Episode Details

Today, Larry goes one on onewith Keith McCalmont, NYRA’s Director,Communications who discusses today’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes and the 100thAnniversary of the Kentucky Derby Points Race and also breaks down some of the other stakes races on the card today. He also talks about how he eventually got interested in horse racing in Brampton, Ontario and how it led to his position with NYRA and also discusses the other NYRA Racetracks, including  therebuild of their Belmont Park.; Keenland’s Race Announcer Kurt Becker, joins the show and discusses the impact of rain storms and how they have forced the track to move their signature race, The Blue Grass, to Tuesday. Kurt does break down the field for the Blue Grass Stakes, which is an important Kentucky Derby prep race and mentions why theKeeneland meeting continues to remain a special meet for the Thoroughbred industry.; Woodbine’s newly appointed Director, Thoroughbred Racing Operations , Martha Wakely, who discusses her new role and what it entails and how she has been part of Woodbine since 2008. She also discusses her family ties that helped lead to her becoming part of the Thoroughbred industry and how by growing up idolizing  well respected women horse racing industry participants, helped to well shape her own career with Woodbine. 

In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News , Larry talks aboutthe recent announcement made by Woodbine that outlined their 2025 Thoroughbred stakes scheduleand mentions the dates of  some  of the major stakes events to be raced. He also  provides  his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks, later on in the show and in our ‘Road Trip’ feature, he visits today’s Wood Memorial Stakes  at Aqueduct Racetrack

● Keith initially talks about todays’ Wood Memorial Stakes and how the track will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the race and some of the famous horses to win the Kentucky Derby points race. He also talks about some of the other stakes events at Aqueduct today and discusses the other NYRA tracks, Saratoga and Belmont, the latter is currently under reconstruction and is expected to open in September, 2026. Keith also talks about his career and how it originally began in Brampton, Ontario  and how this led to a career at Woodbine Entertainment and then at NYRA as Director, Communications. He also mentions ‘the Greatest Race he ever watched’.

● Kurt talks about the cancellation of the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland because of severe, recent, inclement  weather in Kentucky, which will see the race to be conducted on Tuesday. Kurt also discusses the field for the Blue Grass and why the stakes event plays such an important role on the ‘road to the Kentucky Derby’ but does caution that the race has not necessarily been a major key race for providing Kentucky Derby winners. He also talks about why the Keeneland Thoroughbred meet remains so popular to racing fans and talks about how he became the first racetrack announcer at Keeneland, a role that he still enjoys. Kurt  is also asked to finish the following  ‘ If I didn’t become a Thoroughbred Racetrack Announcer, I would probably be a ? --Tune in for Kurt’s answer, you will probably be very surprised! 

● Martha talks about her recent new role  at Woodbine as Director, Thoroughbred Racing Operations and what the role entails. She also talks about how she has worked in several roles at Woodbine since 2008 and how growing up she was always interested in horse racing through some family ties. Martha also talks about how she is constantly in awe of the many women that are making successful careers in the horse racing industry and talks about how her relationship with the horse people is a joint venture and expl