S9E48: King’s Plate & Fair Hill 5
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The 167th running of the King’s Plate opens the 2026 Canada Triple Crown. That and developments with the Fair Hill 5 are the main topics this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Woodbine TV analyst Elissa Blowe checks in from Toronto to talk about the biggest day in Canada horse racing. She sets the scene not only for the King’s Plate but also the rest of the stakes on the card and the buzz that it gets every summer. Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll discusses her two entrants in this weekend’s race at Woodbine. Even-money morning-line favorite Luster, a two-time stakes winner, is...
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S9E47: Pop-up to examine the Fair Hill 5
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
In a brewing scandal, a suspicious pattern emerged from races Sunday that put the spotlight on five horses who trained this summer at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. The details are examined in this special pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Pennsylvania handicapper Doug Salvatore, who has had a variety of roles in racing, detected the similarities in real time and posted his findings on X. In this episode he answers questions about what he discovered. He serves as a guide through the sequence of races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park. Horse Racing Nation’s Ed DeRosa has been...
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S9E46: Whitney & is it the Double Crown?
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes this weekend at Saratoga and the introduction of a new 3-year-old series that excludes the Preakness Stakes are the talk of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Acacia Clément from Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association TV team discusses the Whitney rematch of Magnitude against his three closest pursuers from the Stephen Foster (G1). She also talks about other highlights on the card that includes three other Grade 1 races. Nitrogen is not to be missed as she tries to become the seventh female horse ever to win the Whitney. General manager Jonathan...
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S9E45: Topical trio: Million, Saratoga & $5 minimums
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs, Jim Dandy (G2) day at Saratoga and the new $5 minimum win-place-show wager at Kentucky Downs are the three big topics up for discussion on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Megan Devine brings her TV analyst’s perspective to the Million from the track in Virginia that is hosting the race for the fourth time. She talks about some of the contenders for the race and also previews the Secretariat (G2) and Beverly D. (G2) stakes, the traditional curtain raisers for the Million. From the general to the specific, trainer Ian Wilkes...
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S9E44: San Diego compadres
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The Del Mar summer takes center stage with an overview of the meet and specifics on this weekend’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes, all on this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president Josh Rubinstein spends time in an extended conversation talking about the ongoing success of the track against the backdrop of California’s struggles to compete without the auxiliary income enjoyed by other racing states. Rubinstein also talks about limits on computer players that Del Mar has added in the past year and the balance of ship-and-win bonuses vs. keeping...
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S9E43: Live again for the Haskell
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes highlights the conversations as the crew returns from hiatus to go live, or at least as live as can be, episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Former Philadelphia Daily News sports writer turned TV personality Dick Jerardi weighs in on Monmouth Park’s signature race, which features beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Further Ado and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo. He also talks about defending his 2025 victory in the Haskell Betting Challenge. Chad Summers, who trains Napoleon Solo, discusses his colt who he believes still can mount a challenge to dual...
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S9E42: Our 500th episode
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The 500th episode is celebrated this week with calls to some milestone guests on this special edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Voices who were heard on the 100th, 200th, 300th and 400th episodes are brought back to reminisce and look ahead. Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer Peter Eurton, Las Vegas sports writer Mike Brunker, game-show producer Laura Chambers, London turf journalist Nick Luck and announcer Rollye James all share stories from the last 8 1/2 years. Conversations range from nostalgic looks back to personal experiences that brought them to the podcast to forecasts about...
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S9E41: A handicapper’s life with Barry Spears
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
Barry Spears, known as the Urbn Handicapper without that first A, talks about his growth as a respected horseplayer and tournament competitor when he is the special guest this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. A native of New England who lives in Florida, Spears recounts his early days when his parents and grandparents took him to racetracks to learn how to bet on horses. Those early seeds led Spears to becoming a regular at the betting windows and then a seasoned handicapper who has been a regular presence at tournaments across the country. A self-professed math nerd, Spears gets into...
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S9E40: Foster is cooking, Aqueduct is done
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
The best race yet this year for older horses and the closing of a historic racetrack are the big stories this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. The Grade 1, $2 million Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs has attracted the likes of reigning horse of the year Sovereignty and multimillionaire veteran White Abarrio. It also has Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude. Ron Winchell, his owner, takes time to talk about the 4-year-old colt and his campaign to be the champion older dirt male of 2026. Aqueduct Racetrack, which opened in 1894, closes for the last time Sunday. Steve Haskin, a...
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S9E39: Tom Hammond, forever in horse country
The Ron Flatter Racing Pod
From growing up in Kentucky to three decades at NBC as one of its most reliable broadcasters, Tom Hammond brings the stories of a career in racing and sports to the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Hammond talks about his earliest days not only in Lexington, Ky., radio but also in going to the track and getting involved with horses. He even spins a yarn about an early job as the announcer at a sales ring. Hammond majored in animal husbandry at the University of Kentucky, an achievement that translated well to his time covering races on national television. In a business that often rewards sizzle...
info_outlineFormer NBA player and coach Avery Johnson has been a horse owner and continues to be a racing ambassador. Terry West was a trail-blazing jockey who holds a seat on the Maryland Racing Commission. In celebration of Black History Month, both Johnson and West are featured this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.
Johnson talks about growing up in New Orleans and what he learned from his father on their weekend trips to Fair Grounds. He also discusses his role as an ambassador for the Breeders’ Cup and racing’s need for central leadership.
West recounts her lifelong love of horses and how she became a standout jumps rider who has continued to compete for more than a half-century. She also details the challenges she faced being one of the first Black women to compete in Thoroughbred races.
Both Johnson and West expound on the goal of greater minority participation in all phases of horse racing.
There also is a tribute to the late trainers King Leatherbury and John Shirreffs, both of whom died this week.
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.