporter, columnist and handicapper Steve Davidowitz will join our host in handicapping some of the most important stakes races to run this week-end including the Wood Memorial, the Santa Anita Derby and the Illinois Derby.
Mr. Koester is currently Chair of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and also a current member of the Ohio State Racing Commission, of which he was the former Chair. He has been involved as an owner/breeder of thoroughbreds for over 30 years. He will tell us how he got involved in thoroughbred racing in the first place. In the second segment Ed DeRosa will join our host in handicapping the main stakes races this week-end from around the country.
Bob Ehalt has been an avid fan of Thoroughbred racing since that day in June of 1971 when he and his father walked from their Queens Village, N.Y., home to Belmont Park to see Canonero II fall short in his bid for the Triple Crown. He has been involved with horse racing ever since. He has also owned Thoroughbreds since 1995 and was a member of the syndicate that raced Tale of the Cat. Mark Klein makes laughter his living and horses his hobby. A professional comedian for 30 years in venues ranging from cruise ships to comedy clubs, this veteran headliner who is a part owner in No Joke Stable will join our host in the second segment of the show to handicap the important stakes races to be run over the week-end from around the country.
Ramon, 35, began riding full time at La Rinconada racetrack in his native country Venezuela at age 18. He came to the United States in 1995 and rode his first winner in March of 1996 at Hialeah Park. He is currently the regular rider on such outstanding horses as Horse of the Year Havre de Grace who is pointing for her 2012 debut in the March 17 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Louisiana racetrack, and last year's Juvenile Champion Hansen. He will tell us how it feels to be riding those 2 outstanding champions, and his expectations in riding potentially one of the favorites in this year's Kentucky Derby. In the second segment Les Instone has been involved in the Thoroughbred industry since 1984 as a handicapper and horse owner will join our host in handicapping this week-end's 3-year-old prep races for the Derby from around the country. Currently, Les is VIP Customer Service Manager with Twinspires.com online wagering service, a division of Churchill Downs based in Lexington.
Dr. Hanson is the breeder and majority owner in Eclipse Award winner Hansen. He will tell us what got him interested in the thoroughbred industry, and how does it feel to have bred one of the main favorites in this year's Kentucky Derby. In the second segment Lenny Shulman of the Blood-Horse magazine, author of several horse racing books, and a successful writer/producer of many TV shows will join the host in focusing on the 3-year-old races leading up to the Derby, the Tampa Bay Derby, the Swale Stakes, the San Felipe Stakes and the Palm Beach Stakes.
Dave Johnson who has served as Track Announcer for various racetracks over the years, will tell us how he got started in the horse racing industry. He was the Voice of The Triple Crown for a quarter of a century. In the second segment, previous host of this show, Ed Meyer will join John Engelhardt to handicap for us this weekend major stakes races from around the country. We are delighted that Ed Meyer's insightful blogs are back on WP website.
Milt Toby is an attorney, author, and photographer with a lifelong involvement in the horse industry. He has been writing professionally about horses since 1972, first as a staff writer and photographer for The Blood-Horse and since 1984 as a freelancer for a number of publications. He will tell us how he got involved in racing, and talk about his latest (sixth) book, Dancer’s Image: The Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby, which was published in 2011. In the second segment Jason Shandler, who has been a racing writer with Blood-Horse since 2004, will join our host in handicapping the week-end's major stakes races from around the country.
Donna Barton Brothers hails from a family of riders, including her siblings, as well as her mother who was, in 1969, one of the first women to be licensed as a jockey. She herself is one of the most decorated female jockeys of her time, retired in 1998 with more than 1,100 career wins and still ranks third on the female jockeys' money list. Presently she covers Keeneland's Spring and Fall meets for TVG and serves as an analyst for NBC Sports' Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup coverage. She will tell us about her most memorable moments in the saddle, discuss this year's 3 year-old scene and talk about her book Inside Track: Inside Guide to Horse Racing. John McDulin from the Daily Racing Form, will be our handicapper guest. He is back to help our host analyze some of the weekend stakes races from around the country.
The Louisiana native dubbed the “Ragin’ Cajun”, broke on the racing scene in 1975 after years of competing as a youngster in “Bush Races” throughout Louisiana. His family life with his father Lloyd Romero, a horse trainer, was the basis for the movie “Casey’s Shadow.” Romero will join Winningponies' host John Engelhardt to discuss his book “Randy Romero’s Remarkable Ride.” In the second half of the show, Ron Nicoletti will join our host in handicapping a slew of graded stakes races to be run this Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Margo Flynn, currently the Vice President of Marketing at Tampa Bay Downs, will talk about her journey into the world of horse racing, and the challenges that face the industry into the 21st century. In the second segment Rich Eng, a writer for Las Vegas Review Journal and the Daily Racing Form, will talk about the 13th DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, a million dollars first prize two-day tournament which just concluded Jan. 27-28 at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas. He will also give us his insight on the main stakes races to be run this Saturday: $200,000 Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct, $200,000 Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs, the $200,000 Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis, and the $200,000 Grade 2 Strub, both at Santa Anita.
Terence j. Meyocks is currently the National Manager of the Jockeys' Guild Inc. He is also co-founder of Meyocks & O'Hara Racing Entreprises, Inc.(MORE), which was formed to pursue acquisitions within the racing industry and provide project management and advisory services. Mr. Meyocks, who is a third generation horseman, will take us through his journey from the various jobs within the racing department at tracks around the country to his current position as National Manager of the Jockeys' Guild Inc. In the second segment of the show Byron King who is the Kentucky handicapper and columnist for the Daily Racing Form, will give us an in-depth analysis on Gulfstream Park's $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic and $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff. He will also analyze for us Santa Anita's $300,000 Gr.1 Santa Monica and $100,000 Gr.3 Santa Ysabel.
Joe Nevills is a staff writer for Thoroughbred Times, a columnist for Arabian Finish Line, and an outspoken advocate for the parts of the horse racing industry that get lost in the margins. A native of Edmore, Michigan, where he grew up learning the sport from his grandfather, a Thoroughbred owner and breeder in the state's claiming ranks, he followed the exploits of his family's stable at Great Lakes Downs and Mount Pleasant Meadows. Mr. Nevills has been with the Thoroughbred Times since August 2011 and will tell us about his journey into horse racing. In the second segment Katie Mikolay who is the racing analyst at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the second year, will help our host handicap the $175,000 Grade III LeCompte, the $100,000 Grade III Col. E.R. Bradley Hcp., the $125,000 Silverbulletday all at Fair Grounds, and the $150,000 Grade II Palos Verdes at Santa Anita.
Mr Nader is Asia’s representative (Vice Chairman) on the International Racing and Planning Advisory Committee, and also serves as Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation’s Asian Pattern Committee. He will share with us his journey into horse racing and how he got involved with thoroughbreds in the first place. Rich Nilsen has qualified 9 times for the National Handicapping Championship (NHC) and is the only player to finish in the top 10 twice in the history of the event. He will help our host handicap the Grade III Fort Lauderdale Stakes and the Grade III Hal's Hope, both from Gulfstream Park, the Grade II San Fernando Stakes from Santa Anita, and the California Derby from Golden Gate.
Jennie who just won the Eclipse Award for writing, has been a guest on this show before. For the last 28 years Jennie Rees has been associated with the Louisville Courrier-Journal as a turf writer. Prior to that, she had a stint of 2 years with the Rochester Times-Union as a sportswriter copy editor. Her insight on racing in general is very refreshing. Mike Penna first sat down behind a microphone in 2003 when he began co-hosting the popular Saturday morning “Equine Forum” talk show. In 2005, Mike and the late Pete Kules established the Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN). In addition to producing the “Equine Forum” every week, the duo started to travel to racetracks around the country, providing fans with live coverage of many of the nation’s biggest races. He will help our host handicap some of the stakes races to be run this week-end around the nation.
Ray Paulick was introduced to racing while working as editor and occasional ghostwriter for Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder in 1970s at Field Newspaper Syndicate, Chicago. He authored Sunday Silence biography, which was translated into Japanese, and currently writes a weekly column for Japan's Gallop magazine and a monthly column for Canadian Thoroughbred. He has attended major race meetings on six continents and 12 countries. His Paulick Report currently averages 40,000 unique visitors a month. In the second segment, award winning writer Jay Privman will be back as the guest handicapper. He will join the host in covering the Grade I Le Brea Stakes and the Eddie Logan Stakes from Santa Anita, and the Grade III Mr. Prospector Stakes from Gulfstream Park.
Ms. Novak has won many awards for writing such as the 2008 Louisville Metro Journalism Award for Sports Writing. While contributing to racing coverage for Hearst Publications’ Albany Times Union every summer at Saratoga Race Course since 2007, her work has been published in Louisville Magazine, Keeneland Magazine, Kentucky Derby Magazine, and Breeders’ Cup Magazine, among others. Claire will enlighten us about how she got into writing about the sport of kings, and share some of her most memorable moments as the youngest member on the Breeders' Cup notes team. Ed Meyer was the host of this show for almost 3 years since 2008, until he moved on from his Publicity Director job at River Downs to Keeneland, where he is currently Administrator of their Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) services. He will provide us with his expert picks as our host analyzes this weekend stakes races from around the country.
Gary West will tell us how he got started writing about the Sport of Kings, and will take us through his journey from a college teacher to turf writer. West has appeared as a racing commentator on ESPN and CNN, and hosted his own radio show. He was the President of the National Turf Writers Association 2005-2006. In the second half of the show Frank Angst will handicap with our host the major stakes races to be run over the weekend including the Cash Call Futurity (Grade 1) at Hollywood Park, the Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds and the Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel.
We are taking a trip to New Orleans for Louisiana Champions Day. Bob Fortus has been the Turf Writer for The Times-Picayune for over two decades. Bob who always tells it like it is, has developed a fantastic rapport with the trainers and jockeys at the Fair Grounds. His writing talents are not limited to the Crescent City. He covers the national racing scene, and in 2009 he was presented with the Old Hilltop Award for covering racing with excellence and distinction. The following season he won the 2010 New York Racing Association's Joe Hirsch Memorial writing contest recognizing the best print coverage of the Belmont Stakes. In the second segment, Daily Racing Form columnist Marcus Hersh will be our guest handicapper. He concentrates his efforts on the Fair Grounds and Chicago racing scene. Hersh has worked for the Daily Racing Form for over a decade and is the co-international correspondent and a Daily Racing Form features writer. He will help us muddle through the Louisiana Champions Day races to be run this week-end at the Fair Grounds.
Steve will tell us how he got into the Sport of Kings and will take us through his career from a national correspondent for the Daily Racing Form covering the Kentucky Derby, to his current post as a senior editor at the helm of The Blood-Horse thoroughbred magazine. Bobby Newman will join the host in the second half of the show, and together they will handicap among other races the Grade III Native Diver from Hollywood Park and the Claiming Crown Jewel at Fair Grounds.
Ms. Jennie Rees is with the Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky. An award winning writer, she is considered one of the best racing journalists in the buisiness. She will cover who looks good, and what is going on behind the scenes of the 2011 Breeders' Cup. Brad Free, Daily Racing Form handicapper and columnist based in Southern California, will join in to help segregate the contenders from the pretenders. Also for a trifecta, we will have Marty Mcgee who covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form, weigh in with his predictions in this year's Breeders Cup two days extravaganza to be run at Churchill Downs on Friday & Saturday, Nov. 4th & 5th.
Paul Moran will tell us about how he got involved with horse racing and how his love for the game took him on a journey from writing about thoroughbreds to owning and racing them. He will reminisce with our host about his most memorable big races he has covered through a long career as writer for virtually every racing publication. John Asher will join in the second segment of the show to help us with handicapping most of the major stakes races to be run over the week-end.
Lenny Shulman is a writer and racing analyst for the Blood-Horse magazine who covered this year's Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs. He will give us first hand account of what happened on Friday and Saturday Nov. 4th and 5th. He will recap for us the winners and losers, and what impact those results will have on the different Awards categories. Ralph Siraco is a former track announcer who turned turf writer. He currently hosts the racing broadcast Race Day Las Vegas. He will tell us how he got involved in horse racing and a little about the journey that took him to Race Day Las Vegas.
Ms. Jennie Rees is with the Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky. An award winning writer, she is considered one of the best racing journalists in the buisiness. She will cover who looks good, and what is going on behind the scenes of the 2011 Breeders' Cup. Brad Free, Daily Racing Form handicapper and columnist based in Southern California, will join in to help segregate the contenders from the pretenders. Also for a trifecta, we will have Marty Mcgee who covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form, weigh in with his predictions in this year's Breeders Cup two days extravaganza to be run at Churchill Downs on Friday & Saturday, Nov. 4th & 5th.
Terry Wallace will reminisce on a career in race calling at Oaklawn that spanned almost four decades. He has been called the most recognizable voice in Arkansas, and will be receiving the Mr. Fitz Award this year. Ed Derosa will shed some light on this weekend stakes races to be run around the country, and will share his thoughts on the upcoming Breeders' Cup to be run on Friday 4th, and Saturday 5th of November at Churchill Downs.
Jeff Johnston will take us to a journey into his racing career, and tell us about how he got into racing in the first place. He will cover his current job and explain his current responsibilities with the Jockeys Guild. Jeremy Plonk will handicap all the major stakes races to be run this weekend around the country, and will talk about the main contenders in this year's Breeders' Cup major races which are to be held at Churchill Downs Nov. 4th and 5th.
Elliott who is a third generation horseman from a noted Kentucky family entrenched in thoroughbred breeding and racing, will talk about how he got involved with thoroughbred racing and the highs and lows of his career. John McDulin who writes for the Daily Racing Form, will handicap for us all the stakes races to be run this week-end.
Julie Balog who is currently Director of Communications at the Keeneland Association, will tell us what her job is about and shed some light on her responsibilities as Keeneland's media relations' head. Dan Kenny who is a handicapper, bloodstock agent, and a writer will talk to us on how he got involved with horse racing, and help us handicap this week-end's major stakes races from around the country.
Bill Finley is a veteran freelance writer for the New York Metropoltian newspapers and radio host. He will talk about the state of horse racing in general and the advent of slots and casino gaming at racetracks across the country. Rich Nilsen has qualified many times for the National Handicapping Championship and will help us with some insight into all the major Stakes races from around the country to be run over the weekend.
Mr. Corey Johnsen, track President at Kentucky Downs will talk about the payoff snafu that took place this past Saturday on their seventh race at Kentucky Downs. Corey Johnsen said he understands the frustration of bettors who had the correct top four in the superfecta but could not cash their tickets. But he said the payoffs after the race was made official by the stewards, stands under Kentucky’s pari-mutuel racing rules. We’re going to stick by the rule and follow it, he said. It was unfortunate, and we apologize. Mr. Mike Watchmaker will bring us some insight on some of the major Stakes races to be run this weekend around the country.
Frank Mitchell will talk about the breeding industry and give us some insight into the yearlings and 2year-olds sales with the Keeneland Sales just concluding. He is an author of several important books on thoroughbred breeding and is a private consultant to breeders and owners. Tom LaMarra will help us get a winning edge into this weekend's major stakes races across the country.
. Daryl Parker will talk about how he got involved with horses and how he encouraged his son to become a jockey. He will tell us about this game he called Rescue he used to play with his son DeShawn at age 5 or 6. Daryl Parker eventually became the first black Racing Official in the U.S. Ed Meyer, former host of Winningponies.com's radio show, is an avid tournament player, and an expert handicapper. With our host, he will handicap some of this weekend's main stakes races from around the country.
Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends Equine Retirement Farm in Gorgetown KY, will talk about Old Friends as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. He said when news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002, the discovery gave even more impetus to our organization. We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds, noted President and founder Michael Blowen. We knew such a death must never happen again. And so the plan became to bring at risk racehorses--those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end--to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve, and open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need. Richard Eng, author of Handicapping for Dummies and writer for Las Vegas Review Jounal and Daily Racing Form, will handicap the week-end major Stakes races around the country.
Mr. Mac McBride, Director of Media Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, will paint an image of this storied track past, present and future and review the tremendous weekend of racing they have lined up, highlighted by the Pacific Classic. Jay Privman, an award-winning correspondant for The Daily Racing Form is currently the host of the Thoroughbred Loas Angeles Radio Show. Jay will discuss his career in racing and handicap the top races across the country including the Travers Stakes and Pacific Classic.
Pat is a breast cancer survivor and donates much of her time in fundraising efforts for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. John will have us get up-to-speed to what Pat has been up-to lately. Andy Serling will share stories of his Saratoga youth, his relationship with Harvey Pack and will handicap the stakes races of the weekend.
Dan Collins who manages Bona Venture Stables, is a life-long racing enthusiast who once spent a summer covering the horse racing scene for The Saratogian newspaper in Saratoga Springs, NY. In 1996, Mr. Collins became involved in his first racing syndicate and began learning about pedigrees, conformation and the sales process. He purchased his first thoroughbred in 1999 and formed Bona Venture Stables in 2005. Bona Venture Stables LLC is a horse racing organization dedicated to providing the average investor an opportunity for ownership in a major league sports franchise – thoroughbred horse racing! Today, there are about 40 individuals who are involved in individual ownership of a thoroughbred race horse through Bona Venture Stables. They maintain an active stable of between 8 to 15 thoroughbreds racing, and breeding primarily in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida. They take a unique approach to ownership by actively engaging their members in a social atmosphere in addition to their participation as team members.
Retired jockey Chris McCarron will be the first guest on Winning Ponies this Thursday. Winner of the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1974 and the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in ’80, McCarron led North America by races won three times and by money won four times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. Not one to rest on his laurels, he founded the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. Chris is a wealth of knowledge of the sport on so many levels and his enthusiasm is infectious. Our guest handicapper this week will be Tom Law the Managing Editor of the Thoroughbred Times. Tom is also the President of the National Turf Writers Association and was recognized for his outstanding writing abilities when he received the prestigious Red Smith Award. Tom hails from Saratoga, New York and will be able to bring a personal perspective to racing at one of the most unique racetracks steeped in history and beauty.
For those of you who do not recognize the name, Andy is one of the greatest minds in the thoroughbred racing industry. While attending Harvard in the 1960s, he decided to pursue his passion -- beating the horse races. Over the past four decades, his research and insights have revolutionized and legitimized the industry. Using his math skills, Mr. Beyer created a new way to rate the speed of a horse in a race. The formula he created, known as the Beyer Figures, has allowed horse enthusiasts around the world to better gauge how well a horse ran in previous races and from this information, deduce the potential speed of the horse in future races. In a sense, they are like momentum ratings in our industry.
Graham Motion: Born on May 22, 1964, in Cambridge, England, Mr. Motion's father Michael was internationally recognized as the representative for Tattersalls, the British sales company. So he was around horses early in his life, accompanying his father to the sales. Mr. Motion worked for Jonathan Sheppard from 1985-90, briefly for Jonathan Pease in France, and Bernie Bond after his return to the United States in 1991. Mr. Motion notched his first training victory with Bounding Daisy at Laurel Park in 1993. He won his first career Grade I winner when Film Maker won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on October 11, 2003. He won his first Breeders' Cup race with Better Talk Now who was victorious in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Lone Star Park in 2004.
Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt a friend to this show, will handicap with the host some of this weekend's major stakes races around the country.
Since the New Kent County track opened in 1997, the Virginia native, now 58, has been the top trainer seven of the 12 seasons. Last summer, he saddled a single-season record 30 winners, according to official records. In all, he has saddled 201 winners at Colonial Downs. “These years at Colonial Downs have been awesome for me,” said Allen, whose main training operation is in Maryland. “I shake my head and wonder why I have done so well.” Ferris Allen’s passion for horses goes back to his childhood years at Warwick Stable, his father’s horse farm in eastern Henrico County’s Varina area. “I was galloping horses at 11 and riding in races at 13,” Allen recalled. “As I have said many times, if I wanted to be around my dad when I was a kid, I had to be around horses. We had a good father-son relationship. But that doesn’t mean he was easy on me.” His father is Albert Ferris Allen Jr., whom everybody calls Bert. A fixture at the same table in Colonial Downs’ Turf Club when the horses are running, Bert Allen has missed just five racing days in 12 years. After graduating from The College of William & Mary, where he played baseball, Ferris Allen returned home to teach government and coach baseball at Varina High School. At the same time, he was training horses for Bert and running them at Charles Town in West Virginia. “Ferris would van the horses home from Charles Town late at night,” Bert said. “I would put ’em to bed, because he had to go to school the next morning.” Three years of being a high school teacher and a horse trainer nearly wore Ferris out, so he quit his teaching job to condition racehorses full time. It turned out to be a good move. During his 35-year career, Ferris Allen has saddled more than 1,700 winners at racetracks from Delaware to Florida.
Jon Kenton Court was born November 23, 1960 in Gainesville, Florida. Having grown up in Florida, Jon Court began riding in Colorado at the now closed Centennial Park in 1980. He rode in Louisiana for 12 years before moving to Kentucky and Indiana in 1995 where he was a top rider at Hoosier Park from 1996 to 1998. In 1999, he gained his 2,000th win at Kentucky Downs. In 2001, he rode Percy Hope in the Lone Star Derby, winning, and in the Preakness Stakes, placing 9th. He holds the record for most wins by a jockey (2) in the Lone Star Derby. In 2003, was his big break when he won the Japan Cup Dirt on Fleetstreet Dancer.
Midwest trainer Mike Nance “blames” his family for his successful 25-year career in horse racing. But it wasn’t because they bought him a pony. One of the favorite weekend destinations of the Nance family was an afternoon at Ellis Park Racetrack, so the seed was firmly planted in young Michael. By the ripe age of five, the Evansville, Ind. native was fairly adept at interpreting the racing form. The racetrack was his heaven, and he loved every minute of it. When he was 8-years old, Nance was hopping on city buses by himself to catch Ellis’ weekend cards. Instead of “playing baseball as I told my Mom,” he was armed with a pocket full of money earned from doing odd jobs and ready for a run to the track. “Of course I couldn’t bet (legally),” recalls Nance. But I hung around with these old guys who’d place bets for me. I’d have five dollars, and if I didn’t win, I was out for the day.” He won more often than not, and the races, the horses, and the excitement were in his blood. Horse racing remained a constant interest, but it was in his sophomore year of high school that Busler’s Training Center in Evansville placed an ad for summer maintenance staff. “I saw there were horses involved,” recalls Nance “and I applied immediately and got the job.” After a month of mowing lawns and anything else required, he asked owner, Randall Busler if he could work with the horses. Busler saw the young man’s passion, and placed him under the wing of resident trainer Jim Tulley. Much to Mike’s delight he was promoted to cleaning stalls and within a couple of weeks, was given a horse named Great Republic to hot-walk. A year later, this horse would turn out to be his first to gallop. In the interim, Tulley sent Nance on a race day trip to Ellis Park as a groom with Not’s Mistake. From then on, the die was cast. Busler’s proved to be the equivalent of a high school education for Nance. “My books are still in the locker!” he states, as if that’s impeded his career.
Anthony W. Tony Dutrow (born April 27, 1958 in Hagerstown, Maryland) is the eldest of three brothers involved in Thoroughbred racing. He is the son of the late well-known Maryland trainer Richard E. Dutrow, Sr. A brother to trainer Rick Dutrow, the youngest brother Chip works as Tony's assistant. Tony Dutrow grew up in the racing business, and as a boy helped out at his father's barn. Having learned to condition horses, he took out his training license and earned his first win in 1975 at Delaware Park Racetrack. He worked with his father for several years, then beginning in 1985 with trainer Bobby Frankel in California until going out on his own in 1987. Tony Dutrow won his 1,000th career race October 18, 2007 at Belmont Park with Zayat Stables' New York-bred La Ransom.
W. Bret Calhoun (born May 12, 1964 in Dallas, Texas) is the son of a school teacher who also owned and trained horses. Mr. Calhoun attended Texas Tech University but left before graduating. He began his professional training career in 1993 and earned his first win on April 1, 1994. He has competed regularly at Louisiana Downs and Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana and in Texas at Sam Houston Race Park, Remington Park, and Lone Star Park. In Kentucky in 2008, Calhoun won the Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Grade I Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland Race Course with Mr. Nightlinger. In 2008, Bret Calhoun finished fourth in total wins for the year among all trainers in the United States. His horses won 228 races and earned $5,226,163.
Mr. Picklesimer, who has been many times on this show, this week he will be Tyler Picklesimer Director of Racing at Colonial Downs. He will talk with our host about the meet, and the upcoming Virginia Derby. Tyler is up and coming in the industry, and has been sought after by all the big tracks. Rosemary Homeister is closing in on being the second all-time leading woman rider. Homeister, one of Tampa Bay Downs' top riders, has won an Eclipse Award and ridden in a Kentucky Derby. Today, the 38-year-old Hollywood, Fla., native recalls that she got the itch to be a jockey at tender age of 2.
Kelly Breen is one of the leading trainers in the horse racing business, as well as the trainer for Kentucky Derby hopeful Pants on Fire. Pants on Fire took home the Louisiana Derby this year, besting Mucho Macho Man, Nehro, and other top horses. He will be stopping by the show this week to discuss his recent success with Pants on Fire. Additionally, he will talk about the challenges and necessities in preparing a horse for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.
Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt a friend to this show, will handicap with the host the 143rd Belmont Stakes card, and together they will take a crack at the $1 million guaranteed Pick-4.
Kenneally Racing Stable, managed by trainer Eddie Kenneally, operates from Churchill Downs and Keeneland in the spring and summer, racing in Kentucky and in the Chicago area at Hawthorne, Sportsman's Park, and Arlington, and in Louisiana at Fair Grounds in the winter. Eddie is from County Waterford, Ireland. He grew up with horses, learned the basics, and worked his way up, following a path that allowed him to learn from some of the most respected names in racing. Horse racing is in the Kenneally family. Eddie's Uncle, John Kenneally, finished second on a horse called Purple Silk in the Aintree Grand National in 1964. He led the race until after the final fence and was beaten only by a nose! Eddie's brother, Johnny Kenneally, runs Erinvale Thoroughbreds, one of the largest consignors of yearlings in Australia. Eddie came to the U.S. in 1987, and went to work for trainer Rusty Arnold. He saw much of the country working as assistant trainer for Tom Skiffington in New York, California, and Florida, and then for Niall O'Callaghan. After these apprenticeships, Eddie trained for Xalapa Farm in Paris, KY. He later became the private trainer for Jack Kent Cooke's Elmendorf Farm. In 1996, Eddie began offering his training services to the public.
Albertrani was born March 21, 1958 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and now resides in Garden City, N.Y. He first went to work walking hots and grooming horses for his uncle, trainer Jack Abatemarco. He started learning the basics with his uncle and eventually went on to become a jockey. The family moved from Brooklyn to Valley Stream when Albertrani was 10. In order to begin riding sooner before he grew too big, Albertrani took part in an accelerated program at Valley Stream High School on Long Island and completed his course work early in 1976. Broke in as an apprentice in New York and New Jersey at the age of 19, but was still busy in the morning working as an exercise rider. “I was kind of doing both. I was galloping horses and picking up a mount here and there. Then he began working for trainer Mark Casse, first as an exercise rider/jockey and then as assistant trainer. He was introduced to trainer Bill Mott through Casse and had the opportunity to gallop top fillies Heatherten and Sefa's Beauty . He stayed in New York to work for Mott when Casse decided to relocate to Kentucky. He then spent nine years as Mott’s top New York assistant. During that time, Mott developed champions Theatrical and Paradise Creek and Cigar emerged as a superstar. Among the other trainers Albertrani worked for were Howie Tesher and Norman Casse, and Hall of Famers P.G. Johnson, Jack Van Berg and LeRoy Jolley. In 1995, he was hired by Godolphin Racing and moved his family to Dubai, where he was a top assistant with the main Godolphin string of trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Albertrani had been introduced to members of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation because Mott handled a few of their horses. Albertrani and his family moved to Dubai two days after Cigar won the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park. In 2003, Albertrani began training in New York full-time with 10 horses for Darley, all owned by members of the Maktoum royal family of Dubai, and in Oct. 2005, he opened a public stable for the first time with the permission of Darley to take on some outside clients.
Dangerous Dan will again join our host Ed Meyer in handicapping the entire cards for the Black-eyed Susan and the 136th Preakness Stakes to be run respectively this Friday and Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom will be shipping there the day of the race, on his quest to become the next Triple Crown Winner. Needless to say that Dangerous Dan put in a strong endorsement for Animal Kingdom on our Derby show. We hope that some of our listeners took heed and made a few bucks.
Jesus Lopez Castanon was born on 3/4/73 in Mexico City, and currently lives in Kentucky, KY. Jesus Became involved in racing at an early age, as his dad was a trainer in Mexico and his brothers, Tony, and Jose were jockeys also in Mexico. His first winner was She's The World at Aqua Caliente on 4/21/89. Mr. Castanon always said: My role models are my brother Tony and (Hall of Famer) Lafitt Pincay, Jr. Jesus's favorite hobbies are golf and soccer. Jesus Castanon rode Shackleford for Dale Romans to finish 4th in the 137th Kentucky Derby. He will share that experience with us, and give us an insight on the future of Shackleford. Join us as our host will takes us through that very unpredicted Derby outcome, trying to sort out that race.
Dangerous Dan will join our host Ed Meyer in handicapping the entire cards for the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, to be run respectively this Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs. The weather may be a factor as rain is in store for both days.
Calling in for Eddie Castro will be his agent Mike Gonzalez. Eddie Castro is not fluent in English and his agent does all the interviews for him.
Eddie Castro (born 4/10/1985 in Panama) grew up on a produce farm there where he learned to ride saddle horses at an early age. Influenced by the accomplishments of other local jockeys, Castro attended the Panamanian Jockey School and began riding in races in December 2002. In just over three months he rode thirty-six winners in Panama then decided to move to the United States where he debuted on April 16, 2003 at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Although his fellow apprentice jockeys had more a three-and-a-half month head start, Castro wrapped up the year as the winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. On June 4, 2005 at Calder Race Course, Eddie Castro set an American record with nine wins on a single race card and on November 15, 2006 at Churchill Downs won his 1,000th race. That year, he rode Miesque's Approval to victory in the Sunshine Millions Turf and the Breeders' Cup Mile.
William Jinks Fires (born: 07/23/1940 in Rivervale, AR), is the second eldest of the popular racing family. Of the nine boys and two girl in the Fires family, eight boys, at one time or the other, worked in the business with the most widely known being Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires. Another brother, Bucky, was a popular outrider in New York and Chicago as well as Hot Springs. Always among the leaders at Oaklawn Park, Mr. Fires enters the 2011 season with a deep stable headed by several promising 3-year-olds. Chief among the group of sophomores are $250,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) and $1million Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Archarcharch, owned by longtime client Bob Yagos and Patricia Blass’ Bluegrass Bull, third in the Smarty Jones. Fires has trained for Patricia and Gus Buddy Blass and their colorful line of “Shoe” horses for more than 30 years. Keeping things in the family, the regular rider for Archarcharch is Fires’ son-in-law jockey Jon Court.
Kelly Breen is one of the leading trainers in the horse racing business, as well as the trainer for Kentucky Derby hopeful Pants on Fire. Pants on Fire took home the Louisiana Derby this year, besting Mucho Macho Man, Nehro, and other top horses. He will be stopping by the show this week to discuss his recent success with Pants on Fire. Additionally, he will talk about the challenges and necessities in preparing a horse for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.
Kelly Breen is also the trainer for Ruler on Ice, Nacho Saint, Nacho Business, Sleepless Knight, among other horses. He is currently the private trainer for Lori and George Hall, and has been since 2007. His earnings so far this year are over $1.2M with an 18% win percentage and 42% in the money. He is based out of Monmouth Park, NJ and led the track in wins in 2005 and 2006.
The son of former jockey-turned-trainer Robert Leparoux, he grew up around racing in Chantilly, France, and rode competitive hunter/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at 18. He said I knew I wanted to be a jockey from the time I was five. Mr. Leparoux came to Southern California in January of 2003 to work as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone. As Leparoux’s riding talents became evident, Biancone made Leparoux his first-call rider. His career was launched at Saratoga in 2005. Julien attempted a move to Southern California at the end of 2007, but wound up switching his tack to Louisiana in January of 2008, riding primarily in Kentucky and New York for the rest of the 2008 season. Dangerous Dan will also join our host to handicap this weekend's big stakes races around the country.
Ben Huffman, the Racing Secretary at Keeneland, will discuss this year's spring meeting which opens this Friday, April 8th. Previous to beginning his career in the racing office management, Mr. Huffman attended Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville and was an assistant to his father for three years.
Mr. Mcgee covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form. This week Mr. Mcgee will be talking about the opening of the spring Keeneland meeting, and the latest events leading to this year's Kentucky Derby.
Alex O. Solis (born March 25, 1964 in Panama City, Panama) is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California. He got his big break and his first gained national prominence when he won the 1986 Preakness Stakes with Snow Chief. In 2002, he was inducted in the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame. Solis won two Breeders' Cup races in 2003 with Johar (who finished in a dead heat) in the Breeders' Cup Turf and aboard Pleasantly Perfect in the Classic, both trained by Richard Mandella. Also finished second aboard Mandella-trained Minister Eric in the Juvenile that year at Santa Anita Park. He ended the year ranked fourth nationally in purse earnings with a career-best $16,304,252. Alex Solis finished second in the Kentucky Derby three out of four years with Captain Bodgit in 1997, Victory Gallop in 1998 and Aptitude in 2000.
Twenty-three-year-old sensation Rosie Napravnik concluded the 139th Thoroughbred Racing Season at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as the meet’s leading jockey with 110 wins, becoming the first woman to clinch a riding title at the New Orleans oval. Napravnik was honored in the winner’s circle following Race 7 on Sunday’s Closing Day program, one day after she made history as the first female to win the Louisiana Derby with an agile ride aboard Pants On Fire, who was named Fair Grounds’ Horse of the Meet. Napravnik won 13 stakes races on the season, topped by her biggest career victory in the city’s first $1 million race, the Louisiana Derby. “That was an unbelievable feeling,” she said. “You know, it wasn’t really expected. When I came across the wire I thought to myself, ‘Well, wait, this is the Derby, right? Did I just win the Derby?’” Napravnik, who finished 31 wins ahead of second-leading jockey Shaun Bridgmohan (79 wins), indicated she will ride next at Keeneland’s Spring Racing Season, April 8-29, before heading to Delaware Park, where she dominated the standings last year.
Robert N. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP) Board. He also serves on the Thoroughbred Racing Association Elliston, his wife Sharon, a Northern Kentucky attorney, and their two daughters, Abby and Haley, live in Florence, Kentucky. He will dissect with our host the upcoming Vinery Racing Spiral at Turfway Park. Dangerous Dan will also join in to offer his selections on all the major week-end races leading on the road of the Kentucky Derby.
Born Aug. 21, 1981 in Cincinnati, Ohio, McKee now lives in Louisville with his wife and stepson. John's father, David, had been a jockey in the late 1970s and early '80s. When I saw his win pictures, McKee told Maryjean Wall of the Lexington Herald-Leader about his father, it was something that I always wanted to do after that. His father had known Eddie Campbell from his riding days and he suggested that his son approach Campbell to ask him to work with him. Campbell had been Steve Cauthen's first agent and was involved with the early development of veteran rider Earlie Fires. Campbell worked with McKee for almost a year before he thought McKee was ready to ride. He insisted that McKee get a lot of practice in the starting gate and be proficient at switching the whip from one hand to the other before he would give the youngster the green light. He lined up work in the mornings for McKee to exercise horses. By March, he decided McKee was ready. McKee got off to a fast start as a jockey. The now-28-year-old Ohioan, who began riding on March 15, 2002, topped the jockeys' standings at two racetracks and finished second at another before the year ended. McKee followed Pat Day's career when he was a youngster and the two later became good friends. He's set a lot of examples for me, he said several months prior to Day's retirement. I try to copy him and be the person and the jockey he is now. There's so much to learn from somebody like him. Steve Rieser is now McKee's agent.
Born in Iowa on Sept. 7, 1975, Greta was the second of three children to Dr. Doug Kuntzweiler and his wife, Ann. When Greta was 9, her family moved to Montana, where, she said, she had a happy childhood. Greta always had a love for horses, and she was riding by age 3 or 4, Ann Kuntzweiler said recently from San Francisco, where her other daughter, Erin, lives. She was just infatuated with them. When we moved to Montana she finally had her own horse, and that started her on the road to her lifelong dream. She eventually got a job galloping horses on a farm in LaGrange, Ky. Her career in racing had begun. Kuntzweiler worked as an exercise rider for several years before riding in her first race at the 1999 Churchill Downs spring meet.
Patrick Alan Pat Day, born in Colorado, is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. Day also received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1985, given annually to a North American jockey who demonstrates the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. In 1995, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award for extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship. He officially retired from the saddle at age 51. The Colorado native started his career as a rodeo cowboy, but because of his height of 4'11 and weight of 100 lbs. was persuaded to become a jockey. This proved to be the perfect choice for him, as he will retire with 8,803 career victories, fourth on the all-time win list, and $297,941,912 in earnings, the most of any jockey ever so far. He also holds the record for earnings in Breeders' Cup races of $22,913,360 with 12 wins, second most of any jockey. He also has nine wins in Triple Crown races: the 1992 Kentucky Derby on Lil E. Tee, five victories in the Preakness, and three wins in the Belmont Stakes. Pat will reminisce with the host over his long and storied career, as he has said, Lil E Tee in the Derby stands out above all of them. Of all the race that I've been blessed with the opportunity to win, the thrill of winning them pales in comparison to the joy and fill of winning the Kentucky Derby. That race certainly is the cornerstone.
Richard E. Mandella (born November 5, 1950 in Altadena, California) is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and a member of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.
Mandella's father, a blacksmith, introduced him to horses at an early age and while still in high school, he began starting and training horses at a nearby ranch. He spent a year in New York as assistant to Lefty Nickerson and then took a job with Texas horseman Roger Braugh in 1974.
Two years later, Richard Mandella returned to California and opened his own stable. His wins began almost immediately with Bad 'n Big and continued with Phone Trick, Dare and Go, and Pleasantly Perfect. Between 1996 and 1998 Mandella won six straight million dollar races in Southern California with Dare and Go, Siphon, Gentlemen and Malek. Mandella has seen six of his horses run in the Kentucky Derby.
Mandella was inducted in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 2001 and in 2003 he had four winners in the Breeders' Cup: Pleasantly Perfect, Johar, Halfbridled, and Action This Day.
In 2006 Mandella wrote the introduction to Santa Anita Morning Rhapsody, by photographer-author Karen S. Davis, the first full-color art book documenting morning thoroughbred racetrack training. Most people who enjoy racing don't realize how special these early hours are, watching the relationship between horse and man, he wrote.
Richard Mandella lives in Bradbury, California with his wife Randi, son Gary (also a trainer) and daughter Andrea.
Mr. Engelhardt is the President of the Turf Publicists of America, and also currently the Publicity Director at River Downs.
Mr. McDulin writes for the Daily Racing Form. He also creates the charts for Equibase. He has called races, set the morning line at various tracks, held the role of Stakes Coordinator at two tracks, and worked on radio as a professional handicapper. This guy has practically done every job in racing.
They will be talking about racing as with every spring, we begin to prepare for the Triple Crown races.
Joe Bravo (born September 10, 1971 in Long Branch, New Jersey) is the son and grandson of jockeys. He began his professional career in Thoroughbred flat racing at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida during the latter part of 1988. According to his NTRA profile, Joe Bravo has dominated the New Jersey racing circuit since the early 1990s. He has won nine riding titles at Meadowlands Racetrack and thirteen at Monmouth Park. He got his big break in 1997 when he rode Formal Gold to his victories that year. Bravo has won the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes five times including three straight from 2004 through 2006. July 5, 2007 Bravo reached the 4,000-wins milestone. Joe makes his home in Eatontown, New Jersey and Aventura, Florida.
Shane Jude Sellers (born September 24, 1966 in Erath, Louisiana) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. At age eleven, he began working around horses and in 1983 rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs. Sellers won several national riding championships and was a leading rider at Arlington Park. Over his career, he rode in the Kentucky Derby 14 consecutive times, with his best finish a third with Wild Gale in 1993. The two took third again that year in the Belmont Stakes. He rode 29 thoroughbreds in the Breeders Cup races, with two wins in 1997 and 1998, however one of his most exciting wins had to be his ride of Skip Away over the great Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1996. During his career Shane Sellers won more than 4,000 races and earned purses worth more than $122 million.
Bill Troilo hails from Philadelphia, and has been a life long athlete. He has ridden professionally for many years, and has since hung up his tack. He now is the Assistant Racing Secretary at Indiana Downs, and also the fill-in State Steward. His ultimate goal is to be a full time Steward, and make his way into the management of racing. Mr. Troilo will talk about the day to day life of a rider, and his role now being on the other side of the game. He will be able to paint a full picture of the world of Thoroughbred racing. From his days as a Hall of Fame athlete, to working in every facet of racing, Troilo has been a colorful and respected player in the sport.
Joe Bravo (born September 10, 1971 in Long Branch, New Jersey) is the son and grandson of jockeys. He began his professional career in Thoroughbred flat racing at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida during the latter part of 1988. According to his NTRA profile, Joe Bravo has dominated the New Jersey racing circuit since the early 1990s. He has won nine riding titles at Meadowlands Racetrack and thirteen at Monmouth Park. He got his big break in 1997 when he rode Formal Gold to his victories that year. Bravo has won the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes five times including three straight from 2004 through 2006. July 5, 2007 Bravo reached the 4,000-wins milestone. Joe makes his home in Eatontown, New Jersey and Aventura, Florida.
Mike Maloney is one of the most respected professional gamblers in the country, and is on many panels to discuss and design programs for the betterment of racing. Mr. Maloney currently V.P. of the Horseplayers Association of North America (H.A.N.A), said the practice of past post betting is so persistent, he intentionally placed a small simulcast bet last spring at Keeneland for a race occurring in New Orleans. He immediately reported the snafu with the betting window and has since become a leading spokesman in the industry for ramping up betting security.
Mr. McDulin who writes for the Daily Racing Form, and holds the role of Stakes Coordinator at two racetracks, will discuss with the host some urgent racing issues, and will handicap this week-end's big races. He will also give us an early insight into the 3-year-old picture heading into the Kentucky Derby.
Randy Paul Romero was born December 22, 1957 in Erath, Louisiana, into a family involved with horses. His father Lloyd J. Romero was a Louisiana state trooper who trained American Quarter Horses and later, after a drunk driver crashed into his police car and permanently disabled him, he began training Thoroughbreds for flat racing. The 1978 movie Casey's Shadow is based on Lloyd Romero and his family. Randy was elected into the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame May 27, 2010.
In 1975 Randy Romero began his professional riding career at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, Louisiana. Nicknamed the Ragin' Cajun, in 1983 at Oaklawn Park racetrack in Arkansas Romero suffered a near career-ending injury when he received major burns to two-thirds of his body from a freak fire, that erupted while taking a sauna. He had rubbed himself down with alcohol and moved into the sauna in the jockey's room.
Randy Paul Romero was born December 22, 1957 in Erath, Louisiana, into a family involved with horses. His father Lloyd J. Romero was a Louisiana state trooper who trained American Quarter Horses and later, after a drunk driver crashed into his police car and permanently disabled him, he began training Thoroughbreds for flat racing. The 1978 movie Casey's Shadow is based on Lloyd Romero and his family. Randy was elected into the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame May 27, 2010.
In 1975 Randy Romero began his professional riding career at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, Louisiana. Nicknamed the Ragin' Cajun, in 1983 at Oaklawn Park racetrack in Arkansas Romero suffered a near career-ending injury when he received major burns to two-thirds of his body from a freak fire, that erupted while taking a sauna. He had rubbed himself down with alcohol and moved into the sauna in the jockey's room. As he did he accidentally broke a live light bulb that immediately ignited his entire body. After seven months of rehabilitation, he returned to compete at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, where he won his third of four riding titles and set a track record with 181 wins.
While Randy Romero met with great success as a jockey, the downside of his career was a number of racing-related injuries requiring more than twenty surgeries. He retired in July 1999 having ridden 4,285 winners, notably winning a number of important Grade I events, and multiple Breeders' cup events.
Mr. Brian Feldman, a driver from Mason, Ohio, who qualified online for the 2010 NHC, moved into eighth place on the tour with 8,073 points. He has qualified for the NHC twice before, finishing 14th in 2001 after winning the Turfway qualifier and competing again in 2007. Turfway is his home track. To qualify for the national championship and earn tour points, players enter contests at tracks around the country and online. Mr. Feldman will be talking to our host about the intricacies of playing on the NTRA tour.
Soon after graduating from high school, Mr. Margolis worked at Belmont Park, where he rubbed horses for eventual Hall of Fame trainer John Veitch. He also worked for Pat Byrne and Howie Tesher before joining Stanley Hough's outfit in the 1990s. He then traveled to Kentucky in 1997 as Hough's assistant, and went out on his own in the fall of 2000. Mr. Margolis won his first race on Sept. 15, 2000, with Her Great Affair at Turfway Park. Hough's primary owners, Robert and Bea Roberts, began dispersing their bloodstock in 2000, and in 2001 sent Steve some nice two-year-olds. Mr. Margolis earned his first graded stakes win with Baileys Edge in the 2003 Mr. Prospector Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park. He then won the 2003 Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) at Turfway Park with Cajun Beat, who became the trainer's first Breeders' Cup starter and winner, taking that year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at odds of nearly 23-1.
Chris Block grew up in the business with his parents, who have been involved in racing and breeding for about 40 years. My dad loved racing and ran a few down at Fairmount when I was a kid. I insisted he takes me every time he went. I loved the horses and the races. The more I went, I knew I'd get involved in racing. At one time Chris thought about being a jockey. He worked three summers as a groom for the Bill Mott stable in Illinois, Minnesota and Kentucky before taking out his trainer's license in 1989. He spent the following year training at the Kentucky Training Center, then brought six horses to Chicago and has trained there ever since. His stable size is about 40 horses and races at Chicago-area tracks Arlington Park and Hawthorne. His best horses to date: Ioya Two, winner of the 2001 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park as well as four other stakes; multiple stakes winner and million-dollar-plus earner Mystery Giver and Vacare, who provided him with his first grade 1 victory when she won Keeneland's 2006 running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Mr. Block is perenially a top five trainer at Arlington Park and his stable finished second in the standings there in 2008 with 32 victories.
This past August, Daven Turner managed to capture his second DRF/NTRA Keeneland Handicapping Challenge. Mr. Turner a Galloway, Ohio resident received $12,000 for his handicapping prowess and will now be headed to the Red Rock Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the National Handicapping Championship in January. Mr. Turner has qualified four times for DRF/NTRA contest and will be talking contests and handicapping with our host, which should be very informative on how to navigate the handicapping circuits.
Mr. Centeno started his career with horses at a very early age, his father being a jockey’s agent in Venezuela. Daniel began race riding in Venezuela in 1990, assembling a successful career that eventually took him to the United States in 2003, to Calder Race Course. Arriving at Tampa Bay Downs in 2004, by the second year, Centeno was second leading rider. The Gasparilla was Centeno's first American stakes win, whose major influences in the racing world are Eibar Coa and Ramon Dominguez, with whom he grew up in Venezuela. Both have gone on to become highly successful jockeys, and Centeno is quickly following in their hoof prints.
Wesley A. Ward (born March 3, 1968 in Selah, Washington) is a retired American Champion jockey and a current trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing. He grew up in the horse racing industry, being the son of trainer Dennis Ward. In 1984, Wesley Ward was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey following a season in which he won riding championships at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and the Meadowlands Racetrack and rode 335 winners. He went on to compete at racetracks in Italy, Malaysia and Singapore before his battles with weight gain led to retirement in 1989. Wesley Ward turned to training, first as an assistant to his father before going out on his own in 1993. He earned his first stakes win as a trainer in 1994 at Hollywood Park, winning the Cinema Handicap. Based in California, he also races at Gulfstream Park in Florida during the winter months.
Mr. Aiello previously the race caller at River Downs, has moved on to a bigger circuit and is now the voice of Hialeah Park and its Marketing and Publicity Director. He will talk to our host about his new job and will shed some insight into the upcoming Hialeah meeting which opens on December, 3rd.
Mr. Larry Jones of Eight Belles' fame was born to a commercial farming family in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Growing corn, tobacco and soybeans was their primary cultivated products. Apart from cultivation, Larry’s family used to raise cattle and hogs on their ranch. Larry gained experience in making horses gradually, which actually helped him in his present profession of horse riding. Larry Jones took out his trainer’s license in 1982 and posted his first win with Captain Bold at Ellis Park in 1986. Larry is well known as ‘the trainer with the cowboy hat’ but his popularity is somewhere else. His Hard Spun created much uproar in the 2007 US Triple Crown. Jones knocked at the door of the winning title twice during the 2007 Breeders’ Cup; his two starters, Hard Spun and Proud Spell finished second in their respective races, the Classic and the Juvenile fillies. At the beginning of the 2008 session, Larry Jones decided to move the place of his operation to Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Midlands, and later that year he made news again when his filly Eight Belles broke down after finishing 2nd to Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Larry Jones lives at Henderson near Ellis Park with his wife and four children. With his wife Jones looks after 20 horses. He stays at Oaklawn during winter and races at Delaware and Kentucky in other sessions.
Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Mr. Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP)Board. He will cover the upcoming meet, and discuss issues in Kentucky.
Al Stall Jr., (Blame's trainer) 49, has been involved with racing for most of his life. His father, Al Stall Sr., served on the Louisiana State Racing Commission for more than 25 years, including 18 as chairman. He also was a prominent horse owner and breeder.When Al Jr. was in high school at Newman, he would work with horses in the Fair Grounds barn of Frank Brothers, who trained Al Sr.’s horses and was the assistant in charge of trainer Jack Van Berg’s stable in New Orleans. When Al Jr. went on to LSU, he would work for Brothers at the Fair Grounds during Christmas holidays and at Louisiana Downs in the summer. Frankie (Brothers)let me have a stall in his barn,” Stall said. “Then he let me have two stalls in his barn. I think I left Arlington with about six horses.” At the Fair Grounds for the 1991-92 meet, he had about 15 horses. His stable steadily grew. Now, he’s training more than 50 horses for several owners.
Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Mr. Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP)Board. He will cover the upcoming meet, and discuss issues in Kentucky.
Al Stall Jr., (Blame's trainer) 49, has been involved with racing for most of his life. His father, Al Stall Sr., served on the Louisiana State Racing Commission for more than 25 years, including 18 as chairman. He also was a prominent horse owner and breeder.When Al Jr. was in high school at Newman, he would work with horses in the Fair Grounds barn of Frank Brothers, who trained Al Sr.’s horses and was the assistant in charge of trainer Jack Van Berg’s stable in New Orleans. When Al Jr. went on to LSU, he would work for Brothers at the Fair Grounds during Christmas holidays and at Louisiana Downs in the summer. Frankie (Brothers)let me have a stall in his barn,” Stall said. “Then he let me have two stalls in his barn. I think I left Arlington with about six horses.” At the Fair Grounds for the 1991-92 meet, he had about 15 horses. His stable steadily grew. Now, he’s training more than 50 horses for several owners.
The son of a trainer, Dale Romans grew up around horse racing at Churchill Downs. At age eighteen he embarked on a career as a trainer, getting his first winner on February 15, 1987 at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky. Among his most successful horses was Kitten's Joy. 2004 was his big break as Kitten's Joy was named American Champion Male Turf Horse honors and Roses in May provided him with the biggest payday of his career to date when he won the $6 million Dubai World Cup in 2005. He collected his first Breeders' Cup win in 2009 when Tapitsfly won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Mr. Engelhardt is the President of the Turf Publicists of America, and also currently the Publicity Director at River Downs. As last year, John and Ed will again go over all the Breeders' Cup card for both days.
Mr. Mcgee covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form. This week Mr. Mcgee will be talking about the closing of Keeneland, the opening of Churchill Downs, and the Breeders' Cup.
Based in California, Vietnam War veteran John Shirreffs began training Thoroughbreds in 1978. He has won a number of stakes races with his most important coming in the 2005 Kentucky Derby when Giacomo scored a major upset. In 2007, another Shirreffs-trained horse scored a major upset when Tiago, a half-brother to Giacomo (both out of the mare Set Them Free) won the Santa Anita Derby. He is also the trainer of champion Zenyatta, unbeaten in 19 career starts and winner of the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in 2008 and Breeders' Cup Classic in 2009.
In November 2009, Shirreffs became the first trainer to conquer both the Ladies' Classic and Classic in the same year, as Life Is Sweet romped home in the former and Zenyatta defeated males in the latter.
Shirreffs will be discussing super-mare Zenyatta and the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, where she will attempt to win her 20th straight race.
British-born Roger Attfield has made a name for himself as a first-rate trainer, based at Woodbine in Toronto. He has won an unprecedented six Sovereign Awards as Canada’s leading trainer, most recently in 2002. He’s won Canada’s Triple Crown three of the six times it’s been accomplished. And he has trained six Canadian Horse of the Years—Norcliffe, 1976; Play the King, 1988; With Approval, 1989; Izvestia, 1990; Peteski, 1993; and Alywow, 1994. He’s won Canada’s most prestigious race, the Queen’s Plate, six times.
From 1976 through June 1, 2008, Roger Attfield earned 1,467 wins and earnings of $67,954,827.
Ben Huffman, the Racing Secretary at Keeneland, will cover the final big weekend of stakes racing heading into the Breeders' Cup, and will cover the entire meet as well.
Previous to beginning his career in the racing office management, Huffman attended Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville and was an assistant to his father for three years.
Chad Brown, a Mechanicville, NY native, got into horses early at an upstate New York track. He was an understudy to Hall of Fame trainer Robert Frankel. In November 2007, Brown went out on his own. He picked up his first Breeders' Cup victory with a 2-year-old filly named Maram to win the inaugural $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by a nose at Santa Anita Park in 2008. Brown competed in his first Saratoga Race Course meet in 2008 and won with the very first horse he entered, Star Player, on opening day. Brown went on to win a total of 6 races during the 36 day meet. In 2010, he had a smoking hot meet at Saratoga, finishing 3rd in the trainer standings, with 17 winners saddled.
Anytime DeShawn Parker reflects on his success, he is quick to point out that his career might not have been possible were it not for his father, Darryl Parker. The elder Parker, has experienced virtually every facet of racing since 1964 and in '86 became the first African-American steward in racing history when he took up the position at Thistledown. DeShawn began riding races at age 17 while still in high school. His father told him he couldn't be a full-time jockey until he graduated from high school. He rode at River Downs, Thistledown, Detroit Race Course, Fairmount Park and Turfway Park in the early years of his career. He has ridden at Mountaineer since 1990. He points to his 1,000 career win aboard a horse named Melda Brown on July 28, 2000 as being his biggest thrill.
Date of Birth: January 8, 1971. Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio. Residence: East Liverpool, Ohio. Family: wife, Maria; sons, DeShawn, Jr. and Justus Anytime Parker reflects on his success, he is quick to point out that his career might not have been possible were it not for his father, Darryl Parker. The elder Parker, has experienced virtually every facet of racing since 1964 and in '86 became the first African-American steward in racing history when he took up the position at Thistledown. DeShawn began riding races at age 17 while still in high school. His father told him he couldn't be a full-time jockey until he graduated from high school. He rode at River Downs, Thistledown, Detroit Race Course, Fairmount Park and Turfway Park in the early years of his career. He has ridden at Mountaineer since 1990. He points to his 1,000 career win aboard a horse named Melda Brown on July 28, 2000 as being his biggest thrill.
Mr. Forbeck is Marketing Coordinator at Santa Anita, and Director of Communications and Marketing at Turfway Park. He has qualified for the NTRA finals in Vegas this year. Mr. Forbeck has done radio with the host in the past and will give a good perspective on what we should have done, and what needs to be done in racing, as someone who has been full circle from fan to intern to management and back to fan.
Mr. Jerardi is a regular contributor to the Daily Racing Form, a Daily News Sports Columnist, and one of the country's last sports reporters to cover racing. Dick Jerardi has been at the Daily News since 1985 as their lead college basketball and horse racing writer. He writes two columns per week during basketball season, and has covered 14 Final Fours, every Triple Crown race since 1987 and every Breeders' Cup race since 1986. Mr. Jerardi has covered events as varied as the Summer Olympics, the NBA Finals, American League playoffs, NFL playoffs and the Rose Bowl. He writes columns, features, game stories and takeouts on topics ranging from how the football betting line is formed to a portrait of the jockey who rode Secretariat.
Mr. Picklesimer, who has been many times on this show, this week will be Racing Secretary Tyler Picklesimer at Turfway Park. He works Turfway, and makes his way to Keeneland and Churchill. He will talk with our host about the upcoming meet there, and what is on the horizon for Kentucky for Instant Racing.
Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt a friend to this show, will talk about this weekend's big races for 2 yr-old colts and fillies, and will do some serious handicapping of both The Cradle and the Bassinet with the host.
Mr. McDulin who writes for the Daily Racing Form, and holds the role of Stakes Coordinator at two tracks, will discuss the upcoming changes for the state of Ohio as slot machines are coming, and he could give our listeners some behind the scene hints, from the racing office, with this being the end of Ohio racing for the season.
Patricia (also known as Patti or P.J.) Joen Cooksey (born February 25, 1958 in Youngstown, Ohio) is an American horse racing jockey. She first won with Turf Advisor at Waterford Park (now Mountaineer Park) in 1979. She is a four-time Turfway Park leading rider. Cooksey has won 2,137 wins since beginning her career in 1979. She was the all-time leading female jockey by number of victories before Julie Krone overtook her. In 2004, she became the first ever female jockey to be voted the NYRA's Mike Venezia Memorial Award, an honor given annually to a jockey who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.
Patricia now lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her daughter, Chelsea Neal. She is retired from racing and currently works for the Kentucky Racing Commission. In 2006, she was a horse-back riding reporter for ESPN's coverage of the 2006 Breeders Cup.
Our host will also go over the 141st running of the Travers Stakes to be run this Saturday, August 28, at Saratoga. Dating back to 1864, this one-and-a-quarter-mile Midsummer Derby for three year olds, a Grade 1 event, is the oldest major thoroughbred race in America -- not to mention one of the biggest events at Saratoga Springs.
Other Featured Races: • King’s Bishop (G1) $250,000 • The Ballerina (G1) $180,000
Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt a friend to this show, will talk about the industry in general, and will go over some serious handicapping with the host.
For those of you who do not recognize the name, Andy is one of the greatest minds in the thoroughbred racing industry. While attending Harvard in the 1960s, he decided to pursue his passion -- beating the horse races. Over the past four decades, his research and insights have revolutionized and legitimized the industry. Using his math skills, Mr. Beyer created a new way to rate the speed of a horse in a race. The formula he created, known as the Beyer Figures, has allowed horse enthusiasts around the world to better gauge how well a horse ran in previous races and from this information, deduce the potential speed of the horse in future races. In a sense, they are like momentum ratings in our industry.
In continuation of our previous segment, Winning Ponies' host Ed Meyer will go in details over how to use WP website efficiently, maximizing your winning returns at your favorite track. He will also do some handicapping on this weekend's major races across the country.
Eric Wing is the Senior Director of Media Relations for the NTRA. He is an avid horseplayer and has also dabbled in ownership. By far, his most successful wagers over the years have been future book bets -- both in racing and in sports. Prior to joining the NTRA in 1999, Mr. Wing worked for 13 years as an editor at Reader's Digest. His work experience thus far has supported the old adage that a bad day at the racetrack beats a good day anywhere else.
Mr. Mcgee covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits for the Daily Racing Form. This week Mr. Mcgee will talk Kentucky racing, and about the dropping of the Kentucky Cup at Turfway, and the Keeneland purse cuts.
Graham Motion: Born on May 22, 1964, in Cambridge, England, Mr. Motion's father Michael was internationally recognized as the representative for Tattersalls, the British sales company. So he was around horses early in his life, accompanying his father to the sales. Mr. Motion worked for Jonathan Sheppard from 1985-90, briefly for Jonathan Pease in France, and Bernie Bond after his return to the United States in 1991. Mr. Motion notched his first training victory with Bounding Daisy at Laurel Park in 1993. He won his first career Grade I winner when Film Maker won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on October 11, 2003. He won his first Breeders' Cup race with Better Talk Now who was victorious in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Lone Star Park in 2004.
Rosemary Homeister: Born on July 5, 1972, in Hollywood, FL, Homeister started her life with horses at a very early age, her mother Rosemary, is a trainer and her father was an exercise rider. “I just fell in love with it because my mother and father were at the races every day and working in the morning. I was always around the riders and the horses. I lived on a farm with my own horses so it was just in my blood growing up. Actually from when I was two, I knew that I wanted to be a jockey,” Homeister has said of her calling. Since then, Homeister has won more than 2,000 races at tracks in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to New York. Homeister is now the second leading female jockey of all time, behind only Julie Krone. She is one of only five female riders to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and says that it is a feat that she would like to repeat – “But next time I want to win!”
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Dr. Piehowicz has practiced veterinarian medicine for over 15 years. He has held many positions in racing, and was a trainer at one point in his career. Dr. Piehowicz is an advocate for racing safety, and a well respected member of his profession.
Bill hails from Philadelphia, and has been a life long athlete. He has ridden professionally for many years, and has since hung up his tack. He now is the Assistant Racing Secretary at Indiana Downs, and also the fill-in State Steward. His ultimate goal is to be a full time Steward, and make his way into the management of racing.
Mr. Troilo will talk about the day to day life of a rider, and his role now being on the other side of the game. He will be able to paint a full picture of the world of Thoroughbred racing. From his days as a Hall of Fame athlete, to working in every facet of racing, Troilo has been a colorful and respected player in the sport.
Bill hails from Philadelphia, and has been a life long athlete. He has ridden professionally for many years, and has since hung up his tack. He now is the Assistant Racing Secretary at Indiana Downs, and also the fill-in State Steward. His ultimate goal is to be a full time Steward, and make his way into the management of racing.
Mr. Troilo will talk about the day to day life of a rider, and his role now being on the other side of the game. He will be able to paint a full picture of the world of Thoroughbred racing. From his days as a Hall of Fame athlete, to working in every facet of racing, Troilo has been a colorful and respected player in the sport.
Mr. Picklesimer is the Director of Racing at Colonial Downs. Tyler oversees all things racing, and will talk about the meet, and how the runners are playing on the turf. This weekend is the running of the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup and Tyler will discuss the upcoming race with our host. Mr. Picklesimer is a fixture on the Kentucky circuit and well known throughout the industry.
Our host Ed Meyer will do an in-depth exploration of the wealth of information on WP site. He will dscuss the different features and what makes WP a totally different experience.
Pistol Pete Aiello will also call in to impart with some tips on upcoming races.
Mr. Summers writes for the Buffalo News and has covered many years of the Triple Crown trail. He writes a column called The Happy Handicapper. The focus of the show will beon the upcoming 142nd Belmont Stakes to be run this Saturday June 5th at Belmont Racetrack.
John Engelhardt, who has been many times on the show, will handicap with our host the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Mr. Cowans has conditioned some of the top runners in the state. He is highly respected among his peers, and it is only a matter of time before you will see him on the larger circuits. His win percentages at Ohio tracks are extremely high, and he is a versatile trainert who excels with young runners, turf horses, and bringing horses to his barn fresh off the claim. In every stake race he enters, you will see Cowans with a strong entry. In addition to being an excellent horseman, Mr. Cowans is an excellent spokesman for the industry, and is a supporter of safety for horses and riders in the sport.
Mr. Cowans is currently winning at 43%, and has a very strong stable to reckon with in the midwest.
Mr. McDulin is a chart caller for Equibase, and a columnist for the DRF. He has called races, worked as a stakes coordinator, and has always been a professional handicapper.
John will recap for us the Preakness, talk about wagering, and the racing industry in general.
Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt will talk about the upcoming Preakness Stakes to be run this Saturday at Pimlico, the industry in general and will go over the Triple Crown doings.
Mr. McDulin is a chart caller for Equibase, and a columnist for the DRF. He has called races, worked as a stakes coordinator, and has always been a professional handicapper.
Just this past weekend, he was one of the players who hit the Fortune - 6 at Beulah Park. It had a carry over of $1 million dollars.
We will recap the Derby, talk about wagering, and the racing industry in general.
Ms. Jennie Rees is with the Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky. Jennie is an award winning writer, and considered one of the best racing journalists in the buisiness.
She will cover who looks good, and what is going on behind the scenes of the 136th Kentucky Derby.
** Also, Dangerous Dan will be calling in to handicap the Oaks, and the entire Derby Day card.
Mr. Battaglia will talk about his experience as an announcer at Latonia, Turfway Park, Churchill Downs. He sets the morning line for many tracks, and is an analyst for NBC.
Mike has been publishing his selections for years, and is considered one of the best handicappers in the game.
And most importantly, Mr. Battaglia will also give us a breakdown on the Derby field, with a sneak peak into the odds for Derby 136.
Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt will talk about River Downs' 85th Anniverary, the industry in general and will go over the Triple Crown doings.
Alan Garcia was born 2 October 1985 in Lima, Peru.
Garcia was no stranger to the horse racing fraternity. His father and grandfather respectively were jockeys in Peru, and he started jockey school at the age of 14, and began riding professionally in 2002. In 2003, he was named the top novice jockey in Peru, where he won 48 races, before fellow jockey and companion, Alfredo Clemente, impressed with Garcia's riding skills, suggested he move to the United States.
2007 was to be a momentous year for Garcia. He had 235 wins from 1,439 mounts, and was victorious with his first Breeder' Cup mount, becoming the 3rd jockey to be 1-for-1 in Breeders' Cup mounts, dominating the 2007 Filly & Mare Turf aboard Lahudood. He was also the last jockey to steer 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide to victory in the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes in July 2007. And in December, he was graded 13th nationally, wrapping up his first successful year in New York.
In 2008, he performed his most notable feat, when he rode Da' Tara in the third leg of the Triple Crown in the 2008 Belmont Stakes, crowning him triumphant.
Alan Garcia was born 2 October 1985 in Lima, Peru.
Garcia was no stranger to the horse racing fraternity. His father and grandfather respectively were jockeys in Peru, and he started jockey school at the age of 14, and began riding professionally in 2002. In 2003, he was named the top novice jockey in Peru, where he won 48 races, before fellow jockey and companion, Alfredo Clemente, impressed with Garcia's riding skills, suggested he move to the United States.
2007 was to be a momentous year for Garcia. He had 235 wins from 1,439 mounts, and was victorious with his first Breeder' Cup mount, becoming the 3rd jockey to be 1-for-1 in Breeders' Cup mounts, dominating the 2007 Filly & Mare Turf aboard Lahudood. He was also the last jockey to steer 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide to victory in the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes in July 2007. And in December, he was graded 13th nationally, wrapping up his first successful year in New York.
In 2008, he performed his most notable feat, when he rode Da' Tara in the third leg of the Triple Crown in the 2008 Belmont Stakes, crowning him triumphant.
Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation.
An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Mr. Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP)Board. He also serves on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Mr. Elliston will talk about the upcoming $500,000 Lane's End Stakes, and the issues facing the industry.
DRF columnist and handicapper Marty McGee covers the Kentucky and Gulfstream circuits. He will break down last week's races, and talk about the sport as a whole.
Mr. McGee will bring good information about the upcoming weekend's races, and Derby Trail in general.
Marty is well known in the racing industry, and both his brother Paul and brother-in-law Ron Ellis who have been on our show, are competitive trainers in the game today.
Mr. Meyer and his guest will pool their handicapping talents to give out some winners for this week-end racing programs.
Mr. Engelhardt is the President of the Turf Publicists of America, and also currently the Publicity Director at River Downs. John and Ed have done radio and TV together for years, and on this show they will dissect last week's big races on the Derby Trail.
Mr. Meyer and his guest will pool their handicapping talents to give out some winners for this week-end racing programs.
Ramon began riding horses at age 16 in Venezuela, despite the strong disapproval of his father, who wanted him to become a doctor. At his father’s suggestion, he started to learn show jumping instead, but after about a year he slipped away to a nearby training center, where he began getting on racehorses. After about a week, his father found out and ended up “being very supportive.” Dominguez, however, had to promise to finish high school.
He came to the United States from his native Venezuela in 1995, and began riding in 1996 at Hialeah Park. First win was aboard Solo Moondance in March of that year.
More recently he won the 2009 Spring/Summer Belmont Park riding title with 98 wins, 27 more than Rajiv Maragh, also led the Saratoga standings with 45 wins, and was also the leading earner with $2,734,486. On October 2, he became only the fifth jockey in history to win 300 races in one year at New York's Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga. The other riders to accomplish the feat were Angel Cordero Jr., Steve Cauthen, Mike Smith and Eibar Coa.
Mr. Dominguez met his wife Sharon at Delaware Park, where she galloped horses in the mornings and ponied in the afternoons. They married the day after the 2001 Belmont Stakes, but delayed their honeymoon until January of 2002 because of the opportunity to win the national riding title.
Although leading rider at Delaware Park for 2004-2007, Ramon finally switched his tack permanently to New York in 2009.
Nicknamed “Giant Killer” (which he does not like) for the many upsets of champion horses Mr. Jerkens has orchestrated, and “Chief” for his remarkable horsemanship and knowledge. His given name is Harry.
Mr. Jerkens has been involved with horses his entire life. His father, Joseph, was a captain in the Austrian cavalry before emigrating to the United States. Mr. Jerkens was going to the barn with his father, who took care of H.T. Peters' polo ponies, hunters and jumpers, when he was a pre-schooler. Later his father bought a riding academy and would always fool around with an old racehorse. Mr. Jerkens wanted to be a jockey but grew too big. During the summer of 1945, at the age of 16, he galloped horses for trainer Steve Lawler at the old Aqueduct Racetrack. The following year, Mr. Jerkens tried steeplechase riding on horses his family owned. He did not return to school after he turned 16.
He and his father went into business together at Aqueduct. The Jerkenses started with five horses, some of which they acquired in a sheriff’s sale. Mr. Jerkens got his license in 1950 at the age of 21. An owner named Larry Gottlieb offered him some horses to train. Joseph Jerkens died in 1951.
His first winner was Populace at Aqueduct on July 4, 1950. In 1975 at the age of 45, Mr. Jerkens became the youngest trainer elected to the Hall of Fame of the National Museum of Racing.
Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey, has been a racing fan since the mid-1970s. He graduated from Rutgers University, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually landed at Daily Racing Form.
He and his wife, Karen, moved to Lexington, Ky. in 1994, and have been there since. Mr. LaMarra has been news editor of The Blood-Horse magazine for more than 10 years. He frequents local racetracks, particularly River Downs and Turfway Park in the Cincinnati area.
Born on Dec. 2, 1940 in Ashwell England, near Newmarket, the son of a 40 year British racing official, Mr. Sheppard attended Eton College before arriving in America in 1961. One of the first people he met, was legendary steeplechase trainer Burley Cocks. For the next nine months, Mr. Sheppard worked at Cocks' farm in Unionville, Pa. After a brief return to England, he spent the next two years riding races for Cocks, and may have won on about 25 of 250 rides. Mr. Sheppard then turned to training, and soon had a string of six horses.
One of his initial clients was Mr. George Strawbridge Jr., owner of Augustin Stable, and one of steeplechasing's most successful owners. They have been together for 43 years. Mr. Sheppard has enjoyed great success both with flat and steeplechase runners and is one of only two trainers (the other being Hall of Famer Sidney Watters Jr.) to be able to do so.
Mr. Hennig got his start in horse racing while working for his father, trainer John Hennig. While attending Grove City High School, he worked before and after school helping at the barn. He graduated from high school in 1982, and studied veterinary medicine at The Ohio State University. During the summers he returned to horse racing, and went to Saratoga with trainer Neil Howard in 1984.
He then went to work for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg in Southern California in May 1987 at age 22. Hired by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in September 1987, he became his assistant in New York for two years, and was thereafter entrusted with his own division at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Gulfstream Park and various other racetracks.
In 1995 he moved his stable to New York, and began training horses for Edward Evans, but have since split.
Ben is a red-hot bug rider at Turfway Park. He is a graduate of the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky for Chris McCarron.
Mr. Creed won his first race at Indiana Downs this summer, and even though he is an apprentice, he won the Turfway Park fall riding championship
Mr. McLaughlin currently has a barn of just over 120 horses. He was introduced to racing through his friendship with trainer James Burchell's son, Greg. He worked for the Lukas operation until February of 1992 to become the agent for jockey Chris Antley until November of 1993 when he started training for Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum in Dubai.
Early on he had worked for trainers James Burchell, John Hennig, Mark Casse, Dave Kassen and Tim Muckler before joining the D. Wayne Lukas stable at age 24.
His large stable doesn’t leave Mr. McLaughlin with much time for hobbies, but he does manage to get some poker playing in now and then. McLaughlin nearly made it through Day 2 of the main event of the 2007 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Mr. McLaughlin currently has a barn of just over 120 horses. He was introduced to racing through his friendship with trainer James Burchell's son, Greg. He worked for the Lukas operation until February of 1992 to become the agent for jockey Chris Antley until November of 1993 when he started training for Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum in Dubai.
Early on he had worked for trainers James Burchell, John Hennig, Mark Casse, Dave Kassen and Tim Muckler before joining the D. Wayne Lukas stable at age 24.
His large stable doesn’t leave Mr. McLaughlin with much time for hobbies, but he does manage to get some poker playing in now and then. McLaughlin nearly made it through Day 2 of the main event of the 2007 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Calvin has enjoyed a career best year in 2009 capped by victories in the Kentucky Derby, his second, aboard Mine That Bird and the Preakness Stakes aboard sensational filly Rachel Alexandra. He missed capturing a personal Triple Crown when Mine That Bird finished third in the Belmont Stakes.
Borel turned heads when he gave up the mount on Mine That Bird and a chance at the Triple Crown to ride Rachel in the Preakness ... Mine That Bird finished second in the Preakness with Mike Smith aboard.
Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP) Board. He also serves on the Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Mr. Elliston will talk about the Turfway Park meet that started on Sunday. For the first time, Turfway Park will cut back dates in January, February, and March. He will also address the racing industry's problems in general.
Calvin has enjoyed a career best year in 2009 capped by victories in the Kentucky Derby, his second, aboard Mine That Bird and the Preakness Stakes aboard sensational filly Rachel Alexandra. He missed capturing a personal Triple Crown when Mine That Bird finished third in the Belmont Stakes.
Borel turned heads when he gave up the mount on Mine That Bird and a chance at the Triple Crown to ride Rachel in the Preakness ... Mine That Bird finished second in the Preakness with Mike Smith aboard.
Mr. Cowans has conditioned some of the top runners in the state. He is highly respected among his peers, and it is only a matter of time before you will see him on the larger circuits.
His win percentages at Ohio tracks are extremely high, and he is a versatile trainert who excels with young runners, turf horses, and bringing horses to his barn fresh off the claim. In every stake race he enters, you will see Cowans with a strong entry.
In addition to being an excellent horseman, Mr. Cowans is an excellent spokesman for the industry, and is a supporter of safety for horses and riders in the sport.
Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP) Board. He also serves on the Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Mr. Elliston will talk about the Turfway Park meet that started on Sunday. For the first time, Turfway Park will cut back dates in January, February, and March. He will also address the racing industry's problems in general.
When race dates were deregulated in 2001, Hialeah Park was forced to shut its doors. This iconic facility ran its last race on May 22nd 2001. But, with a legislative change made earlier this year, the “Grand Dame of Racing” was given an opportunity to re-open. Armed with a quarter horse permit, the Miami-area oval is set for its grand re-opening November 28th . A 40 day season is set to get under way, racing 4 days a week until Feb 2nd.
Joining Winning Ponies as our special guest will be Director of Publicity and Simulcasting, Mr. Pete Aiello. Pete will bring us up to speed about the grand re-opening, and talk about the future of Hialeah Park.
Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.
When race dates were deregulated in 2001, Hialeah Park was forced to shut its doors. This iconic facility ran its last race on May 22nd 2001. But, with a legislative change made earlier this year, the “Grand Dame of Racing” was given an opportunity to re-open. Armed with a quarter horse permit, the Miami-area oval is set for its grand re-opening November 28th . A 40 day season is set to get under way, racing 4 days a week until Feb 2nd.
Joining Winning Ponies as our special guest will be Director of Publicity and Simulcasting, Mr. Pete Aiello. Pete will bring us up to speed about the grand re-opening, and talk about the future of Hialeah Park.
Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.
Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey, has been a racing fan since the mid-1970s. He graduated from Rutgers University, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually landed at Daily Racing Form.
He and his wife, Karen, moved to Lexington, Ky. in 1994, and have been there since.
LaMarra has been news editor of The Blood-Horse magazine for more than 10 years. He frequents local racetracks, particularly River Downs and Turfway Park in the Cincinnati area.
Mr. Engelhardt is the President of the Turf Publicists of America, and also currently the Publicity Director at River Downs.
John and Ed have done radio and TV together for years, and on this show they will dissect for our listeners the Breeders's Cup card for both days.
Mr. Goodman is the Simulcasting Operations and Marketing Manager at Keeneland. In this capacity Jim oversees contests and products, and is versed in many departments. He is the trusted go-to guy at Keeneland. He works closely with President Nick Nicholson.
Keeneland has just won the National Simulcast award. This award, now in its 13th year, is given annually in recognition of the industry’s best simulcast production. Keeneland’s production was deemed most user-friendly as it showed horses from the paddock to post parade.
Jim will recap the Keeneland meet, and talk about the industry overall.
Mr. Howard, a native of Riverdale, N.Y., spent two years in the Navy after finishing high school. He then rode show horses for a while, and wound up at Belmont Park looking for a job.
He got his first job working for trainer John Cotter in 1969, and after a year or so, he went to work for Woody Stephens and his brother, Bill, for about a year.
He then worked for Joe Cantey for about a year as an assistant, and then it was on to Mack Miller. During his seven years with Miller, he gained valuable experience while working his way up to stable foreman.
Taking his first trainer’s job on the Ohio circuit (River Downs and Beulah Park), Howard won his first race with Knock Knock Bird at River Downs in 1979 soon after he obtained his license. He saddled his first stakes winner, Hasty Tam, in the 1980 Ohio Open Championship Handicap at Beulah Park.
Ben Huffman, the Racing Secretary at Keeneland will recap the Fall Stars weekend and talk about the Keeneland experience. He will also be talking about the climate of racing in Kentucky. He holds many titles at other tracks, and will talk about the Breeders' Cup.
Mr. Huffman, the son of trainer William (Blackie) Huffman, succeeds Howard Battle, who will serve as Keeneland's stakes director. Huffman has been Battle's assistant since 1994. He currently is racing secretary at Ellis Park, assistant racing secretary at Turfway Park, and a placing judge at Churchill Downs.
Previous to beginning his career in the racing office management, Huffman attended Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville and was an assistant to his father for three years.
Mr. McDulin writes for the Daily Racing Form. He also creates the charts for Equibase. He has called races, set the morning line at various tracks, held the role of Stakes Coordinator at two tracks, and worked on radio as a professional handicapper.
John will discuss this past weekend's races, and the upcoming Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland.
Rosemary Homeister is closing in on being the second all-time leading woman rider.
Homeister, one of Tampa Bay Downs' top riders, has won an Eclipse Award and ridden in a Kentucky Derby.
Today, the 36-year-old Hollywood, Fla., native recalls that she got the itch to be a jockey at tender age of 2.
Mr. McGee covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits. He is a syndicated columnist for the Daily Racing Form.
Mr. Ness is mainly based at Thistledown and Presque Isle. He is winning at 42% and 35% respectively, and has a 32% win percentage for the year. He won the training title at Tampa Bay Downs in 2009.
Ness' father, John, who runs a small stable in Nebraska, put training in his blood. But conditioning wasn't in Ness' immediate plans. He served as sports editor of the Collegian, the South Dakota State University student newspaper, and worked in the sports department at the Brookings Register, a daily newspaper. Ness, 33, whose boyhood dream was to be a football player, began training horses in 1999.
His patience was tested early. In his second year, the Heron, S.D., native lost 56 straight races.
I never forget that, he said.
Jamie will share his insights into racing, and what it takes for a trainer to make his mark in thoroughbred racing in these times.
Mr. Picklesimer is the Racing Secretary at Turfway Park.
Racing in the bluegrass state shifts to Turfway Park for the month of September. Mr. Picklesimer is also the Racing Director at Colonial Downs, and works the Kentucky circuit the remainder of the year.
Tyler will discuss the upcoming meet at Turfway Park, and overall issues and challenges facing Kentucky's industry.
McKee's father, David, had been a jockey in the late 1970s and early ’80s. ... John was inspired to become a jockey after seeing his father’s win pictures.
He grew up in the Cincinnati area where he was always around horses, learned to ride at an early age, and was a star wrestler in high school … His parents tried to discourage his desire to become a jockey but at 17 he got his start with Thoroughbreds at Poplar Creek Farm near Bethel, Ohio, and learned to be an exercise rider.
John Engelhardt is the President of the TPA (Turf Publicists of America) and is the Publicity Director at River Downs.
He is an excellent handicapper, and is from upstate NY. He has attended over 15 Travers Stakes, and his family considers this a holy race of obligation.
The host will handicap the Travers Stakes, in addition to other big stakes races this weekend.
Mr. Eric Reed is a trainer on the mid-west circuit, and has his own training facility in Lexington, Kentucky. It is called Mercury Training center, which used to be the old Spendthrift farm training location.
Mr. Reed has trained many solid runners over the years, and is considered an excellent horseman by his fellow trainers in Kentucky.
Mr. Swaggler has been a Veterinarian in Thoroughbred racing for many years. He will explain what goes on behind the scenes for race day preps, and what to look for in runners going to post.
Dr. Jack Swaggler has specialized in Thoroughbreds and Standard breds for many years.
Timothy E. Hamm, from Warren, was re-appointed to the Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund Advisory Council for a term ending January 31, 2011. Tim has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Youngstown State University & an Ohio Real Estate License. He is the owner of Hamm Construction Inc., Blazing Meadows Farm & Timothy E. Hamm Racing Stable. Tim currently serves on the OTBO (President) & HBPA Boards.
Tim Hamm of Blazing Meadows Farm received Horse of the Year Award for second year in a row (Ready for Roses-2005). With co-owner Stonerside Stable, they received the award for TOO MUCH BLING, 2006 Horse of the Year & Special Recognition Colt Champion which Hamm bred. Hamm also received the award from the OTBO and the Blood-Horse magazine for breeder of TOO MUCH BLING. And received awards as owner of ROSE COLORED LADY, voted Ohio Broodmare of the year for the second time (2005) & owner/breeder of 2006 2-year-old filly champion/2007 Accredited Female Champion, MINI MOM with co-owner Larry Lehmann.
Tim is owner/breeder/trainer of 2003 Ohio Champions Ding's Thing & Oh So Easy. He owned & trained 1999 Ohio Champion, Rhythmean and trained 2001 Ohio Champion,Joanies Bella. His current appointment ends in 2011.
The son of former jockey-turned-trainer Robert Leparoux, he grew up around racing in Chantilly, France, and rode competitive hunter/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at 18. He said he knew he wanted to be a jockey from the time he was five.
Came to Southern California in January of 2003 to work as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone. As Leparoux’s riding talents became evident, Biancone made Leparoux his first-call rider.
Launched his career at Saratoga in 2005… Attempted a move to Southern California at the end of 2007, but wound up switching his tack to Louisiana in January of 2008. Rode primarily in Kentucky and New York for the rest of the 2008 season.
Rosemary Homeister is closing in on being the second all-time leading woman rider.
Homeister, one of Tampa Bay Downs' top riders, has won an Eclipse Award and ridden in a Kentucky Derby.
Today, the 36-year-old Hollywood, Fla., native recalls that she got the itch to be a jockey at tender age of 2.
Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.
Mr. Kordenbrock is a Kentucky-Ohio trainer new to the game. He has a long standing family connection to racing, and carries on the tradition.
This will be a blue-collar interview with a well spoken trainer with a bright future. He will bring to light how racing is affected by current legislation problems.
Turf Publicist President, and Publicity Director at River Downs, Mr. Engelhardt will talk about the VLT/Slot issue in Ohio.
This is current news, and with the State of Kentucky failing to pass any legislation for this issue, it will be a HUGE event in keeping Ohio racing alive.
Mike learned his basic skills at the knee of his father George Maker, who trained at Detroit Race Course and Hazel Park, two tracks in Michigan that no longer race Thoroughbreds. After serving as his father's assistant, went out on his own with a few horses in 1991.
Another in the long line of successful graduates of the D. Wayne Lukas School of Thoroughbred Training, Mike joined the Lukas outfit in 1993 and served under Dallas Stewart with Lukas' Midwest division, based at Churchill Downs. He then succeeded to head man of that division when Stewart went out on his own in 1997.
The son of horse owner Ron McPeek, Ken grew up in Lexington and played football at Tates Creek High School. After graduating from college, his roommate asked him what he loved. It was easy, he said. The answer was horse racing. Although he went to New York to interview for a position as a stockbroker, he instead took a job as a hotwalker for trainer Shug McGaughey. He took out his trainer's license in Kentucky in 1985, with his father his first client.
Grew up in the Derby City where he and his three siblings – all first-generation horsemen – developed their interest in racing through their proximity to Churchill Downs … Brother Marty is a columnist for the Daily Racing Form; younger sister Amy is married to and keeps the books for Southern California-based trainer Ron Ellis.
Paul got his start in racing at age 15 by walking hots for conditioner Jerry Calvin and later galloped horses for trainers Angel Montano Sr. and Carl Bowman … After attending Louisville’s St. Xavier High School, he graduated from Bellarmine University with a degree in chemistry.
Mr. McGee took out his trainer's license in 1987 and saddled his first winner, Pabarene, at Churchill Downs that year. … Plays golf whenever time allows.
He is the President of the Turf Publicist of America.
Mr. Engelhardt was on hand for the Derby, and he will recap the Preakness and finally handicap the Belmont with our host. John is a noted handicapper.
Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.
She is an award winning writer, who will give an expert recap of the Preakness Stakes.
Ms Rees is greatly respected in the industry, and makes many appearances on TVG, and HRTV.
Mike Manganello was a long-time veteran rider, and winner of the 1970 Kentucky Derby. That year, his mount Dust Commander won the Bluegrass at Keeneland, and then went on to win the Derby.
Upon hanging up his tack, Mike is currently a steward on multiple race circuits.
Mike Manganello was a long-time veteran rider, and winner of the 1970 Kentucky Derby. That year, his mount Dust Commander won the Bluegrass at Keeneland, and then went on to win the Derby.
Upon hanging up his tack, Mike is currently a steward on multiple race circuits.
To prepare for this weekend's Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, host Ed Meyer will be discussing the ENTIRE cards at Churchill Downs for BOTH Friday and Saturday. He will be using the actual WinningPonies.com selection sheets; the same sheets that hit the Derby Trifecta 2 years in a row.
Wife Tina, children Fallon, Marcus and Mecus. Racing Career: Retired on Nov. 10, 2007 at Churchill Downs. In his 32-year career, he won 5,043 races from 31,321 mounts; 330 of those wins were at Churchill. He had accumulated earnings of $100,857,648.
Cajun-born rider, he began riding at the bush tracks in his home state at age 9. At 16, he began his pari-mutuel career, riding his first winner, Tempermental Tom, at Delta Downs.
Rode in Louisiana until 1986 when he moved his tack to Fairmount Park in Illinois and then on to the Chicago tracks. Known as King of Chicago, he had dominated the riders' standings at Arlington Park (two leading rider titles), Hawthorne (seven titles), Sportsman's Park (nine titles).
Inducted into the Hawthorne Hall of Fame in 1997. Received George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2006.
Mark Guidry plans to attend the Racing Officials Accreditation Program at the University of Louisville and become a steward.
A two-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's leading apprentice, Sutherland has demonstrated the ability to compete with the best journeymen riders in this country. She has caught the eye of many top trainers, including Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, who said She sits still, She's quiet on a horse.
Sutherland, who began riding in the United States this winter at Gulfstream, then Saratoga where she laid the groundwork for the Belmont fall meet.
Currently she is featured on the Discovery Channel show Jockeys.
Steve Cauthen (born May 1, 1960 in Covington, Kentucky) is an American jockey. The son of a trainer and a farrier, he grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which (along with his small size) made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat. He rode his first winner (Red Pipe) less than a week later.
Patrick Alan Pat Day, born in Colorado, is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. Day also received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1985, given annually to a North American jockey who demonstrates the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. In 1995, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award for extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.
Introduced to racing by his older brother, Gregg, a longtime Maryland rider who retired in April of 1993, Chris McCarron finished as leading rider at Pimlico, Delaware Park, Bowie, and Laurel, winning 546 races - a record that stood 15 years until Kent Desormeaux won 598 in 1989.
Moved to Southern California circuit permanently in 1978 where he competed for the next 24 years. Won Eclipse Awards in 1974 (as apprentice jockey) and 1980, was inducted into the National Racing Hall of fame in 1989, his first year of eligibility.
Established the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Ky. in October of 2006. The goal of NARA is to promote interest and involvement in the Thoroughbred industry through a world-class jockey and racing school.
Robert N. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation.
An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP) Board. He also serves on the Thoroughbred Racing Association Elliston, his wife Sharon, a Northern Kentucky attorney, and their two daughters, Abby and Haley, live in Florence, Kentucky.
Patrick Alan Pat Day, born in Colorado, is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991. Day also received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1985, given annually to a North American jockey who demonstrates the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. In 1995, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award for extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.
Veteran rider who just picked up his 2,500 win. Born in Philadelphia, Troilo started his career at the suggestion of a friend who introduced him to George Rusty Arnold II, then a young trainer based in the Midwest. He started working for Arnold in 1979, took out his jockey's license in 1982, and earned his first career win that year at River Downs. Throughout his career he has consistently finished among leading riders in Ohio and Kentucky, with 10 River Downs titles since his first there in 1991.
President and General Manager at River Downs. He has been at the helm since 1975, and is a major player in Ohio racing. He will break down racing issues; talk about problems facing racing; and what is needed for survival.
Mr Hannesian comes to Southern Ohio from California where he was an attorney for the purchasing group of River Downs.
Mark Klein is a comedian who has turned his craft towards horse racing. He is an excellent speaker, and his love of racing has prompted him to want to break down the barriers and attract a new fan base as well as entertain the existing. Mark has been the special guest at symposiums, conferences, and handicapping seminars.
Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey, has been a racing fan since the mid-1970s. He graduated from Rutgers University, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually landed at Daily Racing Form. He and his wife, Karen, moved to Lexington, Ky. in 1994, and have been there since.
LaMarra has been news editor of The Blood-Horse magazine for more than 10 years. He frequents local racetracks, particularly River Downs and Turfway Park in the Cincinnati area.
President and General Manager at River Downs. He has been at the helm since 1975, and is a major player in Ohio racing. He will break down racing issues; talk about problems facing racing; and what is needed for survival.
Mr Hannesian comes to Southern Ohio from California where he was an attorney for the purchasing group of River Downs.
He is the Simulcast Coordinator at River Downs and has worked at over four tracks in his tenure. He knows the in-and-outs of the stakes game for horses, and how everything comes together for simulcasting.
River Downs is one of the biggest simulcast receiving locations in the nation. We will learn about the behind the scene negotiations, and what the ADW holdup was all about.
Vince is very respected in the industry, and is an avid handicapper as well.
He writes for the Daily Racing Form. He also creates the charts for Equibase. He has called races, set the morning line at various tracks, held the role of Stakes Coordinator at two tracks, and worked on radio as a professional handicapper. This guy has practically done every job in racing.
He is announcer and Director of Marketing @ Portland Meadows, the one of the few tracks in the nation to add dates, and are doing strong financially, Mr Beem also does a weekly show in the Seattle area.
The guest for 1/1 will be DRF columnist Marty McGee. He covers the Kentucky and Gulfstream circuits. He will be a very interesting guest. He will give some insight into the two-year-old scene.
President of the Turf Publicists of America, he is currently the Publicity Director at River Downs.
The guest for 12/18 will be DRF columnist Marty McGee. He covers the Kentucky and Gulfstream circuits. He will be a very interesting guest. He will give some insight into the two-year-old scene.
President of the Turf Publicists of America, he is currently the Publicity Director at River Downs.
Racing Secretary at Colonial Downs Asst. Racing Secretary at Turfway Park Racing Official at Keeneland, and Churchill Downs Certified Racing Steward and Placing Judge Over 20 years in the racing business in the Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia racing circuits.