The Ron Flatter Racing Pod

With Saturday being the last day of Kentucky Derby preps, the Ron Flatter Racing Pod takes a long view of the 3-year-olds and previews the Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes. Hall of Fame jockey Víctor Espinoza, who will ride Bolt d'Oro in Kentucky, is our featured guest. And Daily Racing Form handicapper Brad Free analyzes some of the top contenders on the Derby trail. The racing flashback remem...

It's the biggest weekend of preps for the Kentucky Derby, and we preview the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes and Santa Anita Derby on The Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin discusses his Wood Memorial favorite Enticed, his 3-year-old fillies vying for the Kentucky Oaks and the milestones in his career working for Godolphin and dealing with multiple sclerosis. Daily Racing Form hand...

The Florida Derby and Dubai World Cup night beckon this weekend, and both are previewed on this edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Jonathan Thomas, who trains Catholic Boy, talks about his chances of winning the Florida Derby against his old bosses Todd Pletcher and Dale Romans. Track announcer Craig Evans checks in from the Middle East to discuss his first time calling the Dubai World Cup pro...

We preview this weekend's Kentucky Derby points preps on this edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Fair Grounds handicapper Joe Kristufek talks about the Louisiana Derby as well as his varied role as a racing ambassador, including an inexpensive path for anyone to become a thoroughbred owner. Actress/singer Anita Gillette remembers how she became a horse racing fan, including her visits to the t...

Saturday's Rebel Stakes and last weekend's controversial San Felipe Stakes are the main topics of the latest Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens discusses his ride in the Rebel, his reaction to the disqualification of McKinzie and promotion of Bolt d'Oro at Santa Anita and what he thinks will happen with racing if and when sports gambling is legalized nationwide. Former Nation...

Trainer Dale Romans and VSiN writer/handicapper Dave Tuley are the guests on this week's edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Romans discusses the horses he has on the Kentucky Derby trail, including 18-1 Fountain of Youth winner Promises Fulfilled, Gotham Stakes favorite Free Drop Billy and Tampa Bay Derby contender Tiz Mischief. Tuley breaks down Saturday's feature prep - the San Felipe with M...

Ron is on vacation, but he left behind a new edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Alex Waldrop talks about how years of work to cut taxes on horseplayers' winnings came down to a 48-hour race against the clock. He also talks about takeout rates, medication rules and how the U.S. Supreme Court may rule on New Jersey sports gambling. Peter Rotondo...

He was a strong favorite in futures betting to win the Kentucky Derby, but we have not seen him race since November. His trainer Mick Ruis provides an update on how Bolt d'Oro looks ahead of his 3-year-old debut next month in the San Felipe Stakes, and he has a status report on the colt's jockey assignments. Also on this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod: Peter Thomas Fornatale of the Daily Racing For...

Hank "The Hammer" Goldberg and Eric Wing discuss everything from Kentucky Derby preps to handicapping contests to sports gambling to Jimmy "The Greek" to Al Davis on this edition of The Ron Flatter Racing Pod. We preview this weekend's Risen Star, El Camino Real Derby and Southwest stakes. We have comments on Derby futures and morning lines, we remember an important racing birthday, and we sample...

This edition of the RFRP previews the National Horseplayers Championship, the country's biggest handicapping contest going on through Sunday in Las Vegas. Our guests include National Thoroughbred Racing Association COO Keith Chamblin, one of the people who runs the NHC, and Jim Goodman, who normally runs contests like this at Keeneland but this weekend is competing for the nearly $3 million in pri...

While we are in Minnesota to cover Super Bowl LII, we caught up with Vikings radio broadcaster Paul Allen, who doubles as the voice of Canterbury Park. Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo discusses the future for Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and Maryland Racing, including the possibility that the Preakness Stakes may be moved from Pimlico to Laurel Park. We look back on a moment in racing featuring Bill...

The world's richest horse race gets an in-depth preview on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, which comes to you from Gulfstream Park in Florida. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen talks about this final race for 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Handicapper Matt Bernier of the Daily Racing Form goes over each horse in the race. The flashback to racing history recalls the opening of Hialeah Park. This...

The $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational is the world's richest horse race, and it gets an early preview with racing journalist John Pricci and trainer Jamie Osborne. Pricci is in south Florida to offer a handicapping snapshot of the Jan. 27 race and discuss the concept that spawned this big-money event. Osborne checks in from England, where he saw off Toast Of New York to continue his comeb...

Previews of three Kentucky Derby points preps this extended weekend are the focus of this RFRP. Track announcer John G. Dooley checks in from the Fair Grounds to help preview the loaded field in the Lecomte Stakes, and he also exchanges thoughts on everything from Boulogne to beignets - or racing around the world to food in New Orleans. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who rides in the Lecomte, discuss...

This edition features jockey Rajiv Maragh, who talks about his recovery from a serious 2015 injury and his move from the east coast to California. Jody McDonald (CBS Sports Radio, WFAN, WIP, SiriusXM) discusses Kentucky Derby futures betting and how racing may be helped by legalized sports gambling in his home state New Jersey. This week's moment in racing history looks back on Spectacular Bid's u...

Opening week at Santa Anita meant a visit to The Great Race Place for this week's RFRP. Trainer John Sadler reacts to his star Stellar Wind being raced one more time - but not for him - and he talks about his success in handling female horses and about the new initiatives designed to help racing in southern California. Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form shares his thoughts about the state of rac...

This is a special Christmas edition of the RFRP with GFOR (Good Friends of Ron). Chris Fallica - "The Bear" from ESPN College GameDay - comes to Las Vegas with stories about his experiences in handicapping contests as well as his thoughts about next year's Kentucky Derby. Scott Burton - the Paris-based correspondent for Racing Post - checks in via Skype to compare notes on U.S. and European race b...

Because of limited distribution at the time, the premiere episode of the RFRP is reposted here with jockey Mike Smith and turf writer Jennie Rees. This was originally posted at VSiN.com on Oct. 27, 2017. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

In a special edition of the RFRP, Blood-Horse reporter Jeremy Balan tells Ron the story of how he covered last week's San Luis Rey Downs fire, including all the challenges of getting to the scene and digesting afterward what happened. Joe Bravo was at the Jockeys' Guild Annual Assembly in Las Vegas, where he offered us some strong opinions about rider safety and even how the Supreme Court sports-g...

The fire that killed racehorses Thursday in southern California takes precedent. But we still look ahead with Zayat Stables vice president Justin Zayat to Saturday's Los Alamitos Futurity and next year's Kentucky Derby (and back at American Pharoah). TVG's Candice Hare handicaps this weekend's Hong Kong International Races. And our look back at racing history brings back memories of Silky Sullivan...

The theme of this podcast is New York. Trainer Todd Pletcher tells us about his top 2-year-olds, NYRA handicapper and TV host Andy Serling examines the Remsen Stakes and Cigar Mile. Ron Flatter looks back on a memorable day at Belmont Park that had a sad postscript. We also look back on the first pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...

On the first weekend of betting in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Wynn Las Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello discusses early wagering on the race. Tony-nominated actress/singer and Kentucky native Laura Bell Bundy talks about her love of horse racing and especially the Derby. Ron Flatter looks back at a moment in racing history 70 years ago this month, when one racehorse's funeral was such big news...

New Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee Trevor Denman discusses his 35 years calling races at Santa Anita and Del Mar, racing database creator Bruno De Julio looks at this month's thoroughbred sales in Kentucky, and both offer their views on what bettors should look for - and should ignore. Plus a moment in racing history when The Daily Racing Form was born, and we rememb...

This week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod looks back at the Breeders' Cup to find out what we may apply to betting in the weeks and months ahead. Nisan Gabbay, the winner of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, joins us to discuss his successful strategy and to respond to a collusion investigation that is focused on his victory, and Ed DeRosa of TwinSpires.com helps us break down what went rig...

The Breeders' Cup is Friday and Saturday at Del Mar, and this week's edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod looks at the $28 million event that is the richest in horse racing. Hall of Fame trainer and 14-time Breeders' Cup winner Bob Baffert is our guest for an extended conversation about his horses. Gaughan Gaming's Vinny Magliulo and South Point handicapper Patrick McQuiggan join Ron to break dow...