S9E31: What do you mean he’s not going?
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
Reaction to the decision not to send Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo to Preakness 2026 is the main topic of discussion this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde talks about the choices he had to make in writing his story about Golden Tempo’s victory last week, especially balancing Cherie DeVaux being the first woman to train a Derby winner and the Ortiz brothers riding to a one-two finish. He also weighs in on the long-term future of when the Preakness should be run. From the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas in March, the reigning...
info_outline
S9E30: Kentucky Derby stars & mystery guest
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The final preview of Kentucky Derby 152 brings together the best of TV personalities, trainers and handicappers on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. NBC’s Steve Kornacki spends some time talking about the field for this year’s Derby and how he will go about dispensing statistical trends that are his specialty on the national telecast. Trainers Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher and Mark Glatt chat about their contenders in the Derby. Cox discusses Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Commandment and Blue Grass (G1) victor Further Ado. Pletcher explains his outlook for morning-line favorite...
info_outline
S9E29: Kentucky Derby hard-core handicappers
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
Deep analysis of every horse in Kentucky Derby 2026 from the main draw through the also-eligibles is ready to hear now with the hard-core handicappers pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Horse Racing Nation handicappers Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland and FanDuel TV’s Caton Bredar go through the entire field from the favorite Renegade to the longest of long shots. They evaluate every horse from 1 to 20 plus the four horses who were entered as also-eligibles. How do they think the rail draw may affect Renegade? Will the Brad Cox-trained trio of Commandment, Further Ado and Fulleffort...
info_outline
S9E28: ’Twas the week before Derby
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The field for Kentucky Derby 2026 will be drawn this weekend, when final breezes will show up on the Churchill Downs work tab. That is the setting for this episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Riley Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, is preparing his first two Derby horses for next Saturday’s big date. He talks about Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt and Grade 2 Wood Memorial victor Albus as well as his relationship with their owner Pin Oak Stable. In a nod to bettors, National Thoroughbred Racing Association chief operating officer Keith Chamblin discusses the growth...
info_outline
S9E27: Sovereignty vs. Journalism 3.0
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
A fortnight before Kentucky Derby 2026, a rematch between Sovereignty and Journalism highlights the weekend as well as the discussion this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Godolphin USA bloodstock director Michael Banahan about reigning horse of the year Sovereignty and his third meeting with Journalism, this time in Saturday’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. Sovereignty won both their previous showdowns last year in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes to galvanize his championship case. Banahan discusses the Godolphin homebred colt’s return from a seven-month layoff and his strategy...
info_outline
S9E26: Talking Kentucky Derby & Apple Blossom
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The field is penciled into place for Kentucky Derby 2026 in three weeks at Churchill Downs. It also is set for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn. Both races come into focus this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. U.S. and Canada hall-of-fame trainer Mark Casse discusses Eclipse Award winner Nitrogen’s bid to win the Apple Blossom. He also has Oaklawn stakes winner Nerazurri in the race. Casse also discusses his Kentucky Derby contender Silent Tactic and Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopes Counting Stars and Search Party. Horseplayers advocate Chris Larmey...
info_outline
S9E25: Schrupp speaks
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
For the first time since he left FanDuel TV in February, racing host and analyst Todd Schrupp breaks his silence, and the last of the major preps for Kentucky Derby 2026 are the focus this week of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Not only does he talk about his exit, but Schrupp also discusses last week’s announcement that FDTV will go out of existence by the end of next year. Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps weekend stakes at Aqueduct and Keeneland, and he talks about the Blue Grass (G1), the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the Wood Memorial (G2), the races that will shape the field...
info_outline
S9E24: Long and short of Triple Crown
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
Two Grade 1 points preps for Kentucky Derby 2026 and a long-range view of the Triple Crown are on offer this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. The $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn and the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park will send their winners and probably their second-place finishers to run for the roses May 2. Gustavo Delgado Jr., a co-owner and assistant trainer of The Puma, talks about his colt’s chances in the Florida Derby and his return to the trail that got Mage into the winner’s circle three years ago at Churchill Downs. Handicapper David Levitch analyzes...
info_outline
S9E23: Baffert splits, DeVaux preps
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The news of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s decision to split his deep stable between two states is a dominant topic this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park discuss the news that Baffert will have a string of horses during the entire spring meet at Churchill Downs. It will have repercussions in California, where Santa Anita scrambles to fill cards three days a week without an auxiliary gambling source of added revenue. Readers’ feedback about Baffert also is on this episode. The Grade 2 Louisiana...
info_outline
S9E22: Live again, sort of, from Las Vegas
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
From the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas, past winners discuss present issues for the sport on the first live-ish episode since January of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. David Harrison, Mike Gillum and defending victor Dan Piazza, three of the last four NHC winners, gather in a roundtable to talk about the secrets to their successes. They also weigh tournaments against everyday play in racing and the impact of computer-assisted wagering on their handicapping. Back at the track, trainer Will Walden discusses maiden winner High Camp, who tries to extend his one-turn acumen...
info_outlineThe long holiday weekend of stakes action at Churchill Downs and what could be another long winter in the Florida decoupling drama are the main topics this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.
Former Kentucky state senator Damon Thayer provides his updated point of view from his role in the fight to keep Gulfstream Park from splitting its racing and gaming licenses. He also responds to what the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association said about who was most responsible for defeating a decoupling bill this year in the state legislature.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen discusses Magnitude’s run Friday in the Grade 2 Clark and his 2-year-olds who are going in Saturday stakes at Churchill. He also reflects on the recent achievement of his 11,000th victory, raising his high-water mark among North America trainers.
Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch has tips for the Clark and Mrs. Revere (G2) on Friday and the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Golden Rod (G2) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park offer their thoughts about listener and reader feedback about who should be horse of the year.
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.