The Ron Flatter Racing Pod

The Breeders' Cup is only three weeks away, and it is the focus of this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod. With City Of Troy, Forever Young, Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake being flown to Del Mar to challenge the top U.S. horses in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic, how might they fare? NBC Sports' Nick Luck checks in from England to offer a scouting report on those horses as well as other internat...

The last 15 U.S. qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup will be run before the weekend is over, and they are the focus this week as the Ron Flatter Racing Pod originates from Keeneland. Track executive and hall-of-fame horseplayer Jim Goodman offers a snapshot of Grade 1 races including the Breeders' Futurity, the Turf Mile and the Spinster. He also offers an overarching view of the win-and-you're-in ra...

The inaugural California Crown day at Santa Anita on Saturday is the focus of this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod. XBTV's Zoe Cadman checks in from California to preview the Grade 1, $1 million race, which features Bob Baffert-trained Muth and National Treasure. She also discusses some of the highlights on the undercard as well as some Breeders' Cup possibilities who will be competing for trophies...

The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes are the last Grade 1 chances for 3-year-old dirt routers to compete in their own divisions. With Thorpedo Anna among them, they will race for $1 million in each of those races Saturday at Parx. That is the focus of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Track announcer and sometimes handicapper Jessica Paquette provides local insight into what could be a wide-open...

An exclusive interview with Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen is the feature this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Carstanjen provided 45 minutes of his time to answer a wide range of questions at CDI's corporate headquarters in Louisville, Ky. He discusses long-range plans for the company's racing properties as well as snapshot of Churchill's casino and online gaming components. He also...

Closing weekend at Del Mar, big-money races at Kentucky Downs and the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs fill a busy weekend that gets the attention of this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Getaway Car is the favorite for Sunday's Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, a race that has produced seven Kentucky Derby winners. SF Racing managing partner Tom Ryan discusses the process he and trainer Bob Baffert use to...

The Labor Day holiday brings the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar, opening week at Kentucky Downs and closing weekend at Saratoga. They also are conversation starters this week for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. FanDuel TV's Christina Blacker offers local knowledge from Del Mar, including her assessment of the summer season and her thoughts about the mare Adare Manor taking on males Sat...

Thorpedo Anna's run against males and The Chosen Vron's bid for a seventh consecutive victory provide transcontinental topics for this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod. At Saratoga, trainer Kenny McPeek discusses Thorpedo Anna's start Saturday in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, a race that has not been won by a filly in 109 years. He also provides an update on Kentucky Derby winner Mystik...

From a retiring trainer to a classic preview to weekend tips. They are part of this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Karl Broberg spent 15 years running his stable and had a run as North America's winningest trainer. He explains the reasons and challenges that have led him to leave the role. He speaks openly about the problems that drove him to this decision and what he plans to do next to keep his...

The  Grade 1 Arlington Million is Sunday at Colonial Downs. Even though the race and the journey there were pushed back a day because of tropical storm Debby, the Ron Flatter Racing Pod was not. This episode originates from the road to Virginia. Track announcer and podcast host Jason Beem offers his insights into the Million, the Beverly D. (G2) and the Secretariat (G2), the three traditional grad...

Three big race days at three big tracks share the focus this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. The Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes featuring Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Met Mile (G1) winner National Treasure is one of the Saratoga races discussed by New York Racing Association TV analyst Acacia Clément. She also will touch on the Test (G1), the Saratoga Derby (G1) and Cogburn in the Troy (G2)....

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 Trav...

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 w...

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 ab...

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...

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...

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 thi...

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...

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...

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...

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-ba...

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 wi...

From Baltimore, two Kentucky Derby-winning connections are among the guests previewing Preakness 2024 on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Mystik Dan's trainer Kenny McPeek and co-owner Sharilyn Gasaway talk about the experience of winning the Derby as well as their colt's chances of continuing his quest to become U.S. racing's 14th Triple Crown champion. Jimmy Barnes, the longtime assistant to trainer...

Deep analysis of every horse in Preakness 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 9. How will they play Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in his ques...

Between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, a look back and look ahead are on the menu this week for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. TV analyst Kaitlin Free talks about her uncannily accurate forecast of the Derby in addition to her early analysis of next week's second jewel of the Triple Crown. Brian Hernandez Jr., the first jockey in 15 years to win both the Derby and the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, di...