Last year's Maryland Hunt Cup winner Senior Senator wasn't always a timber star. No, he used to be a badly behaved flat horse at Penn National who did nothing but drop jockeys and lose races. In advance of Saturday's Hunt Cup, trainer Joe Davies talks about how it all came to be and what makes the horse tick.

Trainer Joe Davies discusses Senior Senator

Conversations about Thoroughbred racing, with a focus on American steeplechasing – for now.

Sports & Recreation

Professional

Amateur

Outdoor

College & High School

He's off to a fast start to the 2019 season with 15 wins through May to lead the standings, but there's plenty to Michael Mitchell's story including stops in his native England, Australia, New Zealand and now the United States.

Jump jockey Michael Mitchell

In 1971, Kathy Kusner broke through as the first woman to ride the Maryland Hunt Cup. Eight years later, came Toinette Neilson (then Jackson), then Joy Slater (a winner in 1980 and 1981), then Liz McKnight (in 1986). We talked to Neilson, Slater and McKnight about what it was like.

Md. Hunt Cup: Women jockeys

We're talking Maryland Hunt Cup history with two of the best to ever win the great timber race, former jockeys Buzz Hannum and Paddy Neilson. Hannum won it twice on Morning Mac and once on the great Fort Devon. Neilson's success spanned decades with wins aboard Haffaday in 1968, Burnmac in 1974 and Uncle Merlin 1989.

Md. Hunt Cup: Buzz Hannum & Paddy Neilson

Our conversation with Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard continues, with more on the great Flatterer, future game-changing stallion Storm Cat and others.

Jonathan Sheppard, Part 2

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard has done about all there is to do in Thoroughbred racing – trained champions on the flat and over jumps, bred and owned major winners, been inducted into the Hall of Fame and on and on in a career that began with long ride from England on a cargo ship.

Trainer Joe Davies discusses Senior Senator

Download our free app to listen on your phone