S9E45: Topical trio: Million, Saratoga & $5 minimums

The Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs, Jim Dandy (G2) day at Saratoga and the new $5 minimum win-place-show wager at Kentucky Downs are the three big topics up for discussion on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Megan Devine brings her TV analyst’s perspective to the Million from the track in Virginia that is hosting the race for the fourth time. She talks about some of the contenders for the race and also previews the Secretariat (G2) and Beverly D. (G2) stakes, the traditional curtain raisers for the Million.

From the general to the specific, trainer Ian Wilkes discusses the successful switch from dirt to turf for Burnham Square, the morning-line favorite for the Million.

Kentucky Downs vice president of racing Ted Nicholson checks in to talk about his track’s decision to raise racing’s traditional $2 wager in time for the seven-day turf meet starting in late August.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch checks out three races on Saturday’s card at Saratoga. They include the Jim Dandy, the traditional prep for the Travers (G1).

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park weigh in with their opinions about the $5 wager at Kentucky Downs and the announcement by Churchill Downs Inc. that it wants has put the for-sale sign on Presque Isle Downs and eight more of its properties.

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, sponsored by 1/ST BET.

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S9E44: San Diego compadres

The Del Mar summer takes center stage with an overview of the meet and specifics on this weekend’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes, all on this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president Josh Rubinstein spends time in an extended conversation talking about the ongoing success of the track against the backdrop of California’s struggles to compete without the auxiliary income enjoyed by other racing states. Rubinstein also talks about limits on computer players that Del Mar has added in the past year and the balance of ship-and-win bonuses vs. keeping money at home in California. He also reveals his favorite place at Del Mar other than the track itself.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps the Bing Crosby, which features trainer Bob Baffert’s standout colt Cornucopian. He also offers tips on the Osunitas Stakes turf mile on the Bing Crosby card as well as the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga featuring top-level winners Always a Runner from the Kentucky Oaks and Counting Stars from the Acorn.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their popular host chat including overseas futures odds on the Breeders’ Cup Classic. They also the weigh in during listener and reader feedback on last weekend’s closing of Hawthorne, the last horse track in Chicagoland.

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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S9E43: Live again for the Haskell

The Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes highlights the conversations as the crew returns from hiatus to go live, or at least as live as can be, episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Former Philadelphia Daily News sports writer turned TV personality Dick Jerardi weighs in on Monmouth Park’s signature race, which features beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Further Ado and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo. He also talks about defending his 2025 victory in the Haskell Betting Challenge.

Chad Summers, who trains Napoleon Solo, discusses his colt who he believes still can mount a challenge to dual classic winner Golden Tempo in the battle for the 3-year-old male championship. He also talks about controversial jockey Paco López, whose 30-day suspension is on appeal, allowing him to ride in Saturday’s feature.

Horse Racing Nation’s Mark Midland takes his turn in the handicappers rotation to analyze the Haskell and other weekend races.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their popular host chat.

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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S9E42: Our 500th episode

The 500th episode is celebrated this week with calls to some milestone guests on this special edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Voices who were heard on the 100th, 200th, 300th and 400th episodes are brought back to reminisce and look ahead. Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer Peter Eurton, Las Vegas sports writer Mike Brunker, game-show producer Laura Chambers, London turf journalist Nick Luck and announcer Rollye James all share stories from the last 8 1/2 years.

Conversations range from nostalgic looks back to personal experiences that brought them to the podcast to forecasts about the future of racing and their own lives. The guests talk about what they are up to now and what has happened for them in the time since their signpost appearances on the RFRP.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their popular host chat.

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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S9E41: A handicapper’s life with Barry Spears

Barry Spears, known as the Urbn Handicapper without that first A, talks about his growth as a respected horseplayer and tournament competitor when he is the special guest this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

A native of New England who lives in Florida, Spears recounts his early days when his parents and grandparents took him to racetracks to learn how to bet on horses. Those early seeds led Spears to becoming a regular at the betting windows and then a seasoned handicapper who has been a regular presence at tournaments across the country.

A self-professed math nerd, Spears gets into how the numbers game has worked for him as he integrates modern technology into his traditional forms of handicapping.

Spears also calls himself unapologetically Black. He talks about how racing has made strides in becoming more diverse but still has hurdles to clear.

Chuck Simon, the late trainer and media personality, took Spears under his wing, something that also is discussed on this episode.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their popular host chat.

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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S9E40: Foster is cooking, Aqueduct is done

The best race yet this year for older horses and the closing of a historic racetrack are the big stories this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

The Grade 1, $2 million Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs has attracted the likes of reigning horse of the year Sovereignty and multimillionaire veteran White Abarrio. It also has Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude. Ron Winchell, his owner, takes time to talk about the 4-year-old colt and his campaign to be the champion older dirt male of 2026.

Aqueduct Racetrack, which opened in 1894, closes for the last time Sunday. Steve Haskin, a historian who writes for Secretariat.com, offers perspective on the course’s place in the sport and stories about its more than 1 1/4 centuries as a hub for New York horseplayers.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch has tips for the Stephen Foster and a high-profile juvenile race on the Churchill Downs undercard, and co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their popular host chat.

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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S9E39: Tom Hammond, forever in horse country

From growing up in Kentucky to three decades at NBC as one of its most reliable broadcasters, Tom Hammond brings the stories of a career in racing and sports to the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Hammond talks about his earliest days not only in Lexington, Ky., radio but also in going to the track and getting involved with horses. He even spins a yarn about an early job as the announcer at a sales ring. Hammond majored in animal husbandry at the University of Kentucky, an achievement that translated well to his time covering races on national television.

In a business that often rewards sizzle before the steak, Hammond discusses his staying power and all the years he hosted the Breeders’ Cup and Triple Crown races, complete with post-parade nuggets that became his signature.

Some of the great games and sports events that he has witnessed also are sprinkled in this conversation, and Hammond talks about how he is spending his retirement. Here is a hint. They race horses two months a year near his home in Lexington.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their popular host chat.

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!