Winning Ponies

Donna Barton Brothers began riding professionally in 1987. Her mother was a jockey and her father was a rough-stock rider on the rodeo circuit. Her brother and sister are former jockeys. She retired from race riding in 1998, as the 2nd leading female jockey in the country by money earned. That same year she married former horse trainer Frank Brothers. She began dabbling in on-air horse racing coverage of the important events with various T.V. networks. Fresh from a 2 week trip in South Africa she will tell us about her career in the saddle and the book she published in 2011 Inside Track: Insider's Guide to Horse Racing. Matt Bernier, last seen on the National broadcast of the Haskell Stakes where he gave out Girvin as his choice and the colt caught McCraken by a nose to pay $20.40. Matt and John will 'cap the 1.2 mil Whitney (G1); the $500,000 Test (G1) and the $200,000 Hall of Fame S. (G2) from Saratoga. If time allows from Mountaineer the $250,000 West Virginia Derby.

Harlan Malter of Saposh & Malter has taken his experience as a financial consultant and moved it into the world of Thoroughbred Racing. He recently was a keynote speaker at TOBA’s “New Owner Seminar” at Indiana Grand and discussed Racing Partnerships and how to be involved in his Ironhorse Racing. His approaches vary to suit the needs and wants of those willing to get into the game. Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com. A 17-year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the NTRA, the NYRA and the DRF and is a past President of the Turf Publicists of America. He is also the longtime emcee at the NTRA National Handicapping Championship. Very familiar with the east coast racing, he will give his insight on Monmouth’s $1 million Haskell Stakes; Saratoga’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy and the Grade 1 Alfred Vanderbilt and travel out west for the prestigious Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. Eric will also tell us about upcoming events at “Horse Tourneys.

The Racing Museum and Hall of Fame will be unveiling its exhibition of 50 images shot by legendary equine photographer Tony Leonard. Entitled Racing's Greatest and America's Oldest—Selections from the Tony Leonard Collection, the photographs focus on Saratoga scenes and Hall of Fame members captured by Leonard who died at age 89 in 2012. Bobby Shiflet was the main player in bringing the show to Saratoga, where it will be on display for a year. Bobby and John will share Leonard's work, their experiences of the artist and the importance of his documenting of the racing of his era. It is time for racing to return under the ancient Elms of Saratoga and no publication covers the racing and behind-the-scenes stories better than the Saratoga Special. Tom Law with brothers Sean and Joe head up a talented team that scour the backstretch for all of the latest news. Tom will paint the picture of the upcoming meet and with John will handicap the graded stakes races on Friday and Saturday.

Walker Hancock the head man at Claiborne, not only understands and appreciates the Claiborne tradition, but he is the right age to lead the iconic breeding and racing operation into a future that is filled with new ideas, new concepts and new challenges. Now 27, Hancock has already made his mark by bringing Runhappy and Ironicus to to stand at Claiborne for the 2017 breeding season. Walker will talk about the responsibilities of maintaining Claiborne’s reputation as one of the leading breeding facilities in the world. The “Louisville King of the ‘Cappers” Byron King will be crossing state lines and heading north to Shelbyville, IN to Indiana Grand for the Indiana Derby program. Ohio Derby winner Irap hopes to pick up the winner’s share of the Indiana Derby. The DRF columnist and handicapper will join John in 'capping the main event the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3). Other races on the under card include: - the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) and the $100,000 Warrior Veterans Stakes.

Jon Court didn’t waste anytime knocking off his 600 career victory at Ellis Park on Saturday’s opening card of the 2017 race meet. With his second mount of the day, Court captured the second race for owner Joseph Scates and trainer David Dortch. Court now has won 4,036 races in North America, He will tell us a little bit about of his long career in the saddle. Jonathon Kinchen of Austin, Texas, won four National Handicapping Championship (NHC) qualifying contests in his first full year of play and earned 19,026 points overall to win the 2015 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour, which ended Sunday following a three-day tournament at Del Mar’s Surfside Race Place. As 2015 NHC Tour champion, Kinchen earned $75,000 and an automatic berth to NHC 18 in 2017. He will join John in handicapping the races at Belmont Park this Saturday namely the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1), the $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational (G2), the $750,000 Suburban H. (G2) and the $400,000 Dwyer S. (G3).

The winner’s circle at Jack Thistledown was filled with anxiety while the placing judges examined the photo finish in the $500,000 (G3) Ohio Derby. As soon as Irap’s number was flashed up, the winner circle exploded with a chant of “10 years, 10 years,” as two men cheered and jumped up and down until Irap and Leparoux made their way for the win photo. One of the two men celebrating, Dr. David Mascotti is here to tell us the reason for their celebration. Brian Zipse just got off the plane from his visit to Royal Ascot where American-based Wesley Ward once again came away as a multiple winner at the esteemed and historic meet. Brian will paint the picture of the racing scene at Royal Ascot and share all of his experiences. John and Brian will also discuss some of the big races over the Holiday weekend including the prestigious $1 million Queen’s Plate just north of the border: -The $300,000 (G1) United Nations S. at Monmouth and the $250,000 (G2) Mother Goose S. at Belmont.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horse players, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers, and affiliated horse racing associations. The organization has 17 full-time employees based in Lexington, regional sales representatives spread strategically across the country, and a horse industry advocacy team based in Washington, D.C. President and CEO Alex Waldrop will tell us about its mission. Handicapper Rich Ruda is a lifelong horse player, who has been the on-air handicapper for Thistledown for 11 years. Saturday is Ohio Derby Day, at $500,000 it is the state’s richest graded stakes race in North America that day. Thistledown’s frequent and current leading trainer, Jeff Radosevich has nominated four to the Ohio Derby. On the under-card 2 stakes races for Ohio-breds - the George Lewis Memorial S. and the J. William Petro Memorial H. He and John will analyze all three races.

Terry Finley is the CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds. He has put together numerous successful partnerships while inviting new owners into the racing game on various levels. He himself, was part of Always Dreaming's scintillating victory in the Kentucky Derby. We will be discussing his passion for the sport, his philosophy for creating partnerships and the reality of being part of owning a Kentucky Derby winner. Saturday Night is All Right for Betting! It certainly will be at Churchill Downs on Stephen Foster night with a great feature. Ed DeRosa, who is no stranger to the racing under the Twin Spires, will be our guest handicapper to analyze the races and give his impressions of the Triple Crown series. He will handicap from Churchill Downs the $500,000 Stephen Foster H. (G1); the $200,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2); the $200,000 Wise Dan S. (G2); the $100,000 Regret S. (G3) and the $100,000 Matt Winn S. (G3); from Santa Anita the $200,000 Honeymoon S. (G 2);

The Big Apple has all of the big races on Friday and Saturday with a plethora of Graded Stakes leading up to the Test of Champions - the 1 1/2 mile Belmont that has brought together a large field with excellent credentials to become a Classic winner. Two excellent handicappers will be joining us to cover as many of those stakes as we can. Well respected attorney Steve Pierson, and an accomplished handicapper who specializes in Pick-3 and Pick-4 wagers, will be analyzingI in addition to the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1), the $1.2 million Metropolitan H. (G1), the $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan S. (G1) and the $750,000 Ogden Phipps S. (G1). Belterra race caller and odds maker Ed Meyer will pick up additional Belmont Stakes Day under-card action with the $700,000 Acorn S. (G1), the $700,000 Just A Game S. (G1), the $500,000 Woody Stephens S. (G2) and the $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational S. (G2). Look Out for our Belmont Stakes Contest for Cold Cash and Merchandise!!

DRF's Jay Privman and Ed McNamara of Newsday earned top honors in the NYRA's eighth annual Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Contest, recognizing the best in print and internet coverage of the 2016 Belmont Stakes, won by Creator. The winners to receive their awards at Rockefeller Center during the draw for the 149th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1). Jay will give us his analysis of the big race. Eric Wing, Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, is a 17-year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the NTRA, the NYRA and the DRF. He is also the longtime emcee at the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Eric will tell us about an exciting contest involving the Belmont Stakes, share his thoughts about the first 2 legs and analyze with John aside from the big race, the $500,000 Penn Mile S. (G2) from Penn, the $200,000 Pennine Ridge S. (G3) at Belmont, the $175,000 Connaught Cup (G2) at Woodbine and the $100,000 Aristides S. (G3) at Churchill.

Stacie Clark, raised in Ontario, Canada, is the daughter of thoroughbred trainer Joan Clark and owner Peter Clark. Growing up around racing, her parents’ passion for the industry soon became her own. From riding as a jockey to being Associate Producer and Racing Television Commentator to Award winning productions “Woodbine Entertainment Live” and “Woodbine Racing Live, Stacie currently serves on Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She will give us a glimpse on a life lived around horses and racing. Rich Eng is a respected author, columnist and handicapper. A frequent guest on Winningponies, he will give his analysis of the 3-year-old crop after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes outcomes. Rich and John will also look at Saturday races from Canada to Kentucky. From Woodbine the $175,000 Nassau S. (G2); from Monmouth Park the $100,000 Red Bank S. (G3); from Churchill Downs the $100,000 Winning Colors S. (G3); and from Arlington Park the $100,000 Arlington Classic S. (G3).

Brian Zipse of Horse Racing Nation will be our first guest. He and members of his staff were at the Kentucky Derby and we will get his analysis of the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. Brian and his team have been concentrating this week on the Preakness Stakes and we will get his insights into some of the new shooter and troubled Kentucky Derby runners who hope to turn the tables on Always Dreaming in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Award-winning turf writer Tom LaMarra will join us to handicap the $1.5 million Preakness (G1), the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and solid stakes on Pimlico's Saturday under card. The former news editor of the Blood-Horse now lives in the Maryland region promoting racing in the Mid-Atlantic and is familiar with the horses going to post in the big races.

Our main man Ed Meyer is stepping in with the post-Derby and Preakness analysis. Of the handicappers we had on the Derby/Oaks Show, Ed came in with the best selection in the Oaks: Abel Tasman was followed home by 12-1 Daddys Lil Darling, and 36-1 Lockdown, who rallied from eighth. Abel Tasman returned $20.40, $9.20, and $6.40 across the board, while Daddys Lil Darling paid $11 to place and $6.60 to show, with Lockdown returning $18.40. The Daily Racing Form's expert handicap Matt Bernier will join us for his analysis of the Kentucky Derby and insights to the competition lining up to challenge Always Dreaming in next week's Preakness Stakes. Top racing is returning to his backyard at Belmont Park and we will check out Matt's picks and pans, in particular the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) that has launched many a good horse into the Belmont Stakes over the years. Also on the card the $400,000 Man o' War S. (G1), the $250,000 Ruffian H. (G2) and the $150,000 Beaugay S. (G3).

The Derby is finally here... The show will be all handicapping of the Kentucky Oaks / Derby with three of our most popular handicappers - Tom Law, Dan Illman and Ed Meyer. They will give us their impressions, first hand accounts of workouts and analysis of the contenders in both Grade 1 races this weekend at Churchill Downs. Tom Law is the Managing Editor of ST Publishing, Inc. Among his other writing awards, he is the winner of the Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Award. Dan Illman is the DRF.com Handicapping Editor and host of the DRF News Desk. He was also co-host of the weekly New York City-OTB TV show “Out of the Gate”. Ed Meyer is the track announcer and morning line-odds maker for Belterra Park and Casino. Ed was the original Winning Ponies Radio Show host, and has been writing and blogging for Winning Ponies since 2008. As it has been our tradition in the past, we will be hosting a handicapping contest on the Derby, rules and payouts to be announced on the show.

Dick Downey concentrates his entire year on analyzing the Kentucky Derby. It has been a passion of his for decades and he will share his insights into this year's field with us this week. If you have been following the Derby trail you know that this is one of the most wide open Run for the Roses we have seen in years. That should make for plenty of betting opportunities and options to cash a big ticket. DRF's Byron King is a Louisville-based writer and handicapper who is dialed in to the action under the Twin Spires. In the first segment we will talk about his impressions of the Derby prep races and list the major horses to watch. We will also take a look at some of the top races including Friday's closing $150,000 Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and the Saturday opening night's $100,000 William Walker at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Kenny McPeek’s Senior Investment looked like a horse screaming for 1 ¼ miles when he rallied from 9th to 1st in the $200,000 Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland on Saturday. Sad to say he came up short on the Derby points system, but he could be headed towards the Preakness or Belmont Stakes. It’s Your Nickel, sixth in the $1 mil Blue Grass S. (G2) on April 8, worked a half-mile in :48.80 Tuesday morning and would make his next start in the April 22 Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne. Kenny will let us know about his plans for both colts. Veteran turf writer and handicapper Bob Railbird Roberts has covered numerous Kentucky Derbies over his many years with the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He is no stranger to Charles Town, who will feature the richest race in North America this Saturday - the $1.25 mil Charles Town Classic (G2). The Railbird will join John in cappin' that race, the $250.000 Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne Park and the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland.

As much as Corey Johnsen moves in promoting racing no green grass grows under his feet. TurfTalk360.com is a sister website to the popular JockeyTalk360.com. TurfTalk is produced by the father-son team of Corey and C.J. Johnsen, with award-winning writer Jennie Rees the editor. Corey Johnsen is president and part-owner of Kentucky Downs, the all-grass track. “Turf racing is growing exponentially in America Corey said. With more than 40% of stakes contested on grass, he will make the case for turf racing. Oaklawn Park will host some of the hottest racing action on Saturday. DRF's Mary Rampellini is on the scene and will provide her insights with John analyzing the last major race in the KY Derby Championship Series - the $1 million Arkansas Derby a (G1) race that will determine if last year's 2-year-old champion Classic Empire has returned to his form of old after a few setbacks. They will also look at the $750,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) and the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3).

Barbara Livingston’s 'Old and New Friends' which chronicles the lives of 100 retired racehorses, including 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah is one of this year’s Tony Ryan Book Award finalists. The DRF recently featured a photo documentary of Man O’ War on it's 100th birth Anniversary and Livingston displayed never-before seen photos of places where Man O’ War has left an amazing historic hoof-print. We will discuss with two-time Eclipse Award winning Livingston her evolution from a horse loving camera toting teenager to one of the most respected equine photographers in the sport. Ed Meyer is our expert handicapper as Saturday’s racing returns to his playground at Keeneland. While the card is filled with graded stakes races, Ed and John will key in on the Championship Points-laden $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G2), the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) and the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1). As time allows Ed and John will weigh in on the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Dr. Kendall Hansen has set out to help prove his namesake stallion, the champion juvenile Hansen, in his lone U.S. crop before being sold to Korea in late 2013. The northern Kentucky-based pain-management doctor expanded his broodmare band to breed or co-breed 37 of Hansen’s 102 registered foals in his debut crop. 25 of those horses would later be offered at auction by the doctor himself, while also purchasing six foals. Some were added to his racing stable, others were pin hooked, and some sold privately. He will expand on his involvement with Hansen. Gary West is a New Orleans native who will weigh in on 3 Fair Grounds Stakes that have plenty of Cajun connections. Wayne Catalano, will saddle Farrell in the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks, with 100 points to the winner. The G2 Louisiana Derby also carries 100 points and Cajun jockey Brian Hernandez will be sitting atop Girvin for Joe Sharp. In the G2 New Orleans Handicap for older horses New Orleans native trainer Tom Amos returns with Mo Tom.

Eric Hamelback is the CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. He is the former general manager of Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm in Paris, Ky. Originally from Frierson, Louisiana Hamelback attended Louisiana State University where he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Systems. As CEO of the National HBPA, Eric serves as representative for the largest horsemen’s group in North America. He will tell us how he got involved with thoroughbreds and racing. Biggest week of racing for Turfway Park “Kentucky’s Winter Track.” The Florence, Kentucky oval is calling in the services of handicapper Joe Kristufek to be the day’s on-air talent. He will share his thoughts with John on the main races - The $500,000 Jack Casino Spiral Stakes (G3) which carries points for the Ky Derby and the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) the points race for the Ky Oaks. For horses that couldn’t get in the Spiral there is the $100,000 Rushaway Stakes.