Listen Now

Jason Levin is the long-time host of “Inside Racing Radio Show”, that airs every Saturday at 7am Pacific on Keib am 1150 and live on www.racing jason.com. The show also airs on IHeart radio. The podcast up by 8:30 on IHeart as well as his website. He began the radio show in 2004 after success of his book “From the Desert to the Derby.” book (2002) pub by DRF press about the huge quest to win the Kentucky Derby by Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed. Under his banner of Gololphin, he will finally go to post with the Derby favorite – his undefeated homebred champion Essential Quality. Prior to the publication of his book, he was the national racing writer for fox sports.com. Jason got into racing through both parents. Hooked by seeing great horses of the 70’s like Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Affirmed. He will tell us how he got into racing and the journey he has been on. Vic Stauffer, one of the most recognized and experienced voices in Thoroughbred racing has been in Oaklawn’s announcer’s booth since their 2017 racing season. Vic Stauffer, who has called more than 40,000 races at nearly a dozen tracks across the country, is just the sixth track announcer in Oaklawn’s storied, 115-year history. Stauffer was the track announcer at Hollywood Park in California for 13 years. Before that he called races at Gulfstream Park, Hialeah, Golden Gate Fields and others. He began his announcing career in 1985 at Garden State Park in New Jersey. In addition to his announcing work, he has earned two Eclipse Awards for radio broadcasts. He was also at one time agent for jockey Joel Rosario. Stauffer, 59, has announced hundreds of Grade 1 races and has called such notable horses as Barbaro, Hal’s Hope, Game On Dude, Lava Man, Shared Belief, Pioneer of the Nile, Lookin at Lucky, Azeri, Blind Luck, The Tin Man and California Chrome. Vic will get to add to that resume of calling racing greats, as two multi-millionaire champions will square off in the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on Saturday – Swiss Skydiver and Monomoy Girl. We’ll get his insights for that great matchup that follows the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap.

The Editor of Horse Racing Nation from 2010-2017, Brian Zipse is now a Senior Writer for HRN, where he continues to contribute his thoughts on racing. He also hosts the popular weekly YouTube program HorseCenter. Brian is a voter for racing's Hall of Fame, as well as a weekly NTRA poll voter. You can also find him regularly on most of the social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Based in Kentucky, Brian will join “The Regular Guy” to discuss his impressions of the Derby Preps thus far, then they will handicap the last minor points race (20-8-4-2) on the Saturday Program. They will also tackle the G1, $500,000 Jenny Wiley on the grass and the G3, $150,000 Ben Ali, a race that has been contested since 1917. Mary Rampellini is a correspondent and handicapper for Daily Racing Form. She began contributing to the publication in 1996. She is a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in a racing family. Her father, Ralph Rampellini, was the racing manager for Nelson Bunker Hunt in the 1980s and also broke a crop of 100 to 120 yearlings for him each year at Hunt's training center in North Texas. Ralph Rampellini later served as a racing manager and trainer for John Franks. Mary is currently based in Hot Springs, Ark., and Grand Prairie, Texas, covering Oaklawn Park and Lone Star Park as well as major stakes at other tracks in Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. The G1, $1 Million Arkansas Derby is the last major Kentucky Derby points. At least the top two finishers will earn a berth in the starting gate on the First Saturday in May. Mary has been at Oaklawn Park for the entire season and she should be able to bring sharp insight to this marquee race in Hot Springs. Mary and John will also discuss the fine fields drawn to the rich G3, $500,000 Count Fleet and the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.

This week our cup runneth over with graded stakes galore from coast to coast. A triumvirate of respected handicappers are stepping up to the microphone to give their insights on Saturday’s best offerings in a barrage of 100-40-20-10 Derby and Oaks preps. Writer, race caller, odds-maker, community volunteer and all-round good guy, Ed Meyer, is between racing meets and can join us again. He will be tackling the Gr. 1 $750,000 Santa Anita Derby and the Gr. 2 $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks. Then he will time travel to Oaklawn Park to the ladies in a highly competitive Gr. 3 $600,000 Fantasy. Eclipse Award winning writer and handicapper Marty McGee from the DRF will select his best bets from three of the top graded races that will be part of six graded races on an excellent betting program. Undefeated champion Essential Quality will compete in the Gr. 2 $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes; a tough group of fillies will go to post in the Gr. 1 $400,000 Ashland and we will round out his picks for the quality laden Gr. 1 $300,000 Madison Stakes. The “smooth as silk” on-air handicapper at the DRF, Dan Illman will take a bite out of the Big Apple feature races. Derby hopefuls will match strides in the historic Gr.2 $750,000 Wood Memorial, while one or two fillies will punch their ticket to the Ky. Oaks in the Gr. 3 $400,000 Gazelle. Since 1895 many greats have broken from the gates in the now Gr. 1 $250,000 Carter Handicap at 7 furlongs. After the race we will know whose name will be etched alongside racing greats Tom Fool; In Reality; King’s Bishop; Forego and Bold Ruler.

The man who brings us “The Derby Dozen” in the Blood-Horse, Byron King will be our first guest. The Louisville native will explain his methodology in creating the list for national distribution and tell us about recent changes in his selections. He will join John to discuss some of the top races on the 10-stakes card, focusing of several of the five graded races. Two “points” races will highlight the program – the Grade 1 $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby and the Grade 2 $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks. The duo will then examine the Grade 2 $200,000 Pan American on the turf. Veteran turf writer, handicapper and author Bob “Railbird” Roberts will be our second guest handicapper. He just returned from a vacation from Florida where he caught the Florida Derby and several days at Gulfstream Park, with a few games of golf mixed in. His analysis of the Florida Derby will lead off his selections and then he will look at two rare “points races” contested over Turfway’s All Weather Track now owned by Churchill Downs. The northern Kentucky track will present the uniquely named Jeff Ruby Steaks, a Grade 3 $250,000 test and the listed $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks.

Joe Kristufek is a self-proclaimed horse racing ambassador, and fan development has always been his passion. In addition to serving as the Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds paddock host and handicapper, the morning line maker for Arlington Park. and the handicapper and racing writer for the Daily Herald newspaper in his native Chicago, Joe has developed and executed several horse racing related, fan education projects. He is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association. Joe was the on-air talent for Hawthorne’s between race presentation in the 1990s. He was the owner, producer and host of popular racing magazine Horsin' Around TV. Joe has co-owned horses in partnership and helped develop the current Brilliant Racing Partnership. Joe will join John to try to etch out a Pick-4 ticket that features four Grade 2 races. The quartet will feature the 100-40-20-10 points races featuring the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Derby contenders and the $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. The first wo races in the Pick 4 are the $400,000 New Orleans Classic and the $300,000 grassy Muniz Memorial Classic. Eric Wing is currently Communications Director for HorseTourneys.com, horse racings #1 destination for player friendly qualifying contests and low takeout cash games. A 17year industry veteran, Eric has previously worked at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the New York Racing Association and Daily Racing Form. He is also the longtime emcee at the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. HorseTourneys.com guru Eric Wing will join the show and outline some of the best contests to play this weekend using your E-Z Win Forms from Winningponies. Eric will give his hits and misses throughout the Kentucky Derby Preps. Then he and John will weigh in on the $1million Louisiana Derby and two Grade 3 races. From Santa Anita the San Luis Rey over the turf course and from Oaklawn Park the Hurricane Bertie.

Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps have been center stage, and with one exception this week, the spotlight will go on the older horses. Handicapper and author Rich Eng will join us from Las Vegas to give us his impressions of the major preps thus far. Rich has laser focus on the west coast scene, and we have two solid races to look at – the Gr. 1 $300,000 Beholder Mile that features the 2021 debut of champion Swiss Skydiver and the Gr. 3 San Simeon, an evenly matched group of older horses which includes the debut of Cistron, a 7-year-old horse who won this race last year and finished second in 2019. Oaklawn Park has a slew of stakes races on Saturday’s program including the weekends only Derby points race – the Gr. 2 $1,000,000 Rebel Stakes. Joining us will be Oaklawn’s on-air personality and handicapper Nancy Holthus. She will join John to discuss the Oaklawn meet thus far and the Rebel that features and interesting cast of competitors that include recent Smarty Jones 10-length winner Caddo; the lightly-raced, but undefeated Concert Tour and last season’s Kentucky Jockey Club victor Keepmeinmind. Nancy will also analyze the Gr. 2 $350,000 Azeri and the $500,000 Essex Handicap.

Just as it appears that Covid-19 concerns are waning, it appears that Derby Fever is starting to spread from coast to coast. Brad Free, handicapper and columnist for the Daily Racing Form will cover the action taking place on the west coast. Derby dreamers will head to post in the G2 $200,000 San Felipe. That race is complimented on the card by two G1 contests – the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap and $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on the turf. On Sunday, Santa Anita will feature the G3 $100,000 Santa Ysabel that will be a Kentucky Oaks qualifier. Well-known handicapping contest winner Jonathan Kinchen will join John for the second handicapping portion of the show. On the east coast, Aqueduct will play host to two “points” races on Saturday. The G3 $300,00 Gotham Stakes has served as a springboard for such outstanding runners as Native Dancer, Dr. Fager, Easy Goer and the immortal Secretariat. Also on the card there is an Oaks prep in the G3 $250,000 Busher Invitational. Tampa Bay Downs has a solid card with five stakes races, four of them graded events. The main attraction is the G2 $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Oaklawn Park will offer the G3 $300,000 Honeybee Stakes with 50-20-15-5 points towards a ticket to the Kentucky Oaks.

Oaklawn Park has some great races that were postponed. Mary Rampellini who covers racing in the Southwest will update us on all of the news in that region. Saturday, the G3 $750,00 Southwest will serve as the first stepping stone for last season’s top 2-year-olds, Champion Essential Quality vs. his nemesis Jackie’s Warrior. Also on the card the G3 $600,000 Razorback Handicap. On Sunday we get to see another Champion as Monomoy Girl, after being purchased for $9.5 million by Spendthrift Farm, will make her seasonal debut in the G3 $250,000 Bayakoa. From chilly Hot Springs to balmy Gulfstream Park we go where the colorful “man behind the mike,” Pete Aiello will join us to talk about their outstanding card featuring 9 stakes races! Two 50-20-10-5 Derby and Oaks points races will take place with the boys squaring off in the G2 $300,000 Fountain of Youth while the ladies compete in the G2 $200,000 Davona Dale. Pete and John will also handicap the McDarmida and the Gulfstream Park Mile.

If you haven’t noticed, the lead story on every newscast is how the winter storms have been affecting life and livelihood from coast to coast. It has certainly caused upheaval upon the sport of thoroughbred racing. We will discuss how it impacts the day-to-day scheduling of races, postponements and health of the horses themselves with trainer Jeff Greenhill who has been facing the situation daily from his base in Northern Kentucky. Our guest handicapper is the popular Ed Meyer, who serves as a racing official in Kentucky. The unpredictable storms have affected that side of the racing game also. Ed joins John to analyze several rescheduled stakes races in the U.S. and look at the major players going to post in the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup. They will give their selections in the G2 $200,000 Buena Vista at Santa Anita; the G3 $100,000 Royal Delta from Gulfstream; and the rescheduled G3 2 stakes from Laurel - the General George and the Barbara Fritchie Stakes.

Trainer Tim Hamm has been the leading stakes trainer in Ohio for years, his success is now being recognized on the national stage. He was featured in this month’s Blood-Horse in a story written by Meredith Daugherty where she concisely states his formula for success.“ The former owner and operator of a successful construction company, Hamm has spent a lifetime moving from one phase to the next, building a career in the Thoroughbred industry that has helped him, his partners, and their horses reach the highest peaks of the game. Blood-Horse’s Associate Editor and anointed “King of the ‘Cappers” Byron King will join the show to analyze our selected races. It’s Mardi Gras week in New Orleans, so we will head to the Fair Grounds for the first two races in the “Championship Series” for the Ky Derby and Oaks carrying points on a 50-20-10-5 weight. We will look at the G2 $400,000 Risen Star; G3 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra; G3 $200,000 Mineshaft; and at Golden Gate the $100,000 El Camino Stakes.

Matt Bernier's style and presence on “Horseplayers” led to a position with the DRF. Bernier’s meteoric rise through his appearances on DRF.com has landed him a spot as a regular team member on major television broadcasts such as NBC, NBC Sports and ESPN as a handicapper and analyst. In “The Matt Bernier Show” aired from his home in the western Massachusetts suburb of West Springfield, Matt does a sensational job at breaking down the previous weeks best graded stakes. He will be joining us to talk about the evolution of “The Matt Bernier Show” and share his thoughts on this season’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Patricia P.J. Cooksey is a trailblazer for women in the sport of racing. From riding in the pony races as an 11-year-old at the Canfield County Fair to becoming the first woman to ride in a Classic race, the Youngstown, Ohio native started in the leaky-roof circuit of West Virginia and made her way to the Kentucky Derby and became the first woman to ride in the Preakness.

Damon Thayer is a member of the Kentucky State Senate, representing District 17. He assumed office in 2003. His current term ends on December 31, 2024. Thayer (Republican) won re-election to the Ky State Senate to represent District 17. The future of economic success for the horse industry in Kentucky may well rely on the existence of Historic Horse Racing. Machines that resemble slot machines, but rely on results from horse races from the past. They have a billion-dollar impact on Kentucky’s tax base and purses at the tracks. Thayer will give us insight into the Senate’s efforts to see that they continue to benefit the state and all of the additional entities they support. In our handicapping segment, the “Regular Guys” are reunited as Ed Meyer is able to join the show. There are 4 points races for the Ky Derby and Oaks on Saturday and the dynamic duo will analyze the G3 Forward Gal and Holy Bull at Gulfstream; The Martha Washington at Oaklawn and the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita.

Our 1st guest is Wendy Davis who is currently the President of the Turf Publicists of America. She also serves on a number of national equine boards and committees including the Racing Officials Accreditation Program as an executive board member, the National Animal Interest Alliance and the American Quarter Horse Association’s Youth Committee. Tom Law will join John for a Pegasus World Cup preview. There will be 7 graded stakes races offered at Gulfstream Park on Saturday headed by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. That race has been a game of musical stalls over the past months with potential entrants being withdrawn to start careers as stallions or to opt for other races around the world. 12 will race 1 1/8 miles, which may provide a challenge to some of the favorites parked on the outside for that short run to the first turn. The duo will also handicap the G1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and G2 $200,000 Inside Information at 7 furlongs.

Writer Natalie Voss garnered the rare achievement of winning TWO Eclipse Awards for her writing ability. Feature/Commentary – “’An Angel On His Shoulder’: This Thoroughbred’s Fate Was Written In Ink,” May 13, 2020. News/Enterprise – Multi-part Series: “A Decade In, How Are We Doing With Thoroughbred Aftercare?” Dec. 2, 2019; “Emptying The Ocean With A Teaspoon: The Challenges Of Aftercare,” Dec. 3, 2019; and “Aftercare Should Not Be An Afterthought: Solutions For The Future,” Dec. 4, 2019. Voss, from Georgetown, Ky, has now won 3 Eclipse Awards. Eric Wing from HorseTourneys will handicap Fair Grounds' 5 stakes on Saturday, 2 of which with Ky Derby or Oaks points. Trainer Brad Cox, who is winning with 24% of his starters has a song hand in both. In the $200,000 Lecomte he has Mandaloun and in $150,000 Silverbulletday he has 2 regally-bred fillies in Sunpath and Divine Comedy. In the $125,000 Louisiana Cox has Wells Bayou. Eric will update us on some exciting handicapping contests.

With not one graded stakes race to handicap, and plenty of news to report on, Frank Angst will be our first guest of 2021. The Eclipse Award winning writer for the Blood-Horse will join John to look back at thoroughbred racing in 2020 and how racing adapted, survived and in some unique cases grew. We asked Frank to bring his Crystal Ball and give us a look at what we might expect for 2021. Author of the 2014 Media Eclipse Award in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for “Waiting, and Waiting, for Crowning Glory: A generation repeatedly denied a Triple Crown winner looks to California Chrome,” an in depth examination of the difficulties of winning Thoroughbred racing’s greatest challenge, which appeared on bloodhorse.com on May 28, 2014. and offered a comprehensive multi-media presentation on the various components of the “near misses” of the Triple Crown.

Well it was a pleasurable two days of World-Class racing we witnessed in the Breeders’ Cup on a picture-perfect day. Wish we could have been there…oh well. Hope you all enjoyed betting and viewing the action, as there was excellent television coverage. We’ll be reviewing the weekend's highlights and then follow some of the super stars to their new homes or trips through the sales ring. John will be joined by his longtime friend Rich Eng, the author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies. You can follow Rich on Twitter @RichEng4ProPick, Facebook and www.racedaylasvegas.com For 20 years, he was Turf Editor and Handicapper for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The Walter Cronkite of racing on the air is Todd Schrupp. He has been riding the waves for over 20 years now on TVG and has refined his craft as he grew with this once fledgling network. We will talk to him about the life that led to racing and the growth of the talent and racing coverage on TVG. You may have heard Andy Furman as a national sports talk host on FOX Radio. He’s been compared to the promotions man Bill Veek or P.T. Barnum bringing the circus to a track near you. We’ll explore the many unique promotions Andy put on at the various tracks – Chris Collinsworth racing a horse at Latonia; Polish Night at Buffalo Raceway, a coffin giveaway when the National Funeral Directors. John and Andy have been friends since his Latonia years and through his successful radio years. Andy had the most popular sports talk show on the Nation's Station 700-WLW in Cincinnati and brought on a young retired football player as a co-host to teach him the ropes of racing - Chris Collinsworth.

The Walter Cronkite of racing on the air is Todd Schrupp. He has been riding the waves for over 20 years now on TVG and has refined his craft as he grew with this once fledgling network. We will talk to him about the life that led to racing and the growth of the talent and racing coverage on TVG. You may have heard Andy Furman as a national sports talk host on FOX Radio. He’s been compared to the promotions man Bill Veek or P.T. Barnum bringing the circus to a track near you. We’ll explore the many unique promotions Andy put on at the various tracks – Chris Collinsworth racing a horse at Latonia; Polish Night at Buffalo Raceway, a coffin giveaway when the National Funeral Directors. John and Andy have been friends since his Latonia years and through his successful radio years. Andy had the most popular sports talk show on the Nation's Station 700-WLW in Cincinnati and brought on a young retired football player as a co-host to teach him the ropes of racing - Chris Collinsworth.

The Claiming Crown has ended Saturday at Gulfstream Park – with a record $14.6 million wagered – it was clear how much it had grown over the past 9 years at Gulfstream. Not only was this a day when a horse claimed six weeks ago for $6,250 could win an $80,000 race, but also a day when a BC Mile (G1) runner-up could prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1). Eric Hamelback, CEO of HBPA, which partners with TOBA on the Claiming Crown, believes the event is looked upon differently now that it is at Gulfstream. Eric and John will discuss the growth of the Claiming Crown. They will also comment on a recent release from Steve Asmussen about the effects having a “dark day” for the schedule and training of thoroughbreds. Saturday Horse Tourneys will offer many contest options on a great Gulfstream card. Eric “The Wing Man” Wing will join us to check out 5 stakes 4 of which graded - the G2 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale with 3 G3 $100,000 races the Harlan's Holiday, Rampart and Sugar Swirl.

G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland’s Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners. G.D. will join John to talk about his experiences at Keeneland and the many advancements he put in place in the visual art of racing. Hieronymus’ community engagement includes work with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. The best card on tap this weekend is Saturday’s from Aqueduct. They will offer a quartet of graded stakes – the $250,000 G1 Cigar Mile; the $150,000 G2 Demoiselle; the $150,000 G2 Remsen and the $100,000 G3 Go for Wand. There is no better source to handicap these top races from Aqueduct than a man who literally grew up on their backstretch – “The Big A” himself – Anthony Stabile.