Whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or even Festivus, it is the perfect time to gather friends. That is precisely what happens this week in a special holiday episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times, Lee Mottershead from Racing Post in England and international racing liaison Kate Hunter in Japan review the headlines of the 2023 racing year.

They discuss the memorable performances from the likes of Cody's Wish and Equinox, the early retirements of U.S. standouts, the unretirement of jockey Frankie Dettori, the breakthrough victory by trainer Jena Antonucci in the Belmont Stakes, the spates of horse deaths at Churchill Downs and Saratoga, a surge in animal-rights protests at racetracks in the U.K. and the specter of affordability checks on gamblers in Europe.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Google and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.