Winning Ponies

Before there were numerous television and on-line hosts of handicapping productions, there were two individuals chosen to be nation’s handicappers – Mike Battaglia and the recently deceased Bob Neumeier. The duo came from different directions to earn the respect of national audiences over the years. Together they entertained us through the national broadcasts of the Breeders’ Cup and Triple Crown for over a decade. Popular Boston sportscaster Bob Neumeier, a reporter and analyst on horse racing telecasts on NBC and ESPN for more than a quarter century, died Oct. 23 at the age of 70. Known as “Neumy” to friends and fans, Neumeier – a graduate of Syracuse University –he became a reporter and sports anchor for Boston's Channel 4 in 1981, a position he held for 20 years. In the 1980s, Neumeier – an avid horse racing fan and sharp handicapper – began working for Breeders' Cup on a newsfeed that distributed news and personality features nationally to local TV channels. In 1990. Neumeier joined the NBC Sports bro