S9E14: Old school meets new school

The creator of a new-media source for racing news and an old-school horseplayer who created a counterintuitive way of betting are featured this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Carlos Morales, the creator of Agentes 305, talks about the growth of his social-media platform and how it has become a go-to place for behind-the-scenes interviews in English and Spanish. He discusses his start as a radio personality in his native Venezuela and his move to the United States to advance his career in horse racing.

Matt Miller, the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, wrote the book A Bettor Way of Thinking. He talks about his strategies for betting on races and in handicapping tournaments. One step he takes is avoiding past performances. He also discusses why he and his fellow Chicagoland players have been so successful in high-profile tournaments.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park share anecdotes about what is trending on social media, an e-game that might be all too real and the perils of waking up at odd hours in the winter.

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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S9E13: The best horse-racing movies

From “A Day at the Races” to “Let It Ride” to “Seabiscuit,” racing movies have had an important corner of the film world. The best of them and some bad ones are the subject of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Allen Johnson, who has been the film writer for 25 years at the San Francisco Chronicle, and Richard Migliore, the New York Racing Association TV analyst and lifelong movie buff, compare their thoughts and criticisms.

Eleven movies were selected for their review, including:

“A Day at the Races”

“Boots Malone”

“Casey’s Shadow”

“Easy Money”

“Let It Ride”

“National Velvet”

“Phar Lap”

“Racetrack”

“Saratoga”

“Seabiscuit”

“Secretariat”

Some films get more attention than others, and where they disagree may be a surprise. They also discuss some movies not provided on the list.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park also weigh in with their thoughts about racing films. 

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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S9E12: Hot and other takes on Eclipse Awards

Discussion and debate about the 2025 Eclipse Awards are featured on the first 2026 episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Sara Elbadwi of Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association, Steve Kornacki of NBC News and Sports, Jessica Paquette from Parx and two-time Eclipse Award-winning writer John Scheinman from Baltimore get together in a panel discussion going in-depth on every championship category.

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty may be the leading candidate for horse of the year, but did Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Forever Young do enough in his one U.S. appearance to change voters’ minds? The panel talks about that possibility and the potential backlash against connections for holding Sovereignty out of the Preakness Stakes.

There are plenty of clashing opinions and even a discussion about contentious abstentions from the votes for the steeplechase horse and apprentice jockey.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park also weigh in with their overarching views of the Eclipse Awards, including ideas on how they ought to be changed. 

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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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.

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