Brad Cox, Award Winning Trainer / Ren Carothers, Professional Handicapper / Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications Manager

Today, Larry goes one on one with one of North America’s top Thoroughbred  Trainers Brad Cox, who discusses how he originally became part of the horse racing industry and in particular a top North American Trainer and whether he went into the business with any set goals . He also talks about some of his horses that he is pointing to the Kentucky Derby, including recent Lecomte Stakes winner Disco Time and discusses Jockey and Friend of the Show Flo Geroux and what he attributes their continued  success to. Brad also is asked who was the greatest horse that he has ever trained in his career.; Tampa Bay Downs Handicapper Ren Carothers, who extensively discusses today’s Sam F Davis Stakes event and some of the major contenders she feels have a great opportunity  to win the stakes event and how there are also important Kentucky Derby qualifying points to be won by the top placed horses.. She also analyzes the Suncoast Stakes  andmentions how it is the Filly equivalent of the Sam F Davis and that there are points too ‘to be won’   to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. She also mentions how long she spends handicapping a race card and whether she is an angles player at all.; Woodbine’s Senior Manager Communications Mark McKelvie, who talks about tonight’s Standardbred O’Brien Awards and in particular  a ‘Red Carpet Show’ that he and Harness Driver Natasha Day will be hosting. Mark also discusses some of the Awards to be handed out tonight and also when the conversation moves to Woodbine, talks about the reconstruction that is being done to the E P Taylor Turf Course and also how far along are plans  for the 2025 King’s Plate .In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about a stakes win by Chiefswood Stable at Turfway Parkrecently and also the passing of the Aga Khan this past week and the major influence that he and his family had on International Thoroughbred racing. In our regular feature,‘Road Trip’, Larry talks about  today’s Sam F Davis Stakes 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, later on in the show.Bullet points of key topics, guests (who they are) & time stamps:  ● Brad initially talks about how he became involved in Thoroughbred racing and in particular a Trainer and whether there was someone that guided him through the process of becoming a Trainer. He also mentions whether he ever set any goals for himself and whether he still remembers his first victory and if so where did it take place. Brad also discusses a couple of his recent performers Disco Time and Saudi Crown and where we may see them racing again and why does he believe that he has continued to connect so well with  Jockey Flo Geroux and  talks about some of the other three-year- oldsin his barn and that he is hoping to point to the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May and who is the greatest horse that he ever trained. He is also asked to finish the following question ‘ If I didn’t become a Thoroughbred Trainer, I would probably be a? --Tune in for Bradsanswer, you may be surprised!  ● Ren initially discusses in depth today’s Sam F Davis Stakes event and analyzes the entire field and who she believes today’s race goes through. She also mentions a significant Canadian connection to the race and emphasisthe importance of racing well in today’s event because of the Kentucky Derby qualifier points that are up for grabs. She also discusses today’s Suncoast Stakes which is for Fillies and comes up with a possible betting play and why. She also emphasizes  the importance of collecting Kentucky Oaks point in todays race and is asked to describe how she handicaps and also how long she would spend handicapping today’s Sam F Davis race card at Tampa Bay Downs. She also mentions how and where she became so involved  in Horse Racing. ● Mark discusses tonight’s O’Brien Awards and in particular the ‘Red Carpet Show’ that he will be hosting with Harness Driver Natasha Day. He also mentions how people can tune in to not only the ‘Red Carpet Show’ but also the Awards Ceremony later on and talks about some of the awards being handed out tonite and  the finalists inseveral  of the categories. Mark then shifts over to talk about the upcoming Woodbine Thoroughbred  season and in particular the construction that is being done on the E P Taylor Turf Course and whether the renovations will have any effect on the several stakes races during the Summer that need to be run over a grass surface. He also talks about the date for the King’s Plate and where Woodbine stands as far as preparations for the day are right now.