Kurt Becker, Keeneland Racetrack Announcer / Jockey Mike Smith / Woodbine Trainer, Rachel Halden

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Larry and Ann are joined by Kurt Becker, Keeneland Racetrack Announcer who discusses opening weekend at the track and in particular today’s stakes filled card that includes several Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races. He also discusses the hiring process which would make him the first ever Track Announcer at Keeneland and describes his first day on the job. He also breaks down the $1.25 Million Coolmore Turf Mile for the listeners. Jockey Mike Smith, who discusses last weeks two stakes wins at Santa Anita which included a victory in the first ever California Crown Stakes with a horse by the name of Subsanador. Mike also talks about his training regime which has allowed him to ride on a highly skilled basis for many years and how he knew when he was young that he wanted to be a Jockey. Woodbine Trainer, Rachel Halden who discusses last Sunday’s Breeders Stakes at Woodbine where her horses Roscar and Saccharine, owned by Chiefswood Stable, finished first and second and were followed across the wire by third place finisher Side Street , also owned by Chiefswood. Rachel discusses her two horses and what the plans are for the immediate future for both and talks about how she became involved in horse racing and her experience working for a couple of Hall of Fame Trainers. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look at The Way It Was in Horse Racing News, Larry talks about the recent announcement by the Breeders’ Cup of a scheduling change that will see the Breeders’ Cup Classic being run earlier in the day on the Saturday card. In our newest regular feature, ‘Road Trip,’ Larry talks about today’s $1.25 Million Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland and mentions about some of the history behind the race itself and who he believes the race ‘goes through’ today. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today, later in the show.

Key Points:

• Kurt initially discusses the opening weekend of the Keeneland Fall meeting and talks about today’s stakes filled card that includes several Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In stakes races, including the Coolmore Turf Mile which is also discussed in detail. Kurt talks about what it was like to be the first ever Track Announcer at Keeneland and mentions what the hiring process was like and if he remembers his first day on the job. Kurt also talks about what makes Keeneland such a special place for horse racing and mentions how he believes that initially calling Standardbred races and NASCAR helped him adjust quickly to announcing Thoroughbred races.

• Mike discusses last Saturday’s stakes races at Santa Anita which included the upset victory by Subsanador in the first ever California Crown Stakes. Mike also mentions why Subsanador could do some damage in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic and talks about some of the great horses that he has had the opportunity to ride. Mike also talks about why he became a Jockey and adds whether he had any mentors that he looked up to when he first started riding. He also discusses his own Personal Training regime and how it has helped him to continue to compete at an elite level and mentions who he believes are some of the up-and-coming riders against which he is currently competing. He also adds what it is that still makes the competitive juices flow and if there is anything that he hasn’t accomplished in his riding career to date.

• Rachel discusses last weeks Breeders Stakes, and particularly her two horses, who finished first and second, Roscar and a Filly by the name of Saccharine and mentions what the immediate plans are for the rest of the Thoroughbred season for the two. Rachel also discusses her stable and how she became involved with Chiefswood Stable and mentions about how she became interested in horses when she was growing up in England. Rachel also talks about how she was fortunate to work for two Hall of Famers, Roger Attfield and Bill Mott and the role that they both played in establishing herself as a Trainer.