The Ron Flatter Racing Pod

Handicapping stories and plans for the Travers winner Catholic Boy are the subjects of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Catholic Boy’s trainer Jonathan Thomas talks about the path he will take to the Breeders’ Cup. Eclipse Award-winning writer John Scheinman shares stories of handicapping successes and failures and offers lessons for horseplayers both new and seasoned. The racing flashback focuses on the day Bill Shoemaker passed Johnny Longden, and we offer some food and drink tips from the summer at Del Mar. The Ron Flatter Racing Pod is available at Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts and Stitcher.

S1E48: The end of summer with Jennie Rees & Peter Rotondo Jr.

The $1.25 million Travers Stakes gets the spotlight on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Steve Byk, host of At The Races on SiriusXM, checks in from Saratoga to break down Saturday’s race. From Del Mar trainer John Sadler talks about what is next for Pacific Classic winner Accelerate and his other standout Catalina Cruiser. The racing flashback remembers the world-record mile run by Dr. Fager exactly 50 years ago, and Ron has a comment about the new Breeders’ Cup Future Wager. The RFRP is part of VSiN’s coverage of the Road to the Breeders’ Cup, sponsored by Xpressbet.

The Pacific Classic, a trip to Saratoga and the return of the world’s number-one racehorse are the focus of The Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith talks about his ride on Midnight Bisou on Saturday in the Alabama Stakes, Saratoga’s summertime feature for 3-year-old fillies, and he discusses the past with Justify, the future with Roadster and the present with the Pacific Classic on Saturday at Del Mar. Editor-in-chief Shane Anderson of the Australian multimedia platform Racing.com talks about the return of top-ranked Winx to the racetrack Friday night, whether she is truly the best horse in the world and a range of comparisons between U.S. and Australia racing cultures. The weekly flashback remembers the closing of Bay Meadows, and Ron breaks down the eight-horse field for the Pacific Classic in addition to some personal thoughts about living in Australia and experiencing racing there.

The best turf meeting this side of the Breeders’ Cup happens Saturday at Arlington Park near Chicago, and this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod originates from the site of the Arlington Million. Brian Lynch, trainer of Million favorite Oscar Performance, discusses the race and also his horse Heart To Heart, one of the top contenders in the Fourstardave Handicap on Saturday at Saratoga. Alastair "Duck" Donald, managing director of the U.K.-based International Racing Bureau, handicaps the Million, the Beverly D. and the Secretariat stakes. The Racing Flashback recalls John Henry’s photo-finish victory in the very first Arlington Million. And believe it or not, Ron has a commentary on a great debate in yacht rock.

The Whitney Stakes at Saratoga and the summer meet at Del Mar are the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Trainer Doug O’Neill discusses his success in southern California and his string of horses that include Pavel, Blended Citizen, Mopotism and some promising 2-year-olds. Childhood friends Tom Pedulla and Bob Ehalt continue to work together as New York turf writers, and they offer their preview of Saturday’s running of the Whitney, how they bet Saratoga, stories of horses they have owned and the downturn in the newspaper business that provided their livelihood for decades. The racing flashback remembers the first edition of what is now known as The Blood-Horse. There is also a preview of Saturday’s West Virginia Derby and a commentary on out-of-competition drug testing by the Breeders’ Cup. The RFRP is sponsored by X Chair.

The Haskell Invitational and Jim Dandy Stakes headline this weekend’s big races, and we preview them on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Millie Ball of XBTV breaks down both races as well as graded stakes at Del Mar. She also has her eyes on some 2-year-olds that may be worth watching over the next year, and she offers her thoughts about the retirement of Triple Crown winner Justify. Phil D’Amato, the reigning two-time training champion at Del Mar, discusses his top horses and how he has taken the reins of the stable previously run by the late Mike Mitchell. The racing flashback remembers a moment in the career of Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr.

The 154th renewal of racing at Saratoga gets the full preview treatment on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. New York handicapper Anthony “Big A” Stabile, seen on New York Racing Association TV and heard on Horse Racing Radio Network, breaks down the five graded stakes that will be run Friday-Sunday. Reigning champion owner Michael Dubb talks about Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl and her rematch with Midnight Bisou in Sunday’s Coaching Club American Oaks. The racing flashback pays tribute to Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone. And not to leave out Del Mar, Saturday’s San Diego Handicap gets a preview as well.

They make sure the media have seats in the press section, access to horsemen and answers to endless questions. They write stories, they are on both ends of media interviews, and yes, they field complaints from the media far more often than they hear compliments. They have even been known to make an informed bet or two. You often hear them referred to as spokespersons. They are the media conduits at racetracks around the country – horse racing’s public-relations professionals. You will hear from Santa Anita’s Mike Willman, the Breeders’ Cup’s Jim Gluckson, the New York Racing Association’s Najja Thompson and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Jim Mulvihill on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. There is also a preview of the Del Mar summer that starts Wednesday, some thoughts about Justify’s racing career being on hold and a flashback to Citation’s victorious exit from racing.

Monmouth Park boss Dennis Drazin discusses how his track is trying to lure Triple Crown winner Justify to the Haskell Invitational and reflects on the U.S. Supreme Court case that he helped win to open the doors to nationwide sports gambling. Longtime handicapper and horseplayer Eric Wing of HorseTourneys.com previews Stars and Stripes Day at Belmont Park. A moment of Steve Cauthen’s international riding career is remembered in the racing flashback, and we sample some of the feedback that we received on the VSiN racing column posted last week.

Recently retired Philadelphia Daily News sports writer Dick Jerardi discusses sports gambling’s impact on racetracks in New Jersey, Delaware and even Pennsylvania. He also talks about Justify’s would-be run in the Haskell Invitational. Former ESPN reporter Jeannine Edwards talks about how horses don’t race as much as they used to, and she gets us up to date on what she is doing now. We also remember the reopening of Arlington Park and preview Saturday’s Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. The RFRP is sponsored by X Chair.

Daily Racing Form chief photographer Barbara Livingston talks about her life around horses, the unique way she approaches her craft, how she drives cross-country for assignments and even how she has her own ways and reasons for forecasting races. Longtime southern California racing journalist and handicapper Bob Ike discusses the immediate future for Triple Crown winner Justify and the other top horses in Bob Baffert’s barn. We remember when Seabiscuit broke his maiden 83 years ago after 17 failures, and we share some listener feedback. The RFRP is sponsored by X Chair.

Royal Ascot is next week in England, and it is the focus of this week’s podcast. Guests include trainer Wesley Ward, who has won nine times over there and will be saddling 10 American horses led by Lady Aurelia at this year’s meeting. England-based writer Lee Mottershead of the Racing Post is also along to discuss highlight’s of the five racing days. We also flash back to last weekend’s Triple Crown to hear an exchange with jockey Mike Smith and trainer Bob Baffert – and whether they thought Justify would ever be under threat as he led most of the way in winning the Belmont Stakes.

The podcast originates from Belmont Park, where we ask if Justify will win the Belmont Stakes and with it the Triple Crown? Or will one of nine challengers end up in the winner’s circle? Todd Pletcher, who trains Vino Rosso and Noble Indy, discusses race strategy for the two colts. NBC Sports and TVG racing analyst Britney Eurton helps us analyze each of the 10 horses in the Belmont field. The racing flashback goes back 45 years to remember how Secretariat was “a tremendous machine” in winning the Triple Crown. We also preview the Met Mile, one of the other graded stakes on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes card.

Our trio of handicappers Dave Tuley, Vinny Magliulo and Patrick McQuiggan are back to break down all 10 horses racing Saturday in the Belmont Stakes - and whether they think Justify will finish his sweep of the Triple Crown.