S7E20: 4x Kentucky Derby preps + 1 camel race

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 about his colt Dornoch, the highly regarded winner of the Remsen Stakes (G2), who will race in the Fountain of Youth.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch has tips for all four Derby preps plus a bonus race on Saturday’s Gulfstream Park undercard.

John Cherwa and Ron go over some of the feedback in the past week from listeners and readers reacting ton Ron’s column calling for stewards’ hearings to be streamed live.

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. This week’s episode is sponsored by the Ultimate Betting Challenge via Xpressbet.

For information on and to register for Saturday’s Ultimate Betting Challenge:
www.xpressbet.com/tournaments

Check out this episode!

S7E19: Derby prep at Oaklawn + Black History Month

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 Preserve African-American Turf History and Allen Carter of Silver Springs Farm Eqwine and Vineyard join Macaulay Minton of Dark Arts Whiskey House to discuss their partnership to promote inclusion ahead of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Horse Racing Nation’s Mark Midland handicaps the Rebel, the Razorback Handicap (G3), the Honeybee (G3) and three maiden races on the Saturday card at Oaklawn.

John Cherwa and Ron pay tribute to the late Jerry Antonucci and Art Wilson, two longtime turf writers from Southern California.

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. This week’s episode is sponsored by the Ultimate Betting Challenge via Xpressbet.

To enter the Ultimate Betting Challenge:

www.xpressbet.com/tournaments

For Horse Racing Nation handicapping tools:

www.darkartswhiskey.com/spirits

To learn more about Dark Arts Whiskey House:

www.darkartswhiskey.com/spirits

Check out this episode!

S7E18: From Mardi Gras to Risen Star

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 and marketing for their lead owner Coolmore America.

Horse Racing Nation handicapper Ed DeRosa has tips for the Risen Star and the other races this weekend as well as some thoughts about futures wagering on the Derby.

John Cherwa and Ron sample listener and reader feedback about how racing and the Super Bowl have gone opposite directions in the past half-century when it comes to betting handle.

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.

Check out this episode!

S7E17: We know Shug, but who is this Randy Moss?

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 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps the Sam F. Davis and two other weekend stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park.

Ron also samples the feedback about his column that declared the absence of Bob Baffert’s horses would make America’s biggest race nothing more than Kentucky Derby 149 1/2.

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.

Check out this episode!

S7E16: ‘I didn’t recognize Camila Cabello’

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 gets the once-over. Co-host John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times had an exclusive interview with Baffert that was the focal point of his report this week. He and Ron discuss what the absence of the Baffert horses will mean to his year’s Derby.

The tenuous future of Turf Paradise in Phoenix is discussed by Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Leroy Gessmann. How California’s uncertain racing picture affects his state is also grist for the conversation.

Paddock Prince David Levitch has tips for the Holy Bull, the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita plus an allowance race that caught his attention.

Ron confesses that he completely missed Camila Cabello in the paddock last weekend on Pegasus day, even though he walked right past her three times.

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.

Check out this episode!