Three people who have been involved with popular sports television shows also have horse racing in common. One more thing. They are on this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

David Israel, the former chairperson of the California Horse Racing Board, takes time for a rare interview. He talks about what he would like to see change with the sport as well as his favorite races and his experience as a young sports writer covering the miracle on ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Sportscaster Kenny Mayne and TV producer Matt Doyle return for part 2 of a conversation which began with their stories about covering the ancient Palio di Siena bareback race in Italy. They have more stories about their international travel for Mayne's Wider World of Sports on ESPN.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson from Fairmount Park talk about some of their sports experiences and what remains atop their to-do lists.

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.