Turfway Park’s Racing Analyst and Handicapper Kaitlin Free / Woodbine Trainer Nigel Burke / Tony O’Sullivan, Woodbine Mohawk Park Racing Secretary

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Ann and Larry are joined by Turfway Park’s Racing Analyst and Handicapper Kaitlin Free, who talks about the Jeff Ruby Steaks today at the Florence, Kentucky racetrack and the implications it could have on this years Kentucky Derby. Kaitlin also discusses the Bourbonette Stakes and who she believes are some of todays major contenders in the stakes race for fillies and talks about how she became interested in horses and became involved with Turfway Park as an analyst and handicapper. She also mentions what she looks for when handicapping a race. Woodbine Trainer Nigel Burke, who discusses how he became interested in horse racing and in particular as a Trainer and talks about two well-known Trainers that he worked for and what was he able to take away from them , to help his own Training career. He also talks about his 2023 season at Woodbine and whether he is looking forward to the upcoming Thoroughbred season and if he could go back in time, is there a horse that he would have liked to train and why. Tony O’Sullivan, Woodbine Mohawk Park Racing Secretary, who discusses the recent draw for starting slots for the Mohawk Million race and why a draw was necessary to come up with the ten starting slots. Tony also reflects on the outstanding win by TCI in last years Mohawk Million and talks about why Woodbine Mohawk Park is on a week’s hiatus after tonight’s card of racing. He also discusses what harness fans can look forward to as Woodbine Mohawk Park readies for the Spring racing season. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about the Mohawk Million ‘Draw For Slots’ this past Wednesday and why it was necessary to hold such a draw. In our new feature, ‘Road Trip,’ Larry talks about todays Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and the history behind the race itself and who he believes the race ‘goes through’ later today. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today, later in the show.

Key Points:

• Kaitlin talks first about today’s card at Turfway Park and the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, which is a major point race for the Kentucky Derby and discusses the Bourbonette Stakes which is a. race for three-year-old fillies. She also talks about her background in the Thoroughbred industry and surprisingly, why becoming a racing analyst was not her first choice as a career. Kaitlin also mentions that she came from a harness racing family and how she eventually ended up working at Turfway Park and mentions as a handicapper, what she primarily looks at and why when handicapping a Thoroughbred race. She also talks about the Tapeta racing surface at Turfway Park and how the horse’s breeding can sometimes tell whether the horse will like racing over this type of surface.

• Nigel talks about how he worked for two respected Trainers, Hall of Famer Roger Attfield and Brian Lynch and when he decided to go out on his own, did he receive any advice from either of them, that helped his own career. He also discusses the 2023 season and in particular highlights that helped him achieve some success, talks about the upcoming season at Woodbine, and mentions a couple of horses that he is optimistic for this year. He also talks about the family connections that he has in racing and in particular connections in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados. Nigel also mentions if he was able to go back in time, what horse he like to train and whether he has any goals set for 2024 at Woodbine.

• Tony updates the listeners on the Mohawk Million ‘Draw for Slots’ this past Wednesday and why it was necessary to have a draw for the September race. Tony also talks about last year’s Mohawk Million race and why the win by the horse TCI could be considered a ‘race for the ages. He also talks about the upcoming Spring racing season at Woodbine Mohawk Park and why the track goes on a week hiatus for a week, after the conclusion of tonight’s race card. He also talks about his role as Racing Secretary and if he has any regrets leaving a successful Standardbred Training career and whether there has been any Harness Driver competing at Woodbine Mohawk Park currently, that could be on the path to a career year.