The Ron Flatter Racing Pod

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 Jr. of the Breeders’ Cup discusses how younger bettors are being lured to horse racing, and he has some advice for horseplayers. The racing flashback remembers Seabiscuit’s last race, Ron has some thoughts about Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes, and he has a story about an odd Golden Gate Fields betting game.

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 Form offers his expertise on handicapping contests, horizontal and vertical betting and even New York radio (yes, his dad was that Pete Fornatale). The racing flashback remembers when women broke through as jockeys in 1969, and Ron explains the big move in Las Vegas futures involving Bolt d’Oro.

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 some of your feedback.

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 prize money. The racing-history flashback recalls the unsolved kidnapping of champion racehorse Shergar from an Ireland stud farm 35 years ago. We also touch on a Kentucky Derby prep – the Sam F. Davis Stakes – and this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

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 Shoemaker, and the weekend preview looks at Saturday's three Kentucky Derby preps - the Holy Bull, the Withers and the Robert B. Lewis.

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 week's pod is sponsored by DRF Bets. Listen to find out how you can get a $200 betting bonus without having to pay a deposit.

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 comeback in the Pegasus. There is also a racing flashback to 1932, when Phar Lap arrived in North America only to suffer a tragic fate.

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, discusses his career. A moment in racing history flashes back to the day that Turf Paradise opened in 1956. And we break down the Lecomte, the Jerome and the Smarty Jones stakes individually and in the greater context of the Kentucky Derby.

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 undefeated 1980, which began with a January victory at Santa Anita. And Ron reviews the ballot he cast for the Eclipse Awards. Please subscribe and post a review where available at Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music and Stitcher.

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 racing in California, the Pegasus World Cup, the Kentucky Derby and the competition for betting dollars among racetracks around the country. We look back at the day Santa Anita first opened in 1934, we have some thoughts about some strange happenings on opening day, we have a snapshot of the upcoming Jerome Stakes and we remember the late Jack Van Berg.

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 betting. Our look back at racing history recalls the closing four years ago of Hollywood Park.

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.

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-gambling case might not be beneficial to racing in New Jersey. And our moment in racing history is a flashback to the controversial winning streak turned in by Rapid Redux.

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.