Past performances are written largely from the charts generated from every horse race run in the U.S. and Canada. Just how are they written? What does it sound like when a chart caller chronicles a race? How has the process advanced over the years? How are differences of opinion about track conditions resolved? Steve Peery and Rowan Ward of Equibase are the guests who answer those questions on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. They take us through the steps they take in every race to determine...
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 7Ep. 39
The closing last weekend of Golden Gate Fields and the future of California racing are the subjects of this special edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. A reunion by phone of Hall of Famers Jerry Hollendorfer and Russell Baze highlights this episode. Arguably the most successful trainer-jockey combination in racing history and unquestionably the best ever to be paired at Golden Gate Fields comes together again to reminisce about the good old days in Northern California and ponder what the futu...
Jun 14, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Season 5Ep. 38
One final preview of the Belmont Stakes features an expert from the race’s new backyard, an owner whose horse might be a wise-guy pick for the race and a handicapper who has become a familiar voice on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. New York Racing Association TV analyst Andy Serling is at Saratoga, where the Belmont will be run this year and next. He discusses racing’s early arrival this season, the $2 million classic itself and other races and horses on one of the best cards this side of the Breed...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 7Ep. 37
Deep analysis of every horse in Belmont Stakes 2024 is ready to hear now with the hard-core handicappers pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Horse Racing Nation handicappers Mark Midland and Ed DeRosa in Kentucky are joined by DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello in Las Vegas. They go through the entire field from 1 to 10. They will consider whether to buy or sell Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone. They must decide whether Mystik Dan and Seize the Grey are potential overlay...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 7Ep. 36
An early preview of the Belmont Stakes is the centerpiece of this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. New York Racing Association TV analyst Sara Elbadwi, a fixture on Fox Sports, offers some early analysis of the Belmont as well as the Grade 1 Met Mile, both of which will be run next Saturday for the first time at Saratoga. Preakness winner Seize the Grey is aiming to make it back-to-back classic wins next week. He is owned by 2,570 MyRacehorse shareholders who bought 5,000 shares for...
May 31, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 7Ep. 35
A recap of the Preakness, a preview of the Belmont Stakes and some holiday-weekend handicapping are part of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. From Fox Sports and In the Money Media, New York Racing Association TV analyst Jonathon Kinchen offers his take on the Triple Crown series so far plus some early thoughts about betting the Belmont Stakes next month at Saratoga. A morning-after interview with D. Wayne Lukas brings us back to the fresh memories of Seize the Grey winning the Preakness to gi...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 7Ep. 34
From Baltimore, two Kentucky Derby-winning connections are among the guests previewing Preakness 2024 on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenny McPeek and co-owner Sharilyn Gasaway talk about the experience of winning the Derby as well as their colt’s chances of continuing his quest to become U.S. racing’s 14th Triple Crown champion. Jimmy Barnes, the longtime assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, discusses Imagination being in the Preakness and Muth being out of the race because of ...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 7Ep. 33
Deep analysis of every horse in Preakness 2024 is ready to hear now with the hard-core handicappers pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Horse Racing Nation handicappers Mark Midland and Ed DeRosa in Kentucky are joined by DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello in Las Vegas. They go through the entire field from 1 to 9. How will they play Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in his quest to win the Triple Crown? Will Bob Baffert’s new shooters Muth and Imagination take too much money ...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 7Ep. 32
Between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, a look back and look ahead are on the menu this week for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. TV analyst Kaitlin Free talks about her uncannily accurate forecast of the Derby in addition to her early analysis of next week’s second jewel of the Triple Crown. Brian Hernandez Jr., the first jockey in 15 years to win both the Derby and the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, discusses his rail trip in both races, comparisons with Hall of Famer Calvin Borel and his own look ah...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 7Ep. 31
From Louisville, the cast of thousands has its annual gathering for the regular Kentucky Derby 2024 episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Fox Sports handicapper Chris Fallica offers his assessment of the Derby as well as the memory of his biggest score from five years ago. Sierra Leone co-owner Brook Smith, Forever Young’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi, West Saratoga’s trainer Larry Demeritte, Domestic Product’s jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and Fierceness’s connections Todd Pletcher, John Velázquez and Mike ...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 42 min•Season 7Ep. 30
Deep analysis of every horse in Kentucky Derby 2024, even the also-eligibles, is ready to hear now with the hard-core handicappers pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Horse Racing Nation handicappers Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland and DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello in Las Vegas go through the entire field from 1 to 20. Plus 21 and 22, who could add to the four also-eligibles who have shown up in the superfecta since the Derby points era began 11 years ago. How will they play ...
Apr 28, 2024•1 hr 56 min•Season 7Ep. 29
With a week to go until America’s biggest racing holiday, Kentucky Derby 2024 and the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks are the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas discusses his Derby horse Just Steel and his Oaks filly Lemon Muffin. He also has some thoughts about how conservative rival trainers are in racing their horses less while he races his more. Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde discusses Fierceness, Sierra Leone and Forever Young, the big three coming i...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 7Ep. 28
Some early handicapping tips for Kentucky Derby 2024, an insider’s look at one of the contenders in the race and some handicapping for this weekend’s Preakness 2024 qualifiers are front and center on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. National Horseplayers Championship winner Mike Gillum checks in from Indianapolis with his five horses whom he counts among the most likely winners of the Derby. Here is a hint. Two of them are not obvious choices. In other words, long shots. Trainer Whit Beckman ...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 7Ep. 27
The Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn and the last Kentucky Derby 2024 points prep at Keeneland are the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Track announcer Matt Dinerman will offer his insight on Saturday’s Apple Blossom as well as his first season calling races in Arkansas and his new assignment this summer as the voice of Monmouth Park. Trainer Joe Orseno, who won the Preakness with Red Bullet in 2000, may be on the verge of a return to the Triple Crown series w...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 7Ep. 26
The last three major preps of the season will fill the field for Kentucky Derby 2024. This week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod comes from Keeneland, site of this weekend’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will discuss Sierra Leone, who is one of the top contenders not only in the Blue Grass but also for the Derby. Stanley Cup champion and horseplayer Eddie Olczyk takes the long view of betting this Derby season as well as his strategy for playing handicapping contests like the Nation...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Season 7Ep. 25
Kentucky Derby 2024 win-and-you’re-in preps at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn and the state of the game are the subjects of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Jockey Flavien Prat, who won last week’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Catching Freedom, talks about that ride and his assignment this weekend in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on Timberlake. National Thoroughbred Racing Association CEO Tom Rooney answers questions about issues in the sport, including trainer Bob Baffert’s suspension from the Ken...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 7Ep. 24
On the road in New Orleans, the first major preps for Kentucky Derby 2024 are in the spotlight on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. At Fair Grounds, two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox discusses his Derby campaign, including his running of Catching Freedom in Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby. He also discusses Timberlake’s upcoming move into the Arkansas Derby (G1) next weekend. Finally, Cox has morning-line favorite Tarifa going Saturday in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), a poin...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 7Ep. 23
The annual visit to Las Vegas for the National Horseplayers Championship is on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Two-time NHC Tour winner Kevin Costello, former NHC champions Scott Harrison and Paul Matties and economics professor and horse owner Marshall Gramm take part in the annual horseplayers roundtable. They discuss last weekend’s tote breakdown that impacted the Tampa Bay Derby, the latest trends and concerns with computer-assisted wagering and why it is that Chicago players have done so well i...
Mar 15, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Season 7Ep. 22
From Super Tuesday to top 10 sports events to Tampa Bay Downs. Less than two months until Kentucky Derby 2024, the Ron Flatter Racing Pod covers a lot of ground this week. MSNBC political analyst and NBC Sports racing handicapper Steve Kornacki talks about similarities between covering this week’s primary elections and the Derby trail. He also has some thoughts about Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby (G2). Can Adare Manor be toppled in the Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita? Trainer Phil D’Amato talks a...
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr 41 min•Season 7Ep. 21
This weekend brings four Kentucky Derby 2024 points preps, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park, all Saturday, and the San Felipe (G2) on Sunday at Santa Anita. They are the focus of this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Fox Sports and New York Racing Association TV analyst Andy Serling discusses the Derby trail in general and the Gotham in particular. Trainer Danny Gargan talks ab...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 7Ep. 20
The next Kentucky Derby 2024 points prep and Black History Month are the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Jennifer Hoyt, who spent more than 13 years working at Oaklawn, offers her thoughts about this weekend’s Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes, which will ticket the winner for the Kentucky Derby. She also talks about her move from the racetrack to becoming a school-district spokesperson. The advancement of diversity in racing meets Kentucky bourbon. Leon Nichols of the Project to ...
Feb 23, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Season 7Ep. 19
This weekend’s Risen Star Stakes is the first win-and-you’re-in prep for Kentucky Derby 2024, and it is the main subject of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. FanDuel TV racing analyst Caton Bredar offers a preview of the race and some highlights from the rest of the stakes-laden card at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Hall of Fame and Sierra Leone are among the Risen Star favorites not to mention top contenders for the Derby. They will be discussed by Robyn Murray, who handles sales, racehorses a...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Season 7Ep. 18
The next Kentucky Derby 2024 points prep and Super Bowl LVIII are the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey talks about Change of Command, the morning-line favorite for this weekend’s Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. He also discusses some other Derby and Kentucky Oaks prospects in his stable. From Las Vegas, NBC Sports racing analyst and longtime NFL reporter Randy Moss provides insight into the Derby trail as well as Sunday’s championship betwe...
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Season 7Ep. 17
This week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod has three main subjects, five races to handicap and one embarrassing admission. Eclipse Award winner Fierceness headlines Saturday’s four Kentucky Derby points preps. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher talks about the champion colt’s 2024 debut in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Todd also discusses two of his other prominent 3-year-olds who are Derby contenders. Bob Baffert’s announcement that he will not have any of his horses in the Derby get...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 7Ep. 16
A trip to Florida for big races and yearly awards is the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. The Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park has trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and TV analyst and morning-line writer Brian Nadeau talking. They discuss their views of the big three races on the card. Horse Racing Nation handicapper Mark Midland focuses not only on big stakes on Saturday’s card at Gulfstream Park but also on one early offering on the undercard that could...
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Season 7Ep. 15
More qualifying points are on the line for Kentucky Derby 2024 with the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, the centerpiece this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. FanDuel TV’s Michael Joyce checks in from New Orleans to offer his insights on the Derby trail and with some predictions about next week’s Eclipse Awards. Trainer Mark Casse talks about his Lecomte colt Can Group and his Colonel E. L. Bradley Stakes starter Strong Quality. Handicapper Ed DeRosa has tips for weekend races, including the L...
Jan 19, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 7Ep. 14
How great does it sound to spend a day at Old Friends retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky.? That is exactly what happens on this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Michael Blowen, who started the program 20 years ago, is handing over the reins as president next month, but not before he takes listeners on an audio tour of the farm, providing his thoughts about how it has gone and how it will be going after he leaves. He also introduces listeners to 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Season 7Ep. 13
It is a coast-to-coast episode to start the new year on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. From the east, Brittany Russell talks about being the first woman to train the most winners in a calendar year in Maryland. She also looks at Regalo’s bid to win the Jerome Stakes, a Kentucky Derby 2024 prep Saturday at Aqueduct. Racing insider Bob Ike looks at some early returns on the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita, where the handle is down, and the San Vicente Stakes (G2) will be run Saturday. Paddock Princ...
Jan 05, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Season 7Ep. 12
The end of the year brings the Eclipse Awards. This week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod brings together a panel of Horse Racing Nation writers who will be among the roughly 250 media and racing-industry voters who will have a voice in the 17 championship categories. Las Vegas correspondent Mike Brunker, division-rankings expert Chip Gehrke and pedigree analyst Laurie Ross offer their opinions on all the major categories, including their varied opinions on who should be the finalists and the winner of ...
Dec 29, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or even Festivus, it is the perfect time to gather friends. That is precisely what happens this week in a special holiday episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times , Lee Mottershead from Racing Post in England and international racing liaison Kate Hunter in Japan review the headlines of the 2023 racing year. They discuss the memorable performances from the likes of Cody’s Wish and Equinox, the early retirements of U.S. ...
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 7Ep. 10
