S7E40: Tales from a half-century in racing

More than a half-century in the racing industry has taken Jon White into myriad roles from writer to steward to TV analyst to handicapper. He just retired after 15 years as the track handicapper at Santa Anita. White talks about his career and has stories to go with it on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

The writer of the morning line for eight renewals of the Breeders’ Cup, White has witnessed racing history first hand. He recalls his first day of work for Daily Racing Form 50 years ago when he was put in his place while also being vindicated.

After seeing so many of the sport’s greats race right before his very eyes, White has a surprising declaration about who he believes is the greatest Thoroughbred of all time. One hint: He could not have seen this horse race in his lifetime.

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!

S7E39: Calling all charts

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 where horses are at each call. They also describe how video has enhanced the accuracy of charts and talk about the deadlines they face in generating the information twice every hour on race days.

They also discuss the debates over the track conditions last month on Preakness day and the first time the term wet-fast was used for the Kentucky Derby.

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!

S5E38: Farewell, Golden Gate Fields

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 future might hold with the closing of the track in which they were inextricably linked.

Track general manager David Duggan and trainer Steve Sherman also discuss their memories and their thoughts about the closing of the 83-year-old racecourse.

John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times has covered the story of the end of Golden Gate Fields more closely than anyone, and he provides his perspective on what is next not only in the north state but whether this was a sign of things to come for all of California racing.

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. This episode is sponsored by Xpressbet.

For information on Sunday’s Santa Anita Closing-Day Challenge, go to https://www.xpressbet.com/sap-1500-6-16-24.

 

Check out this episode!

S7E37: What’s right with this Belmont Stakes picture?

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 Breeders’ Cup.

President and co-owner Don Little of Centennial Farms talks about Antiquarian, the Grade 3 Peter Pan winner who has attracted attention from seasoned bettors who think he may crash the party in which Sierra Leone is favored. He also discusses his background in polo and how it has helped him in business.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch has tips for the Belmont as well as the Manhattan (G1) and Woody Stephens (G1) on the Saturday undercard at Saratoga.

Ron is at Golden Gate Fields for this weekend’s closing of the 83-year-old racetrack. He and John Cherwa go over some of the feedback from listeners and readers during the past week.

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. This pop-up and the regular Friday episode are sponsored by Xpressbet.

For information on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes Challenge, go to https://www.xpressbet.com/bel-1500-challenge-6-8-24.

Check out this episode!

S7E36: Belmont Stakes hare-core handicappers

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 overlays despite winning the first two Triple Crown races. They also size up Mindframe, who is 2-for-2 with eye-popping wins but without stakes experience coming into this $2 million classic.

The handicappers also will offer a thumbnail look at the Grade 1 Met Mile, which shapes up as a showdown between White Abarrio and National Treasure but could carry value with one of the other four entrants looking for an upset.

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. This pop-up and the regular Friday episode are sponsored by Xpressbet.

For information on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes Challenge, go to https://www.xpressbet.com/bel-1500-challenge-6-8-24.

Check out this episode!

S7E35: You already are at Saratoga

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 $127 apiece. CEO Michael Behrens discusses the unique partnership concept and ambitions for the colt.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty not only has weekend handicapping advice but also some early thoughts about how he may approach betting the Belmont Stakes.

John Cherwa and Ron go over listener and reader feedback that was focused last week on lies and mistruths that are part of racing.

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. This episode is sponsored by Xpressbet.

For information about and to sign up for the Monmouth “Pick Your Prize” Challenge, go to https://www.xpressbet.com/mon-2000-challenge-6-1-24.

Check out this episode!

S7E34 Stakes are on the holiday grill

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 give the Hall of Fame trainer his seventh victory in the Pimlico jewel of the Triple Crown.

Horse Racing Nation’s Mark Midland handicaps four weekend stakes, including Saturday’s Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Belmont at the Big A, Cliff Hanger at Monmouth Park and Keertana at Churchill Downs as well as Monday’s Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill.

John Cherwa and Ron go over listener and reader feedback about the future of Pimlico, the disagreement over track conditions on Preakness day and the Lukas interview in the middle of this episode.

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. This episode and the preceding pop-up show with analysis of every horse in the Preakness are sponsored by Xpressbet.

For information about and to sign up for $1,500 Gold Cup Challenge, go to https://www.xpressbet.com/sap-1500-5-27-25.

Track Trends Tool for Churchill Downs: https://www.horseracingnation.com/tools/track-trends?iframe=false&track_code=CD&start_date=2023-08-01&end_date=&course_type=T&distance=Sprints&condition=&exact_distance=&temporary_rail_distance=&mode=3-Post&early_max=100&stalker_max=400.

Check out this episode!