TDN Podcast

Keeneland Life’s Work Project: John Phillips

Sue Finley — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 12:00:56 +0000

His grandfather's greatest achievements, on the Turf, were all about looking outward; about opening minds and dismantling boundaries. Listening to John Phillips, however, you realize that the impetus for the whole adventure–for the mutual enlightenment, either side of the ocean, achieved by sending Roberto and Ribot in opposite directions–could not have been more definitively American. Listen to Chris McGrath's podcast with John Phillips, part of the Keeneland Life's Work project.

The Man O’ War Project

Sue Finley — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 17:07:24 +0000

Of all the terrible things that mankind has inflicted upon one another, there is none so terrible as war. Estimates of the total number of people killed in war in the history of the world range up to a billion lives, and for the combatants, oftentimes just surviving the conflict seems like the goal. But of course, too many people come home from combat only to find that they cannot leave it behind. In 2013, the Veterans Administration released a study which showed that 22 veterans a day were committing suicide. And now one man, former U.S. Ambassador Earle Mack, has decided to do something about it.

Horologist Owner Cameron Beatty is Getting a Second Chance at Life

Sue Finley — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 11:58:15 +0000

Saturday, 27-year-old Cameron Beatty will watch his filly Horologist compete as one of the favorites in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes at Parx. Just eight years ago, however, he thought he had lost everything when a motorcycle accident cost him his college football career, and left him seriously injured. We talk to Beatty about his recovery, his life, and his star filly.

The Curragh: Ireland’s Bedrock of Champions

Sue Finley — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 16:55:00 +0000

The Curragh has recently undergone a much publicised €80 million redevelopment, but it is much more than just a racecourse. Set in Ireland's Thoroughbred heartland of Kildare, it is home to the country's largest training centre and more than 800 racehorses. Listen as Emma Berry talks to some of the industry icons who call The Curragh home.

Keeneland Life’s Work Project: Seth Hancock

Sue Finley — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 17:53:35 +0000

“You ever see me around the sales wearing short pants, you better run for cover-because the world's getting ready to come to an end.” Seth Hancock is remembering Swale. Bittersweet animal! He slaked Claiborne's ancestral thirst for a Kentucky Derby, trained by the great Woody Stephens. A week after Swale added the Belmont, Hancock was back in New York to see one of the farm's fillies run in the Mother Goose. Listen to the entire podcast, with Chris McGrath.

The Incontri: A Magical Meeting in Siena

Sue Finley — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 18:16:53 +0000

The experience of sitting in a semi-darkened church overlooking the Val d'Orcia, one of Italy's most beautiful vistas, with just around 200 other people and listening to this music is so profound, and such a rare chance to focus in today's world full of distractions, that leads me to start thinking about all of the things I value and enjoy in life. Travel, certainly, and history. Family, tradition, art, great food and fine wine, friendship, landscape, scenery and beauty. And now, music. Listen to Sue Finley's story on the Incontri in Terra di Siena, a music festival unlike any other.

Magic In Chile: Taking a Wine Tour on Horseback

Sue Finley — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 18:21:54 +0000

It is easy to think of 'The Cowboy' as an American entity, but plenty of other cultures have their own equivalent. As part of the celebration for the G1 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano—which was won by Ya Primo (Chi), who since ran second for Chad Brown in the GII July 27 Bowling Green at Saratoga-huasos came out on the track and put on a demonstration before the race in Santiago, Chile. Ride along with Amanda Duckworth and some huasos on a wine tour of Chile.

David Burke: A Celebrity Chef with Racing Connections

Sue Finley — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 18:28:59 +0000

Not unlike the rise of supertrainers in racing, the last decade has given birth to the rise of the super celebrity chef-restaurateurs who operate in multiple locations, compete in televised competitions, and have their own shows on the Food Network. David Burke currently operates 10 restaurants, has a line of cookware, has appeared on numerous t.v. programs, is developing his own reality series, has written two cookbooks, participates in numerous philanthropic endeavors, and serves as a consultant to a number of corporate organizations. Sue Finley visits with him at his restaurant near Monmouth Park, and discovers his many racing connections.

Serena’s Song: Still Going Strong at Denali at 27

Sue Finley — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 18:40:20 +0000

There were few people more visible in the highest echelons of the sport of horse racing in the 1990s than Bob and Beverly Lewis. The California couple spent large sums at the yearling sales and were rewarded with six champions-including two Kentucky Derby winners-in the span of 10 years. But it is likely they are most remembered for their copious volumes of grace and class. Bob and Beverly were married for 58 years before Bob's passing in 2006, and they developed similarly loyal relationships with those they employed in the Thoroughbred industry. In a 2017 TDN story following Beverly's death, trainer Bob Baffert said, “They may have been the only owners in racing who no one ever minded losing to. They were both so well-liked and such nice people.” Kelsey Riley visits with their most famous horse, Serena's Song, who is still happy and healthy at Denali Stud at the age of 27.

Newmarket: A Place of Wonder for the Racehorse

Sue Finley — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:36:04 +0000

It has been 400 years since the first Spring Meeting was run at Newmarket, during the reign of James I, in 1619. While racing took place in different guises and at other locations around the world before that time, the formalised sport of horseracing as we now know it began in the small East Anglian town which remains a global focus for the 'sport of kings'. Listen to Newmarket resident Emma Berry's podcast on her hometown.

King Leatherbury

Sue Finley — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 18:55:48 +0000

King T. Leatherbury is a horse racing legend, but not in the manner of a Bob Baffert or a Wayne Lukas. Leatherbury has been grinding it out since with 1958, primarily with claiming horses. But the 85-year-old trainer has been so good at what he does that he's the fifth-winningest trainer of all time in North America and is in the Hall of Fame. Leatherbury, who may be nearing retirement, is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Chuck Zacney

Sue Finley — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 19:39:18 +0000

Owner Chuck Zacney had quite the run in 2005 when Afleet Alex (Afleet) won the GI Preakness and GI Belmont and was named champion 3-year-old male. He's had a good horse here and there over the next many years, but nothing like the duo he's ready to launch in the major races for 3-year-old fillies and colts next year. He's the co-owner of both GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) and GII Remsen S. winner Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) and, yes, he's dreaming of a GI Kentucky Oaks-GI Kentucky Derby double. Can you blame him? Zacney is this week's guest on the TDN Podcast, presented by Taylor Made.

John Gosden

Sue Finley — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 17:46:26 +0000

Not that anyone necessarily needed reminding, but John Gosden proved at this year's Breeders' Cup that not only is he one of most gifted trainers in the sport, he is among the most durable. Way back in 1984, the then-33-year-old trainer won a race at the inaugural Breeders' Cup with Royal Heroine (Ire) (Lypheor {GB}). Fast forward to 2018 and the 35th Breeders' Cup and there was John Gosden back in the winner's circle with the phenomenal filly Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). A trainer who has won far more than his fair share of big races all over the world, John Gosden is our guest on this week's Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

John Sadler

Siara Spreen — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 20:16:38 +0000

After he won the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky) John Sadler said the story wasn't about him. He wanted all the glory to go to the horse. But he was only partially right, as Sadler was widely admired for how he guided Accelerate's year and for how he withstood the scrutiny that came with an 0 for 41 record coming into the Breeders' Cup. Sadler is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Oisin Murphy

Siara Spreen — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 17:11:15 +0000

It's not the least bit uncommon for European jockeys to win a Breeders' Cup race, but the names are usually familiar ones…like Frankie Dettori, or Ryan Moore. But this year it could be that the star among the European jockeys in the Breeders' Cup is a 23-year-old baby-faced jockey from Ireland who you may not have heard of. His name is Oisin Murphy and on the other side of the Atlantic, there is no hotter rider. Murphy is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Jim McIngvale

Siara Spreen — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:10:08 +0000

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has been known for his innovative nature, his enthusiasm, his philanthropy and for owning some fast horses. Now, he's about to make his mark as a stallion owner. Runhappy (Super Saver), the brilliant sprinter he owned who won the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and nominated for three Eclipse Awards that year, will be represented for the first time at this fall's breeding stock sales as 23 of his weanlings will go through the ring. Runhappy broke records at Keeneland and Saratoga, while racing 100% medication free. Mattress Mack is our guest on this week's TDN podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

30 Years After Personal Ensign’s Distaff

Sue Finley — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 18:39:19 +0000

It its 34-year history and over hundreds of races, the Breeders' Cup has provided many a thrill and many a great race. But virtually everyone agrees that one race stands alone, that the 1988 Distaff, won by Personal Ensign, was the greatest Breeders' Cup race ever run. This year marks the 30th anniversary of that race and on this week's Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made, we'll look back at this great race with trainer Shug McGaughey and jockey Randy Romero.

Tom Ludt

Siara Spreen — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 17:44:47 +0000

Tom Ludt has done a lot in the horse racing industry. He was the president of Vinery, the chairman of the Breeders' Cup and has worked for the Stronach Group. But never has he been involved with a project as ambitious as Phoenix Thoroughbreds. Ludt was hired in December to head the U.S. operations for the trailblazing stable that has emerged in less than two years as a major force on the global racing scene and is spending millions at the sales in order to achieve its goals. Ludt is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Trevor Denman

Sue Finley — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 23:06:10 +0000

Trevor Denman burst onto the announcing scene in 1983 when the South African was hired to call the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita. American racing fans had never heard anyone quite like him. He didn't just announce a race; he painted a picture. He had a collection of colorful terms and he wasn't afraid to editorialize if he thought a horse was “moving like a winner.” Now 65, Denman works only the Del Mar meets, but with the meet in full swing, he remains as good as ever. Denman is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Pat Cummings

Sue Finley — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 18:13:01 +0000

What is The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation? According to the press release announcing its formation, it been established to create an active forum for the exchange and curation of ideas which will improve the overall prospects for the Thoroughbred industry, its stakeholders and fundamentally, the horse. Those are huge goals and the person running the ship will be Patrick Cummings, the former Executive Manager, Public Affairs (Racing), for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who is now the executive director of TIF. He starts his new job August 1, and is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Ahmed Zayat

Sue Finley — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:32:45 +0000

A new chapter in the career of American Pharoah will begin July 10 in Lexington, Kentucky when his first crop of yearlings sells at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. This is not just another first crop sire, but a sire who become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years and took owner Ahmed Zayat and his family on the ride of their lives. Zayat is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Dennis Drazin

Sue Finley — Wed, 23 May 2018 14:43:01 +0000

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 is unconstitutional and the floodgates are about to open, with legalized sports betting expected to be up and running in dozens of states within the next few years. There's little doubt this wouldn't be the case if not for Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, operator of Monmouth Park. Never giving up despite several defeats in lower courts, Drazin spearheaded the effort to have legalized sports betting in New Jersey and, in particular, Monmouth. Drazin is this week's guest of the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Bob Baffert

Sue Finley — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:00:58 +0000

He did it again. On May 5, Bob Baffert won his fifth Kentucky Derby and did so with style as Justify lived up to the tremendous hype that followed him into the starting gate after his win in the GI Santa Anita Derby. The Preakness is next and already there are whispers that racing may have another Triple Crown winner. So, who else but Bob Baffert, who spoke to TDN correspondent Daniel Ross, would be this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast? The TDN podcast is brought to you by Taylor Made.

Duncan Taylor

Sue Finley — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:26:54 +0000

Everyone knows that there are not enough horses to go around to adequately fill the 40,0000 races that will be run in North America this year. But to say there is a horse shortage is to simplify things. One of the reasons there is a horse shortage is because there is an owner shortage. So how does the sport fix that? Duncan Taylor, the president of Taylor Made, has some thoughts and some plans, some of which have already been put into action. Taylor discuss his ideas on the latest installment of the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Ogden Phipps II

Siara Spreen — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 18:04:43 +0000

You certainly know the given name Ogden and the surname Phipps, but you may not know much about this particular Odgen Phipps. He is Ogden Phipps II, the 40-year-old son of Odgen Mills “Dinny” Phipps, who passed away in April, 2016. Going back to the late 1800s, the Phipps family has been a visible and integral part of the sport. That is not about to change as Ogden Phipps II has filled the void left by his father's passing and is clearly intent on seeing to it that the famed black and cherry silks continue to be a major force in horse racing. Ogden Phipps II is our guest on this week's Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Michael Wallace

Sue Finley — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 18:32:26 +0000

The China Horse Club is a relatively new name in American horse racing, but it has wasted little time letting the world know that it intends on being nothing less than a major player on the U.S. racing scene. The Horse Club had a breakthrough when Abel Tasman, a horse it co-owned with Clearsky Farms, won the 2017 Kentucky Oaks and was named 3-year-old filly champion. It looks like they were just warming up as in Audible, Quip and Justify the China Horse Club has three serious contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby. Michael Wallace is a big part of the team, the group's head of bloodstock and racing. He is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Emmeline Hill

Sue Finley — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 18:37:00 +0000

Emmeline Hill is Associate Professor of Equine Science at University College Dublin and, along with trainer Jim Bolger, was the co-founder of Equinome Ltd. She is now Chief Science Officer for the equine science company Plusvital Ltd, a world leader in the development and provision of genetic tests for the international Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding industries. All of which means she's brought science into the equation. Will your horse be a sprinter, a miler or stayer? Will it prosper on grass or dirt? Hill has found that in something called equine exercise genomics, those answers can be found.

Criquette Head-Maarek

Siara Spreen — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 22:11:30 +0000

On February 1, Criquette Head-Maarek will retire, concluding one of the greatest careers any trainer has ever had. A member of what one may call France's first family of racing, she has won the Arc de Triomphe three times, established herself at a time when few thought a female could rise to the top ranks of the French trainer's standings and on two occasions beat life-threatening illnesses. Head-Maarek is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made.

Ron Paolucci

Lia — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 22:12:22 +0000

Two things are certain about Ron Paolucci-his enthusiasm for the sport is unsurpassed and he thinks outside the box. That's why it comes as no surprise that not only will he partake for the second straight year in the GI Pegasus World Cup, but he has two entrants, War Story (Northern Afleet) and Sharp Azteca (Freud). Sometimes controversial, never dull, Paolucci is this week's guest on the Thoroughbred Daily News podcast brought to you by Taylor Made.

Louis Cella

Sue Finley — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 23:03:31 +0000

A lot has changed in racing since 1904, but one thing has remained the same. When it comes to Oaklawn Park, for the last 114 years the person in charge has been named Cella. Following the death of Oaklawn owner Charles J. Cella in December, his son Louis was named the new president of Oaklawn. He will be the one guiding the historic track in Hot Springs, Arkansas into the future, and he is our guest on this week's TDN podcast brought to you by Taylor Made.