Winning Ponies

Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends Equine Retirement Farm in Gorgetown KY, will talk about Old Friends as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. He said when news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002, the discovery gave even more impetus to our organization. We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds, noted President and founder Michael Blowen. We knew such a death must never happen again. And so the plan became to bring at risk racehorses--those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end--to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve, and open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need. Richard Eng, author of Handicapping for Dummies and writer for Las Vegas Review Jounal and Daily Racing Form, will handicap the

Mr. Mac McBride, Director of Media Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, will paint an image of this storied track past, present and future and review the tremendous weekend of racing they have lined up, highlighted by the Pacific Classic. Jay Privman, an award-winning correspondant for The Daily Racing Form is currently the host of the Thoroughbred Loas Angeles Radio Show. Jay will discuss his career in racing and handicap the top races across the country including the Travers Stakes and Pacific Classic.

Pat is a breast cancer survivor and donates much of her time in fundraising efforts for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. John will have us get up-to-speed to what Pat has been up-to lately. Andy Serling will share stories of his Saratoga youth, his relationship with Harvey Pack and will handicap the stakes races of the weekend.

Dan Collins who manages Bona Venture Stables, is a life-long racing enthusiast who once spent a summer covering the horse racing scene for The Saratogian newspaper in Saratoga Springs, NY. In 1996, Mr. Collins became involved in his first racing syndicate and began learning about pedigrees, conformation and the sales process. He purchased his first thoroughbred in 1999 and formed Bona Venture Stables in 2005. Bona Venture Stables LLC is a horse racing organization dedicated to providing the average investor an opportunity for ownership in a major league sports franchise – thoroughbred horse racing! Today, there are about 40 individuals who are involved in individual ownership of a thoroughbred race horse through Bona Venture Stables. They maintain an active stable of between 8 to 15 thoroughbreds racing, and breeding primarily in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida. They take a unique approach to ownership by actively engaging their members in a social atmosphere in addition to their par

Retired jockey Chris McCarron will be the first guest on Winning Ponies this Thursday. Winner of the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1974 and the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in ’80, McCarron led North America by races won three times and by money won four times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. Not one to rest on his laurels, he founded the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. Chris is a wealth of knowledge of the sport on so many levels and his enthusiasm is infectious. Our guest handicapper this week will be Tom Law the Managing Editor of the Thoroughbred Times. Tom is also the President of the National Turf Writers Association and was recognized for his outstanding writing abilities when he received the prestigious Red Smith Award. Tom hails from Saratoga, New York and will be able to bring a personal perspective to racing at one of the most unique racetracks steeped in history and beauty.

For those of you who do not recognize the name, Andy is one of the greatest minds in the thoroughbred racing industry. While attending Harvard in the 1960s, he decided to pursue his passion -- beating the horse races. Over the past four decades, his research and insights have revolutionized and legitimized the industry. Using his math skills, Mr. Beyer created a new way to rate the speed of a horse in a race. The formula he created, known as the Beyer Figures, has allowed horse enthusiasts around the world to better gauge how well a horse ran in previous races and from this information, deduce the potential speed of the horse in future races. In a sense, they are like momentum ratings in our industry.

Graham Motion: Born on May 22, 1964, in Cambridge, England, Mr. Motion's father Michael was internationally recognized as the representative for Tattersalls, the British sales company. So he was around horses early in his life, accompanying his father to the sales. Mr. Motion worked for Jonathan Sheppard from 1985-90, briefly for Jonathan Pease in France, and Bernie Bond after his return to the United States in 1991. Mr. Motion notched his first training victory with Bounding Daisy at Laurel Park in 1993. He won his first career Grade I winner when Film Maker won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on October 11, 2003. He won his first Breeders' Cup race with Better Talk Now who was victorious in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Lone Star Park in 2004. Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt a friend to this show, will handicap with the host some of this weekend's major stakes races around the country.

Since the New Kent County track opened in 1997, the Virginia native, now 58, has been the top trainer seven of the 12 seasons. Last summer, he saddled a single-season record 30 winners, according to official records. In all, he has saddled 201 winners at Colonial Downs. “These years at Colonial Downs have been awesome for me,” said Allen, whose main training operation is in Maryland. “I shake my head and wonder why I have done so well.” Ferris Allen’s passion for horses goes back to his childhood years at Warwick Stable, his father’s horse farm in eastern Henrico County’s Varina area. “I was galloping horses at 11 and riding in races at 13,” Allen recalled. “As I have said many times, if I wanted to be around my dad when I was a kid, I had to be around horses. We had a good father-son relationship. But that doesn’t mean he was easy on me.” His father is Albert Ferris Allen Jr., whom everybody calls Bert. A fixture at the same table in Colonial Downs’ Turf Club when the horses are running, Bert Allen has miss

Midwest trainer Mike Nance “blames” his family for his successful 25-year career in horse racing. But it wasn’t because they bought him a pony. One of the favorite weekend destinations of the Nance family was an afternoon at Ellis Park Racetrack, so the seed was firmly planted in young Michael. By the ripe age of five, the Evansville, Ind. native was fairly adept at interpreting the racing form. The racetrack was his heaven, and he loved every minute of it. When he was 8-years old, Nance was hopping on city buses by himself to catch Ellis’ weekend cards. Instead of “playing baseball as I told my Mom,” he was armed with a pocket full of money earned from doing odd jobs and ready for a run to the track. “Of course I couldn’t bet (legally),” recalls Nance. But I hung around with these old guys who’d place bets for me. I’d have five dollars, and if I didn’t win, I was out for the day.” He won more often than not, and the races, the horses, and the excitement were in his blood. Horse racing remained a constant int

Anthony W. Tony Dutrow (born April 27, 1958 in Hagerstown, Maryland) is the eldest of three brothers involved in Thoroughbred racing. He is the son of the late well-known Maryland trainer Richard E. Dutrow, Sr. A brother to trainer Rick Dutrow, the youngest brother Chip works as Tony's assistant. Tony Dutrow grew up in the racing business, and as a boy helped out at his father's barn. Having learned to condition horses, he took out his training license and earned his first win in 1975 at Delaware Park Racetrack. He worked with his father for several years, then beginning in 1985 with trainer Bobby Frankel in California until going out on his own in 1987. Tony Dutrow won his 1,000th career race October 18, 2007 at Belmont Park with Zayat Stables' New York-bred La Ransom. W. Bret Calhoun (born May 12, 1964 in Dallas, Texas) is the son of a school teacher who also owned and trained horses. Mr. Calhoun attended Texas Tech University but left before graduating. He began his professional training career in 1993 an

Mr. Picklesimer, who has been many times on this show, this week he will be Tyler Picklesimer Director of Racing at Colonial Downs. He will talk with our host about the meet, and the upcoming Virginia Derby. Tyler is up and coming in the industry, and has been sought after by all the big tracks. Rosemary Homeister is closing in on being the second all-time leading woman rider. Homeister, one of Tampa Bay Downs' top riders, has won an Eclipse Award and ridden in a Kentucky Derby. Today, the 38-year-old Hollywood, Fla., native recalls that she got the itch to be a jockey at tender age of 2.

Kelly Breen is one of the leading trainers in the horse racing business, as well as the trainer for Kentucky Derby hopeful Pants on Fire. Pants on Fire took home the Louisiana Derby this year, besting Mucho Macho Man, Nehro, and other top horses. He will be stopping by the show this week to discuss his recent success with Pants on Fire. Additionally, he will talk about the challenges and necessities in preparing a horse for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

Longtime publicity Director at River Downs, and President of the Turf Publicists of America, Mr. Engelhardt a friend to this show, will handicap with the host the 143rd Belmont Stakes card, and together they will take a crack at the $1 million guaranteed Pick-4.

Kenneally Racing Stable, managed by trainer Eddie Kenneally, operates from Churchill Downs and Keeneland in the spring and summer, racing in Kentucky and in the Chicago area at Hawthorne, Sportsman's Park, and Arlington, and in Louisiana at Fair Grounds in the winter. Eddie is from County Waterford, Ireland. He grew up with horses, learned the basics, and worked his way up, following a path that allowed him to learn from some of the most respected names in racing. Horse racing is in the Kenneally family. Eddie's Uncle, John Kenneally, finished second on a horse called Purple Silk in the Aintree Grand National in 1964. He led the race until after the final fence and was beaten only by a nose! Eddie's brother, Johnny Kenneally, runs Erinvale Thoroughbreds, one of the largest consignors of yearlings in Australia. Eddie came to the U.S. in 1987, and went to work for trainer Rusty Arnold. He saw much of the country working as assistant trainer for Tom Skiffington in New York, California, and Florida, and then for

Albertrani was born March 21, 1958 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and now resides in Garden City, N.Y. He first went to work walking hots and grooming horses for his uncle, trainer Jack Abatemarco. He started learning the basics with his uncle and eventually went on to become a jockey. The family moved from Brooklyn to Valley Stream when Albertrani was 10. In order to begin riding sooner before he grew too big, Albertrani took part in an accelerated program at Valley Stream High School on Long Island and completed his course work early in 1976. Broke in as an apprentice in New York and New Jersey at the age of 19, but was still busy in the morning working as an exercise rider. “I was kind of doing both. I was galloping horses and picking up a mount here and there. Then he began working for trainer Mark Casse, first as an exercise rider/jockey and then as assistant trainer. He was introduced to trainer Bill Mott through Casse and had the opportunity to gallop top fillies Heatherten and Sefa's Beauty . He stayed in New Yor

Dangerous Dan will again join our host Ed Meyer in handicapping the entire cards for the Black-eyed Susan and the 136th Preakness Stakes to be run respectively this Friday and Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom will be shipping there the day of the race, on his quest to become the next Triple Crown Winner. Needless to say that Dangerous Dan put in a strong endorsement for Animal Kingdom on our Derby show. We hope that some of our listeners took heed and made a few bucks.

Jesus Lopez Castanon was born on 3/4/73 in Mexico City, and currently lives in Kentucky, KY. Jesus Became involved in racing at an early age, as his dad was a trainer in Mexico and his brothers, Tony, and Jose were jockeys also in Mexico. His first winner was She's The World at Aqua Caliente on 4/21/89. Mr. Castanon always said: My role models are my brother Tony and (Hall of Famer) Lafitt Pincay, Jr. Jesus's favorite hobbies are golf and soccer. Jesus Castanon rode Shackleford for Dale Romans to finish 4th in the 137th Kentucky Derby. He will share that experience with us, and give us an insight on the future of Shackleford. Join us as our host will takes us through that very unpredicted Derby outcome, trying to sort out that race.

Dangerous Dan will join our host Ed Meyer in handicapping the entire cards for the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, to be run respectively this Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs. The weather may be a factor as rain is in store for both days.

Calling in for Eddie Castro will be his agent Mike Gonzalez. Eddie Castro is not fluent in English and his agent does all the interviews for him. Eddie Castro (born 4/10/1985 in Panama) grew up on a produce farm there where he learned to ride saddle horses at an early age. Influenced by the accomplishments of other local jockeys, Castro attended the Panamanian Jockey School and began riding in races in December 2002. In just over three months he rode thirty-six winners in Panama then decided to move to the United States where he debuted on April 16, 2003 at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Although his fellow apprentice jockeys had more a three-and-a-half month head start, Castro wrapped up the year as the winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. On June 4, 2005 at Calder Race Course, Eddie Castro set an American record with nine wins on a single race card and on November 15, 2006 at Churchill Downs won his 1,000th race. That year, he rode Miesque's Approval to victory in the Sunshine Millio

Kelly Breen is one of the leading trainers in the horse racing business, as well as the trainer for Kentucky Derby hopeful Pants on Fire. Pants on Fire took home the Louisiana Derby this year, besting Mucho Macho Man, Nehro, and other top horses. He will be stopping by the show this week to discuss his recent success with Pants on Fire. Additionally, he will talk about the challenges and necessities in preparing a horse for the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Kelly Breen is also the trainer for Ruler on Ice, Nacho Saint, Nacho Business, Sleepless Knight, among other horses. He is currently the private trainer for Lori and George Hall, and has been since 2007. His earnings so far this year are over $1.2M with an 18% win percentage and 42% in the money. He is based out of Monmouth Park, NJ and led the track in wins in 2005 and 2006.