The big-money meet at Kentucky Downs plus closing weekend at Del Mar and Colonial Downs are the talking points on this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Vice president of racing Ted Nicholson and National Horseplayers Championship Hall of Famer Chris Larmey talk about Kentucky Downs’ ongoing growth and its 1 percent increase in takeout this year.

Trainer Michael McCarthy discusses his young horses who are racing in Grade 1 stakes at Del Mar.

Horse Racing Nation’s Mark Midland handicaps weekend races at Kentucky Downs and Colonial Downs, including the Virginia Derby.

Listeners and readers offer their feedback on the way the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority does business.

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

The Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic, a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is the centerpiece of this week’s episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella talks about his morning-line favorite Geaux Rocket Ride, who won for him this summer in the Haskell (G1). He also discusses his other entries in the graded stakes Saturday at Del Mar.

FanDuel TV’s Andie Biancone offers the story of her life in horse racing and how it has turned to being a TV analyst. She offers her opinions of how the Pacific Classic horses are looking headed into this weekend’s race.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps not only the Pacific Classic but also Friday’s Saranac (G3) and Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), both at Saratoga.

Listener and reader feedback is focused on the tragic death last week of New York Thunder in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga.

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

The mid-summer derby at Saratoga formally known as the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes is the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

TV analyst Andy Serling from Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association previews the race and offers his thoughts about the Saratoga summer.

At this time last year the 80-1 winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby was getting ready for the Travers. What is going on now with Rich Strike, who has raced only once since November? His owner Rick Dawson provides details.

Horse Racing Nation’s Ed DeRosa handicaps weekend Grade 1 races at Saratoga including the Travers, the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the Sword Dancer. There is also listener and reader feedback.

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

The King’s Plate at Woodbine and a tribute to the late Jerry Moss are featured this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Track announcer Robert Geller discusses Canada’s biggest race and trends that have developed through the entire meet.

A 2010 interview with Moss, owner of Zenyatta and Giacomo, has been brought back from the archives and will be played in honor of the man who was iconic in racing and in the music industry.

 Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps the Alabama (G1) and the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga, and there is listener and reader feedback.

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

The Grade 1 Arlington Million has a new home at Colonial Downs in Virginia, and that is this week’s venue for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Adrian Beaumont of the International Racing Bureau provides insight into the rebuilding of the Million and the horses from Europe who will be in this weekend’s featured stakes.

Trainer Michael Stidham discusses United Nations (G1) runner-up Catnip’s bid to win the Arlington Million.

David Levitch handicaps weekend races at Colonial Downs and Saratoga, and there is listener and reader feedback.

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

Cody’s Wish returns in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, and that puts him in the spotlight for this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod. His Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott talks about the challenge of his extending to 1 1/8 miles this weekend. He also discusses his sprint star Elite Power. 

Tom Law of The Saratoga Special examines the shrinking field sizes in the Spa’s top stakes as well as the controversy over last week’s Jim Dandy Stakes won by Forte. He also offers his thoughts about the Whitney.

Mark Midland handicaps five stakes and two other weekend races at Saratoga.

Listener and reader feedback focuses on jockey safety as well as moves announced by The Stronach Group since it said it would close Golden Gate Fields.

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

Summertime stakes at Saratoga and Del Mar and concerns about rider safety are the hot topics on the table for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Fox Sports and New York Racing Association TV analyst Sara Elbadwi checks in from Saratoga to discuss this weekend’s Jim Dandy Stakes and Vanderbilt Handicap.

Jockeys’ Guild president and CEO Terry Meyocks provides updates on the safety concerns raised in the past week at Del Mar, Saratoga and at Finger Lakes, where riders refused to continue racing Wednesday after a gate accident.

Ed DeRosa handicaps the big Saratoga races as well as the San Diego Handicap and Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

Listener and reader feedback focuses on the permanent closing this fall of Golden Gate Fields.

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

Opening week at Del Mar, the closing of Golden Gate Fields and the $1 million Haskell Stakes are the focus of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Owner, handicapper and radio host Jon Lindo discusses the developments in California, including featured stakes at Del Mar.

From Monmouth Park, Mage’s assistant trainer and co-owner Gustavo Delgado Jr. talks about the Kentucky Derby winner’s bid to win the Haskell.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty has handicapping advice for Del Mar and Saratoga as well as the Haskell.

Listener feedback is also part of the program.

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

It is opening week at Saratoga, and that is the focus of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Fox Sports and New York Racing Association TV analyst Acacia Clément previews the summer meet, including this weekend’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes.

National Horseplayers Championship Hall of Famer David Gutfreund discusses the recent collusion controversy that led to three players being disqualified and questions about how long this has been going on at the annual tournament.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty handicaps weekend races at Saratoga.

There is also listener and reader feedback.

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

Note: There is a video version of last week’s story about technology that has the potential to save the lives of racehorses. The interviews and demonstration of StrideSafe took place at Churchill Downs. See trainer Dale Romans and veterinarians David Lambert and Denise Mc Sweeney on Horse Racing Nation’s YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5g14sFweYw

Equine safety, a controversial suspension and closing weekend at Belmont Park are the topics of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Attorney Clark Brewster talks about trainer Bob Baffert’s ban from Churchill Downs Inc. tracks being extended by another 1 1/2 years. He also discusses the setting aside of the medication suspension of trainer Ray Handal.

 Trainer Dale Romans and veterinarians David Lambert and Denise Mc Sweeney offer an audio tour of the new StrideSafe technology that was deployed in Kentucky to identify potential injuries in racehorses before they became serious. The video of this portion of the podcast is at YouTube:

https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter_Pod_video_New_technology_can_signal_horse_injuries_123

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch offers tips on four weekend races at Belmont Park, including the Belmont Derby (G1), the Belmont Oaks (G1) and the Suburban Stakes (G2).

Ron also offers some thoughts spanning the globe from his vista last weekend covering the Stephen Foster (G1) at Ellis Park.

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