S9E11: Bicoastal auld lang 2025

The postponed opening day at Santa Anita and a Pegasus preview at Gulfstream Park are the main points of discussion this week in the final 2025 episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Horse owner, player and handicapper Jon Lindo previews Sunday’s card at Santa Anita. That is where Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has five entrants in the $300,000 Malibu Stakes, the last Grade 1 race of the season for 3-year-olds. He also examines the latest developments in the future of racing in Southern California.

Mark Cornett of C2 Racing Stable talks about White Abarrio, who is entered in the Mr. Prospector (G3) on Saturday at Gulfstream. The race is a prep for next month’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), which White Abarrio won last year. Cornett also talks about the controversial veterinarian scratch of the multimillionaire horse from the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Handicapper Ed DeRosa examines weekend races on both coasts and offers tips for bettors.

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

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S9E10: A racing Christmas around the world

A holiday celebration turns into a world tour with visits with friends from Japan, England and Australia this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Kate Hunter checks in from her home base in Japan, where Forever Young provided bookended highlights this year with his triumphs in the Group 1 Saudi Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Nashville native who has been based for 17 years across the Pacific also looks ahead to Kentucky Derby 2026, a race Japan still has on its to-do list.

Senior writer Lee Mottershead of Racing Post offers Europe’s year-end review from England. He highlights Calandagan’s rise to stardom with victories in the King George (G1) and British Champion (G1) before a rare win for international interests last month in the Japan Cup (G1). He also describes the impact of the controversial Great Britain government affordability checks on horseplayers, and he has an update on his cancer diagnosis from this summer.

Steve Moran, a longtime racing journalist in Australia, joins in a conversation from Melbourne. He highlights Jamie Melham’s pioneering victory aboard Half Yours in the Melbourne Cup (G1) marking only the second time a woman has ridden to victory in the race that stops a nation. There also is his check list of three tracks all racing fans must visit in their lifetimes.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson from Fairmount Park talk about their Christmas plans and remember some some off-beat celebrations from years past.

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

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S9E9: 3 TV guys & lots of stories

Three people who have been involved with popular sports television shows also have horse racing in common. One more thing. They are on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

David Israel, the former chairperson of the California Horse Racing Board, takes time for a rare interview. He talks about what he would like to see change with the sport as well as his favorite races and his experience as a young sports writer covering the miracle on ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Sportscaster Kenny Mayne and TV producer Matt Doyle return for part 2 of a conversation which began with their stories about covering the ancient Palio di Siena bareback race in Italy. They have more stories about their international travel for Mayne’s Wider World of Sports on ESPN.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson from Fairmount Park talk about some of their sports experiences and what remains atop their to-do lists.

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

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S9E8: Lighting last Cigar at Aqueduct

With Belmont Park reopening to nearly year-round racing next fall, the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap will be run at Aqueduct for the last time this weekend. The day’s top races are previewed on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

NYRABets analyst and Gallop Out podcast co-host Kaylie Shapiro offers her thoughts about the feature race of the fall meet as well as the Remsen Stakes (G2), a points prep for Kentucky Derby 2026.

Crazy Mason challenges the likes of Bishops Bay and Phileas Fogg in the Cigar Mile. His trainer Gregg Sacco offers his assessment of how the race will be run.

Mike Shutty handicaps the outcome of the Cigar Mile and the Remsen through the lens of his Super Screener.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson from Fairmount Park join in the reading of and reacting to listener and reader feedback.

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

Check out this episode!