S7E44: Lighting cauldron in New York & Paris

Covering someone racing at Saratoga and someone who covers horse racing from the site of the Paris Olympics. They are part of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Jockey Jaime Torres talks about his ride Saturday on Preakness winner Seize the Grey in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. He talks about having to go against Sierra Leone and Fierceness in a race that could shape next month’s Travers (G1). He also tells the story of a personal rivalry with a long shot in the Jim Dandy field as well as the ambitions that could have had him in France right now.

Turf writer Scott Burton of Racing Post has been based for 17 years in Paris, where he will get to treat the Olympics as a home game. He talks about some of the experiences he already has had dealing with the games being in his back yard. He also has some tips for the King George (G1) on Saturday at Ascot, England.

Horse Racing Nation handicapper Mark Midland will handicap weekend races, and John Cherwa helps Ron sift through feedback about last week’s interview with Mike Repole and the end of Bob Baffert’s three-year suspension by Churchill Downs.

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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S7E43: Repole and the Del Mar singers

Opening day at Del Mar and the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park are the focus of this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Mike Repole, who owns the favorite Mindframe and Eclipse Award winner Fierceness, discusses his thinking into whether to send both horses to the post Saturday for the Haskell. He also talks about having that race and the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) next weekend at Saratoga so close together. He also has some candid thoughts about some of the first steps racing can take to turn the sport in the right direction.

Workout analyst Bruno De Julio checks in from his trackside clocking work to provide his perspective on the West Coast’s most popular meet, including storylines that horseplayers may want to pursue this summer. He also talks about undefeated Medoro’s bid to win the San Clemente (G2), the opening-day feature at Del Mar

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty is back to offer tips for the Haskell, the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga and undercard stakes Saturday at both tracks.

Co-host John Cherwa joins Ron to go through the past week’s listener and reader feedback, and there may be a surprise or two from some unlikely singers of Del Mar’s signature song.

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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S7E42: They’re off at Saratoga

The opening at Saratoga 2024 and Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes are front and center on this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

TV analyst Maggie Wolfendale Morley of Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association discusses some of the most-anticipated races this summer, including next month’s Travers (G1) as well as the early highlights of the meet.

Trainer Ignacio Correas IV talks about his mare Didia, a recent Grade 1 winner who faces nine rivals including five from the Chad Brown barn this weekend in the Diana.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch returns to offer tips for Saratoga as well as his look ahead to the rest of the Saratoga summer.

Co-host John Cherwa joins Ron to go through the past week’s 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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S7E41: All about computer betting

Computer-assisted wagering. Is it the wave for all future betting on horse races, or is it the scourge that will drive gamblers away from the game? That is the theme of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Elite Turf Club president Scott Daruty and professor and horseplayer Marshall Gramm are together to talk about the ins and outs of what has come to be known by the acronym CAW, both for good and for bad. They will talk about how batch betting has changed the game and criticism that it has prevented a level playing field for horseplayers.

Racing attorney Drew Couto was there in the early days of computer betting and has stories about how it has evolved, complete with his own experiences that were filled with international intrigue.

Horse Racing Nation handicapper Ed DeRosa also weighs in on the subject in addition to offering tips for three stakes races Saturday on the Indiana Derby card at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Co-host John Cherwa also offers critical commentary about computer wagering in addition to his thoughts about the host’s recent vacation.

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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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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