Winning Ponies

The 2018 Preakness Stakes is Here!! Frank Angst has been covering the recent Supreme Court ruling that will allow legal Sports Betting. The question is - how will this impact racing? Will racing,racinos and racetracks profit from this act - or will it put them in jeopardy? Frank will weigh in on all sides and hopefully give us his perspective on the Preakness Stakes. Award winning writer and veteran handicapper Tom LaMarra has moved his profession to the Maryland region and he will be our featured handicapper. He will join John in his analysis of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on Friday and the $1.5 million 143rd Preakness Stakes (G1) on Saturday and the key races on the strong undercard - such as the $250,000 Dixie Stakes (G2) and the $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3), all at Pimlico.

Natalie Turner jockey-turned-Marketing-Director for racing wanted to ride horses since the age of 7. Eli a bay quarter horse was her first horse. Her first live race was at Turfway Park. To become a jockey Natalie joined the North American Racing Academy (NARA) for a 2 year program. She started her riding career at River Downs (Belterra now) and also rode at Churchill and Ellis Park. As Marketing Director, Natalie said she would like to see every track install safety rails like Keeneland has, and fix some of the stereotypes Thoroughbred racing has gained over the years. Handicapper, racecaller, oddsmaker and Winningponies blogger Ed Meyer will join John to discuss the outcome of the Kentucky Derby. The Regular Guys will then look forward to the Preakness Stakes - who's coming, and who is laying low until the Belmont? 2 top graded races at Belmont Park - the 1 $700,000 Man O' War (G1) and the $350,000 Peter Pan (G3). also they will look at Sunday's Tomboy Stakes at Belterra Park.

Talk Derby to me! will be the theme of our Kentucky Derby/Oaks show and we've landed a multiple award-winning turf writer and one of the most respected handicappers on the national racing scene. John is on the backstretch of Churchill Downs this week and there he caught up with Tom Law of the Saratoga Special who is covering the Derby for the Irish Times. Tom should have plenty of information on trainer Aiden O'Brien and his smashing 3-year-old Mendelssohn, recent winner of the UAE Derby by 18 1/2 lengths! Dan Illman will take a break from his duties as the point man at the Daily Racing Form to join the conversation. He should shine plenty of light on the East Coast invaders coming to Louisville for the big two-day event that is loaded with plenty of stakes action. Dan will also tell us about featured coverage at DRF.com over the two days by their many writers and reporters.

With a little over a week left until the Run for the Roses we brought back two guest handicappers to sort out the deep field of talent taking shape for the Derby... Cleveland rocks! And things will be rocking again as Thistledown opens its doors this week. Joining us is Rich Ruda who hosts the on-air handicapping show and pays plenty of attention to the national racing. Rich will give us an overview of the upcoming season and he and John will weigh in on their observations of the Kentucky Derby field that is slowly coming together as one of the deepest group assembled in recent memory. Daily Racing Form's breeding columnist Joe Nevills will analyze the Kentucky Derby field from a pedigree perspective. Who can get the distance and who can't? Always a factor in the first - and perhaps the only time - the field of twenty will go the mile and quarter distance.

Trainer Gary Johnson is a man who re-invented himself - twice. He has been a guest as a former trainer-turned-tournament player, who used his skills as a sharp claiming trainer to spot winners in big money handicapping contests. Previous to that, he won numerous trainer titles at Thistledown. From 1998 to 2002 he won over $1 million each season. After his hiatus as a trainer to do the tourney tours, the lure of the track drew him back. He started out with 3 horses claimed at Tampa Bay and now has 50 heads. He is already closing in on $1/2 million in purses in 2018 and is 2nd in the trainer standings at Mahoning Valley and about to move his stable back to Thistledown for the summer. Gary will swap stories with John and take a look at this year's Kentucky Derby. Brian Zipse is a popular guest on Winningponies. The founder of Horse Racing Nation will give us his current top ten list in the Run for the Roses. He will also give us a glimpse of a new racing venture he is starting.

After 35 years, 52 racetracks, and 32 broken bones, jockey Joe Steiner retired July 21, 2016. He wants to pursue a career in sports psychology helping jockeys and other athletes deal with the trials and tribulations of life. In Germany he met the renowned therapist Linda Tellington Jones famous for what is called “The Tellington Touch.” He will tell us about his new experiences in Equine Therapy and his wife Dagmire’s upcoming book – “The Art of Old Friends” that she has crafted as an ode to the farm's famous and not-so-famous retirees. Nancy Ury Holthus is the on-air handicapper at one of North America's most unique racing venues - Oaklawn Park in quaint Hot Springs, Arkansas. This Saturday is the meet's swan song anchored by the last major Kentucky Derby prep race - the $1 million Gr. 1 Arkansas Derby. Also on the card the $750,000 Gr. 2 Oaklawn Hcp and $400,000 Gr. 3 Count Fleet Hcp. John and Nancy will analyze these races and learn about her background in the racing game.

It is big points time for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks with six 100 points races for the winners, virtually guaranteeing them a berth in the starting gate at Churchill. Jay Privman covers the Southern California circuit plus such national events as the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. He is the author of Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship Day and a contributor to Champions. Jay will provide us with insight into the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). He will also give us his impressions on the other major 3-year-old prep races. Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, horse racing's #1 destination for player-friendly qualifying contests and low-takeout cash games. Eric has accepted the task of tackling 4 races - the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) from Keeneland, plus the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and the $300,000 Gazelle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.

It's been a tough week for members of the Guild with the loss of jockey Jose Flores, 56 who was taken off life support on last Thursday following an accident in a race on Monday at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa. Parx Racing, in a statement, called Flores an embodiment of all that is good in the world of horse racing. The accident occurred when his horse fell down, knocking Flores off. He suffered massive head trauma after hitting the ground headfirst. He is the all-time money-winning jockey at Parx, Terry Meyocks currently the national Manager of the Jockeys' Guild, Inc. will be on. 2018 Horse Players World Series winner Bob Montgomery will be our guest handicapper. Bob and John will 'cap the graded races at Gulfstream Park: - The $1 million Florida Derby (G1) with points for the Kentucky Derby, the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) with points for the Kentucky Oaks, the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), the $250,000 Pan American S. (G2) and the $250,000 Honey Fox S. (G3).

The recent HBPA National Convention took place last week and President Eric Hamelback will join us to discuss the most important topics handled over the three day sessions - Sports Betting, Workforce Initiative and Drug Contamination issues. To appreciate how public opinion on sports betting has changed in recent years, consider that the NFL went from banning Las Vegas commercials on the Super Bowl broadcast to relocating a team there. While the NFL still opposes sports betting, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball now favor legalizing wagering on sporting events and are lobbying various states to receive a piece of the revenue. Marcus Hersh, columnist for DRF is boots on the ground at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Saturday's program is highlighted by the Louisiana Derby and the Fair Grounds Oaks with solid under card races like the New Orleans Handicap. and the Muniz Memorial. Marcus will join John to analyze those competitive stakes events.

Restaurateur Jeff Ruby has been a racing fan since high school. Aside from running some of the best Steak Houses in the Midwest, Jeff Ruby has been a horse owner and a huge supporter of the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund. But now he is taking his exposure in the racing game to a new level - as the sponsor of a graded stakes race - the Jeff Ruby Steaks (formerly the Spiral Stakes) at Turfway Park. He will join us to discuss his love of horse racing, support of the Jockeys' Guild and decision to sponsor a graded STEAKS race. It has been a while since we had a visit from our favorite handicapper, and former host of WinningPponies - Ed Meyer. Ed is very familiar with Turfway Park and has worked at the track in numerous capacities over the decades. He will join John to analyze the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) - both with points towards the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Also with Derby points the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) from Oaklawn Park.

They say There is nothing better for the inside of a man, than the outside of a horse. Linda Dyer heads a unique program for the Thoroughbred Retirement Fund at the Blackburn Correctional Institution where she teaches inmates how to care for thoroughbred horses and potentially become skilled enough to get employment after their release. Hard to believe how quickly we are closing in on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The points system is increasing and positions in the starting gate are slowly being filled. One way to stay on top of the action is through Thisishorseracing.com. Each Saturday they provide a feature on their site called the Saturday Special that keeps track of all the post times and story lines behind the big races of the day. Tom Law, one of the major contributors to the site, will join John to discuss the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2); the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3); the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and for the ladies the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3).

Raina Marie Paucar Is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist Specializing in Sports Massage and Biomechanics for the Equine Athlete. She has over 20+ years of field experience with racehorses and performance horses. During her career she has worked with Thoroughbreds from the foaling stall, through the starting gate, and beyond. Raina is dedicated to helping horses achieve peak performance and an overall state of well-being through the services offered in her practice. Sessions are developed by assessing a horse’s needs and the client’s goals to get best results. Gulfstream Park plays host to 9 stakes races - 8 of them graded. The $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) will feature the seasonal debut of 2-year-old Champion Good Magic and carry 50 Ky Derby points to the winner. The $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) will pave the way to the Ky Oaks with 50 points to the winner. Track Announcer Pete Aiello and John will analyze those races and the $200,000 Mac Diamida Stakes (G2).

Mike Battaglia will be one of the hosts and story tellers at Latonia Days at Turfway Park Friday and Saturday. On Friday evening they will contest the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes with Mike and many family members on hand for the winners circle trophy presentation. Turfway Park will celebrate its long and colorful history Feb. 23 and 24 with Latonia Days, two days of storytelling, special guests, memorabilia displays, films, and photos. Mike will share memories of Latonia prior to becoming Turfway Park. His father was General Manager at Latonia and River Downs. Mike recently retired from his longtime duties at Keeneland after stepping out of the announcer's booth at Turfway Park. Brian Zipse will join John to discuss the early Kentucky Derby Preps - who's hot and who's not. They will also handicap the $150,000 Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita and the $100,000 Grade 3 Hal's Hope from Gulfstream Park.

Keith Chamblin, Senior Vice President of the NTRA is fresh off coordinating the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. He will discuss the activities at the contest and other projects the NTRA worked on last year that are making things Better for the bettor. Keith Chamblin serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Frank Angst will join John to look at three races that carry points for the Kentucky/Oaks. Two big races take place at the Fair Grounds - the Gr. 2 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra for the ladies and the Gr. 2 $400,000 Risen Star for the boys. Out west the $100,000 El Camino Real will be contested at Golden Gate.

Noel Michaels is a consultant for the NTRA and the author of the “Handicapping Contest Handbook: A Horseplayer’s Guide to Handicapping Tournaments,” which made his name virtually synonymous with the increasingly-popular tournament scene. Michaels will host a live video coverage of the NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas, Friday Feb. 9th through Sunday Feb. 11th from 5-8 p.m. ET on the NTTA Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/1NTRA). It will include interviews with NHC personalities, handicapping and previews of mandatory races and live coverage of Sunday’s Final Table. He will share his insights on the contest. 2017 Horseplayer of the Year and the 2017 NHC winner, Ray Arsenault, of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, received an automatic berth into this year’s tournament to defend the title he won last January when he won with a mythical bankroll of $407.70 from 53 Win-and-Place wagers on more than 150 races run at 8 different tracks. He will talk about the skill set required to win.

Patricia McQueen is an award-winning photographer, journalist and lifelong horse racing fan. She fell in love with the sport as a pre-teen watching Secretariat on television in 1973 and never looked back. Patricia was on Winningponies recently, but she and John had so many Secretariat stories they barely scratched the surface and ran out of time. This will be Part 2 and will include her charitable efforts supporting the industry. Popular handicapper / writer Rich Eng will join in for the handicapping portion of the show. The trail to the Triple Crown will have a trifecta of point races to get in the Derby with the Grade 2 $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes from Gulfstream Park; the Grade 3 $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct and the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita.

Jockeys' Guild 2017 Assembly took place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Dec. 11-12, 2017. Retired Jockey Jeff Johnston, the Midwest Regional Manager for the Jockeys' Guild was in attendance and will give us an insight on the annual event. Many entities were represented at the event such as Betfair USA, Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, R.H. Clarkson Insurance Group, Transamerica Retirement Solutions, etc.... DRF's Dan Illman will give us his analysis of the $16 million Pegasus World Championship at Gulfstream and a few of the strong under card races. Most probable Horse of the Year Gun Runner heads up the Pegasus - is there a sleeper in the field who can catch him? The big day of racing has plenty of full fields and gets off to an early 11:30 a.m. start. There are two $200,000 graded stakes - the 1 1/2 mile La Prevoyante Stakes on the turf and the W.L. McKnight Handicap. Bullard's Alley, trained by recent winningponies guest Tim Glyshaw, is the race morning line favorite.

Ron Paolucci, who started going to the races as a child got into racing with a $3,500 claiming horse and through his handicapping climbed up the claiming ladder, graduation to allowance and eventually stakes horses in the Ohio-bred program. Ron now plays the game at it's highest level and will be participating in the $16 million Pegasus Stakes with two horses. It's a complicated story as he may work out a lease agreement with the connections of Sharp Azteca and he will enter his own War Story, who finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Ron will let us know the current status of his entries heading into the race. This Saturday Gulfstream Park features the Sunshine Millions series. Track announcer and handicapper Pete Aiello will join John in analyzing the $200,000 Classic; the $150,000 Filly and Mare Turf; the $100,000 Sprint and the $150,000 Turf. They will also take a look ahead at next Saturday's headliner the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

Patricia McQueen is an award-winning photographer, journalist and lifelong horse racing fan. She fell in love with the sport as a pre-teen watching Secretariat on television in 1973 and never looked back. Her first use of a camera was on a pilgrimage to see Secretariat during college, and that launched a photography career that now spans 35 years. She has never wavered in her admiration of the big red horse and followed his offspring at the racetrack whenever she could. In 1992-94, she photographed members of his last crop – at racetracks, training centers and farms. A few years ago she decided to launch a research project on Secretariat as a sire. She will tell us more. Bob Railbird Roberts will review 2017 and check out 4 graded stakes races on Saturday: the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) and the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds. Gulfstream Park's card is highlighted by the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2) and the $150,000 Marshua's River Stakes (G3).

Trainer Jeff Greenhill maintains a successful stable in the Midwest on a year-round basis. With the current arctic plunge in temperatures and track closings, it's no easy job. Jeff will tell us how he manages to keep his horses fit with such unpredictable conditions. There will be late breaking news just prior to this week's show concerning Equestricon that is moving to Louisville this year, the week of the Breeders' Cup. The event was so well received at Saratoga in its debut last year - we can only expect some interesting twists. Dan Tordjman was an intergal part of the first event and will tell us about the 2018 edition. John will also review the Gr. 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita that offers the first Kentucky Derby Points of 2018; the Gr. 2 $200,000 San Gabriel on the turf at Santa Anita and the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man from Gulfstream Park part of a stakes laden card on Saturday.