Winning Ponies

Mike Battaglia, one of horse racing’s great ambassadors, will be feted this Saturday by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners with the organization’s prestigious Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award. This award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion for the industry exemplified by Jones, founder of Oldham County’s renowned Hermitage Farm and who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track’s resurgence. Jones was the inaugural winner in 1988. Mike will tell us what this particular award means to him at this juncture in his illustrious career in Thoroughbred horse racing. In the second segment DRF correspondent and handicapper Mary Rampellini will tackle all the action from Delta Downs this Saturday notably the $1,000,000 Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot; the $250,000 Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess; the $250,000 Delta Mile and the $200,000 Delta Treasure Chest.