Episode Details

Today, Larry goes one-on-one with jockey Corey Lanerie, who joins Ponies 24-7 for the first time following the announcement that he will retire at the conclusion of the current Churchill Downs meet. One of the most accomplished riders of his generation, Lanerie amassed more than five thousand career victories, won seven Grade one races, and guided his mounts to more than one hundred seventy-two million dollars in purse earnings. Corey reflects on the decision to retire after a thirty-five-year career, discusses some of the highlights and near-misses that defined his time in the saddle, including runner-up finishes in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and shares memories of becoming one of the most successful jockeys in Churchill Downs history. He also talks about reaching the five-thousand-win milestone, the best horses he rode, and what life after racing may hold.

Also today, Jenna MacDonnell returns to the show in her new role as Woodbine’s Manager of Horse Ownership Development. After previously serving as Raceway Manager at Grand River Raceway, Jenna discusses the transition to Woodbine and explains how her new position is focused on attracting and supporting new horse owners in both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. She outlines some of the initiatives Woodbine is developing to make ownership more accessible, discusses how mentorship and partnership opportunities may play a role in growing participation, and shares how her experiences at Grand River helped prepare her for this new challenge. Jenna also reflects on growing up in a racing family as the daughter of Hall of Fame horseman Paul MacDonell and the influence that background continues to have on her career.

Then, Ajax Downs trainer Joe Tavares joins Ponies 24-7 for the first time to discuss a highly successful twenty twenty-six season that has seen him win at an impressive twenty-four percent clip through the opening weeks of the Quarter Horse meet. A second-generation horseman with more than nine hundred career victories and over seven million dollars in purse earnings, Tavares reflects on how he became involved in Quarter Horse racing and explains what has fueled his stable’s strong start to the year. Joe also provides insight into how Quarter Horses are trained, explains the various race classifications used in the sport, and previews several of the horses he has entered on Ajax Downs’ Father’s Day card. He also shares stories from a career that has spanned thousands of starts and discusses the goals he has set for the remainder of the season.

In our feature “In Case You Missed It,” Larry recaps the biggest racing headlines from the past week across North America. Later, he delivers his Ponies Picks of the Day, sponsored by Rocket Ship Racing, highlighting potential wagering opportunities at Woodbine, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and several other tracks racing today. And in this week’s Road Trip, Larry heads to Thistledown for the Grade three five hundred thousand dollar Ohio Derby, a mile-and-an-eighth test for three-year-olds on the dirt.