Winning Ponies

Nicknamed “Giant Killer” (which he does not like) for the many upsets of champion horses Mr. Jerkens has orchestrated, and “Chief” for his remarkable horsemanship and knowledge. His given name is Harry. Mr. Jerkens has been involved with horses his entire life. His father, Joseph, was a captain in the Austrian cavalry before emigrating to the United States. Mr. Jerkens was going to the barn with his father, who took care of H.T. Peters' polo ponies, hunters and jumpers, when he was a pre-schooler. Later his father bought a riding academy and would always fool around with an old racehorse. Mr. Jerkens wanted to be a jockey but grew too big. During the summer of 1945, at the age of 16, he galloped horses for trainer Steve Lawler at the old Aqueduct Racetrack. The following year, Mr. Jerkens tried steeplechase riding on horses his family owned. He did not return to school after he turned 16. He and his father went into business together at Aqueduct. The Jerkenses started with five horses, some of which they ac

Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey, has been a racing fan since the mid-1970s. He graduated from Rutgers University, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually landed at Daily Racing Form. He and his wife, Karen, moved to Lexington, Ky. in 1994, and have been there since. Mr. LaMarra has been news editor of The Blood-Horse magazine for more than 10 years. He frequents local racetracks, particularly River Downs and Turfway Park in the Cincinnati area.

Born on Dec. 2, 1940 in Ashwell England, near Newmarket, the son of a 40 year British racing official, Mr. Sheppard attended Eton College before arriving in America in 1961. One of the first people he met, was legendary steeplechase trainer Burley Cocks. For the next nine months, Mr. Sheppard worked at Cocks' farm in Unionville, Pa. After a brief return to England, he spent the next two years riding races for Cocks, and may have won on about 25 of 250 rides. Mr. Sheppard then turned to training, and soon had a string of six horses. One of his initial clients was Mr. George Strawbridge Jr., owner of Augustin Stable, and one of steeplechasing's most successful owners. They have been together for 43 years. Mr. Sheppard has enjoyed great success both with flat and steeplechase runners and is one of only two trainers (the other being Hall of Famer Sidney Watters Jr.) to be able to do so.

Mr. Hennig got his start in horse racing while working for his father, trainer John Hennig. While attending Grove City High School, he worked before and after school helping at the barn. He graduated from high school in 1982, and studied veterinary medicine at The Ohio State University. During the summers he returned to horse racing, and went to Saratoga with trainer Neil Howard in 1984. He then went to work for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg in Southern California in May 1987 at age 22. Hired by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in September 1987, he became his assistant in New York for two years, and was thereafter entrusted with his own division at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Gulfstream Park and various other racetracks. In 1995 he moved his stable to New York, and began training horses for Edward Evans, but have since split.

Ben is a red-hot bug rider at Turfway Park. He is a graduate of the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky for Chris McCarron. Mr. Creed won his first race at Indiana Downs this summer, and even though he is an apprentice, he won the Turfway Park fall riding championship

Mr. McLaughlin currently has a barn of just over 120 horses. He was introduced to racing through his friendship with trainer James Burchell's son, Greg. He worked for the Lukas operation until February of 1992 to become the agent for jockey Chris Antley until November of 1993 when he started training for Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum in Dubai. Early on he had worked for trainers James Burchell, John Hennig, Mark Casse, Dave Kassen and Tim Muckler before joining the D. Wayne Lukas stable at age 24. His large stable doesn’t leave Mr. McLaughlin with much time for hobbies, but he does manage to get some poker playing in now and then. McLaughlin nearly made it through Day 2 of the main event of the 2007 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Mr. McLaughlin currently has a barn of just over 120 horses. He was introduced to racing through his friendship with trainer James Burchell's son, Greg. He worked for the Lukas operation until February of 1992 to become the agent for jockey Chris Antley until November of 1993 when he started training for Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum in Dubai. Early on he had worked for trainers James Burchell, John Hennig, Mark Casse, Dave Kassen and Tim Muckler before joining the D. Wayne Lukas stable at age 24. His large stable doesn’t leave Mr. McLaughlin with much time for hobbies, but he does manage to get some poker playing in now and then. McLaughlin nearly made it through Day 2 of the main event of the 2007 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Calvin has enjoyed a career best year in 2009 capped by victories in the Kentucky Derby, his second, aboard Mine That Bird and the Preakness Stakes aboard sensational filly Rachel Alexandra. He missed capturing a personal Triple Crown when Mine That Bird finished third in the Belmont Stakes. Borel turned heads when he gave up the mount on Mine That Bird and a chance at the Triple Crown to ride Rachel in the Preakness ... Mine That Bird finished second in the Preakness with Mike Smith aboard.

Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP) Board. He also serves on the Thoroughbred Racing Association. Mr. Elliston will talk about the Turfway Park meet that started on Sunday. For the first time, Turfway Park will cut back dates in January, February, and March. He will also address the racing industry's problems in general.

Calvin has enjoyed a career best year in 2009 capped by victories in the Kentucky Derby, his second, aboard Mine That Bird and the Preakness Stakes aboard sensational filly Rachel Alexandra. He missed capturing a personal Triple Crown when Mine That Bird finished third in the Belmont Stakes. Borel turned heads when he gave up the mount on Mine That Bird and a chance at the Triple Crown to ride Rachel in the Preakness ... Mine That Bird finished second in the Preakness with Mike Smith aboard.

Mr. Cowans has conditioned some of the top runners in the state. He is highly respected among his peers, and it is only a matter of time before you will see him on the larger circuits. His win percentages at Ohio tracks are extremely high, and he is a versatile trainert who excels with young runners, turf horses, and bringing horses to his barn fresh off the claim. In every stake race he enters, you will see Cowans with a strong entry. In addition to being an excellent horseman, Mr. Cowans is an excellent spokesman for the industry, and is a supporter of safety for horses and riders in the sport.

Mr. Elliston has been president and CEO of Turfway Park since June 1999, shortly after the track was purchased by Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment, and GTECH Corporation. An avid horse racing enthusiast his entire adult life, Elliston currently serves as executive chair of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors and is treasurer of the Kentucky Equine Education Project(KEEP) Board. He also serves on the Thoroughbred Racing Association. Mr. Elliston will talk about the Turfway Park meet that started on Sunday. For the first time, Turfway Park will cut back dates in January, February, and March. He will also address the racing industry's problems in general.

When race dates were deregulated in 2001, Hialeah Park was forced to shut its doors. This iconic facility ran its last race on May 22nd 2001. But, with a legislative change made earlier this year, the “Grand Dame of Racing” was given an opportunity to re-open. Armed with a quarter horse permit, the Miami-area oval is set for its grand re-opening November 28th . A 40 day season is set to get under way, racing 4 days a week until Feb 2nd. Joining Winning Ponies as our special guest will be Director of Publicity and Simulcasting, Mr. Pete Aiello. Pete will bring us up to speed about the grand re-opening, and talk about the future of Hialeah Park. Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.

When race dates were deregulated in 2001, Hialeah Park was forced to shut its doors. This iconic facility ran its last race on May 22nd 2001. But, with a legislative change made earlier this year, the “Grand Dame of Racing” was given an opportunity to re-open. Armed with a quarter horse permit, the Miami-area oval is set for its grand re-opening November 28th . A 40 day season is set to get under way, racing 4 days a week until Feb 2nd. Joining Winning Ponies as our special guest will be Director of Publicity and Simulcasting, Mr. Pete Aiello. Pete will bring us up to speed about the grand re-opening, and talk about the future of Hialeah Park. Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.

Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey, has been a racing fan since the mid-1970s. He graduated from Rutgers University, got a job as a newspaper reporter, and eventually landed at Daily Racing Form. He and his wife, Karen, moved to Lexington, Ky. in 1994, and have been there since. LaMarra has been news editor of The Blood-Horse magazine for more than 10 years. He frequents local racetracks, particularly River Downs and Turfway Park in the Cincinnati area.

Mr. Engelhardt is the President of the Turf Publicists of America, and also currently the Publicity Director at River Downs. John and Ed have done radio and TV together for years, and on this show they will dissect for our listeners the Breeders's Cup card for both days.

Mr. Goodman is the Simulcasting Operations and Marketing Manager at Keeneland. In this capacity Jim oversees contests and products, and is versed in many departments. He is the trusted go-to guy at Keeneland. He works closely with President Nick Nicholson. Keeneland has just won the National Simulcast award. This award, now in its 13th year, is given annually in recognition of the industry’s best simulcast production. Keeneland’s production was deemed most user-friendly as it showed horses from the paddock to post parade. Jim will recap the Keeneland meet, and talk about the industry overall.

Mr. Howard, a native of Riverdale, N.Y., spent two years in the Navy after finishing high school. He then rode show horses for a while, and wound up at Belmont Park looking for a job. He got his first job working for trainer John Cotter in 1969, and after a year or so, he went to work for Woody Stephens and his brother, Bill, for about a year. He then worked for Joe Cantey for about a year as an assistant, and then it was on to Mack Miller. During his seven years with Miller, he gained valuable experience while working his way up to stable foreman. Taking his first trainer’s job on the Ohio circuit (River Downs and Beulah Park), Howard won his first race with Knock Knock Bird at River Downs in 1979 soon after he obtained his license. He saddled his first stakes winner, Hasty Tam, in the 1980 Ohio Open Championship Handicap at Beulah Park.

Ben Huffman, the Racing Secretary at Keeneland will recap the Fall Stars weekend and talk about the Keeneland experience. He will also be talking about the climate of racing in Kentucky. He holds many titles at other tracks, and will talk about the Breeders' Cup. Mr. Huffman, the son of trainer William (Blackie) Huffman, succeeds Howard Battle, who will serve as Keeneland's stakes director. Huffman has been Battle's assistant since 1994. He currently is racing secretary at Ellis Park, assistant racing secretary at Turfway Park, and a placing judge at Churchill Downs. Previous to beginning his career in the racing office management, Huffman attended Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville and was an assistant to his father for three years.

Mr. McDulin writes for the Daily Racing Form. He also creates the charts for Equibase. He has called races, set the morning line at various tracks, held the role of Stakes Coordinator at two tracks, and worked on radio as a professional handicapper. John will discuss this past weekend's races, and the upcoming Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland.