Thursday, January 25, 2024

S7E15: The sun, fun capital of winter racing world


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 yield some strong value for bettors.

From The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., Ron has a recap of Thursday night’s Eclipse Awards, which were dominated by the emotional story of horse of the year Cody’s Wish.

Also, John Cherwa joins Ron to discuss Bob Baffert’s decision to drop his appeal to restore Medina Spirit as the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby and Churchill Down Inc.’s decision to keep Baffert under suspension through at least the end of this year.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, Google, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

It is sponsored by the Pegasus World Cup Betting Championship.

https://www.xpressbet.com/pegasus-world-cup-betting-championship?utm_source=hrn&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pwcbc


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Thursday, January 18, 2024

S7E14: Itching the scratches from the next Kentucky Derby prep


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 Lecomte, more stakes at Fair Grounds and one at Gulfstream Park to start the coast-to-coast Pick 5.

Listeners and readers join the Los Angeles Times’ John Cherwa to offer their feedback about last week’s visit to Old Friends retirement farm in Kentucky and the future of Maryland racing.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, Google, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com. It is sponsored by the Pegasus World Cup Betting Championship.


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Thursday, January 11, 2024

S7E13: Say hello to Silver Charm at Old Friends


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, who looks great at age 30.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps weekend races, including the Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs and two turf stakes at Santa Anita.

Listener and reader feedback centers on the decline of Southern California racing and Ron’s column about underperforming winter preps for Kentucky Derby 2024.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Google and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.


Check out this episode!

Thursday, January 4, 2024

S7E12: Maryland, California, New York, Florida ... and Shecky


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 Prince handicapper David Levitch has tips for weekend races, including the Jerome at Aqueduct and the all-stakes late Pick 3 at Gulfstream Park.

There also will be listener and reader feedback and a tribute to the late comic and horseplayer Shecky Greene.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Google and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

The Sept. 13, 2019, episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod featuring the late Shecky Greene:

https://content.libsyn.com/p/b/6/3/b636abe52b19b496/HSW6226440037.mp3?c_id=118786664&cs_id=118786664&response-content-type=audio%2Fmpeg&Expires=1704367542&Signature=JyfzUnURNfIu~06lsgYcjryXlxGoPGqToWfwRPLcLcBLLT4N0Gv-qonyv9sdCiUny3V4oHGoq1S0joBwcZCPSlIi7hWPg4fHhasnqz45f~7kz9ZRSRAL8-BvOGG5BMzJMfkBQAqmEIZ6iQtd1zaUdL5uUDC7uj~FjziVmkGi19HKe-74jyiqamFU6b0uscN-IKAhCtmTO~CdJLZHxyrlkjjBfxi2PJ5vKJEiIgAmpIRCmMyqIhE2lOoQ~VacxV6pKQ6kfMlGw7ZszqWbIPaTQK2iSQg5XL03hR-UfixjkDeeNu~rkIiclOMMNkQF04LPQXGcoPnmPjz-HRuEUcv-8g__&Key-Pair-Id=K1YS7LZGUP96OI

The story Ron wrote Sunday on the death of Shecky Greene:

https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter_Remembering_comic_and_horseplayer_Shecky_Greene_123


Check out this episode!