TDN Podcast

This week on the TDN Writers’ Room, Joe Bianca, Bill Finley, Alan Carasso and Brian DiDonato welcome the new chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, Dr. Greg Ferraro as The Green Group Guest of the Week. Plus, they touch on the bombshell report about Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ founder’s alleged criminality, the story of a potential shockwave therapy-related breakdown at Delaware Park and give their thoughts on Kentucky Derby Future Pool 1.

If you drive down Athens-Boonesboro Road at the right time of day, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a hulking chestnut horse and his equally imposing bay brother romping through their field. With the residents of the adjacent paddocks at Forest Lane Farm being Angus cows and Quarter Horses, it would not be surprising for a passerby to think the playful geldings were just a pair of pleasure horses. However, educated horse racing fans would recognize that they were in fact looking at a six-time Eclipse winner and his near millionaire half-brother as Forest Lane Farm belongs to trainer Charlie LoPresti and his wife Amy, the longtime caretakers of Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry) and Successful Dan (Successful Appeal).

Drew Fleming was named the new head of the Breeders’ Cup just nine days ago, and on Tuesday, he was part of a major announcement when several of the nation’s leading racing organizations joined together to announce the launch of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition. What will it do? Joe Bianca, Bill Finley and Jon Green talk to Fleming, and review the week’s news.

Erik Johnson is a superstar hockey player for the Colorado Avalanche, but he’s also a racehorse owner. This past weekend, he became part of the story swirling around racing in California when his filly Princess Dorian broke down at Del Mar in an $8,000 claiming race. “How could we not step up and do everything we could to save her, and have respect for her no matter if she was a graded stakes winner or an $8,000 claimer?” Erik Johnson is our guest on this week’s TDN Writers’ Room podcast.

It barely seems a figure of speech, in fact, to describe James E. Bassett III as a pillar of the American Turf. His whole bearing remains so upright that it condenses not only the indelible stamp of his wartime service, with the U.S. Marines, but also the authority and integrity he seamlessly transferred to civilian life.

In this week’s TDN Writers’ Room Podcast, future Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher didn’t mince words when talking about the breakdown of Mongolian Groom (Hightail) in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the rash of breakdowns that have emboldened politicians and animal rights activists. Calling the current situation a “crisis,” Pletcher implored the racing industry to do whatever it takes to cut down on the number of equine fatalities.

It’s Breeders’ Cup week, and before the writers sit down to handicap the races and commit to their selections, they talk to trainer Mark Casse, who’s at Santa Anita getting ready for the big day. Casse trains Proven Strategies (Sky Mesa) for owner Jon Green and his father Len, who pen a popular TDN column by that name, and the younger Green joins Bill Finley, Alan Carasso and Brian DiDonato to handicap the Cup.

This week, the writers welcome successful owner Sol Kumin in their Breeders’ Cup pre-entry day show. Sol makes the Horse of the Year case for Midnight Bisou, while Bill Finley, Alan Carasso and Joe Bianca touch briefly upon the Breeders’ Cup pre-entries. Owner Jon Green of DJ Stables (and TDN writer) is lucky enough to have a starter: Skidmore winner Another Miracle. He also picked up the session topper with his father on Day 1 of Fasig-Tipton October, and has the report. All that and more on today’s Writers’ Room

How do we make TDN Rising Stars? While the writers discuss the week’s races, the Breeders’ Cup and the divisional championships, it’s the behind-the-scenes look into how Rising Stars are made that will capture the industry’s interest this week. Tune in to Joe Bianca, Brian DiDonato, Alan Carasso and Bill Finley for this week’s TDN Writers Room podcast.

What Breeders’ Cup race should Omaha Beach choose? The TDN Writers make their case for the Classic. Check in with 30 minutes of interesting racing news and opinion with Joe Bianca, Brian DiDonato and Alan Carasso. And, after missing last week’s podcast, Bill Finley returns with his opinion into the “What Should We Fix First.”