Fair Grounds Track Handicapper Joe Kristufek / Former Woodbine Jockey Isabelle Wenc / Woodbine’s Senior Manager, Simulcast and HPI Services Klaus Ebner

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Ann and Larry are joined by Fair Grounds Track Handicapper Joe Kristufek, who discusses in detail todays Risen Star Stakes and touches upon the some of the other five stakes races, scheduled for Fair Grounds today. Joe also talks about how and where he became involved in horse racing and how he would describe himself as a handicapper. Former Woodbine Jockey Isabelle Wenc, who retired from riding in December and is now working towards a career as a paramedic. Isabelle also mentions whether it was a tough decision to leave horse racing and discusses the Paramedic program and how heading back to school has come with several challenges so far. Woodbine’s Senior Manager, Simulcast and HPI Services Klaus Ebner , who talks about the growth of the Woodbine simulcast and foreign handle markets and mentions one particular country that recently became part of the network after 10 years of negotiations. Klaus also discusses how supplying proper handicapping data for the foreign tracks is front and centre with Woodbine and how they continue to discuss this area with their foreign simulcast partners.; In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about how former Queen’s Plate winner Mighty Heart has been taken out of retirement and recorded his first workout at Turfway Park last week and who is his new trainer and in our new feature, ‘Road Trip’ , Larry talks about the background behind the running of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds today and who he believes the race ‘goes through’. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today.

Key Points:

• Joe talks first about the Risen Star Stakes today at Fair Grounds and why he likes a particular horse to win the stakes race. He also talks about the Rachel Alexandra stakes and who he likes to win and discusses how he would describe himself as a handicapper. He also talks about how he became so interested in horse racing and some of the other areas that he is involved in within the industry including managing a horse racing partnership, Brilliant Racing. He also discusses whether he has been impressed by any of the on-track performances in the Kentucky Derby points races so far and whether today’s Risen Star Stakes is a good indicator of what we may see in the Louisiana Derby next month at Fair Grounds

• Isabelle talks about why it was time to retire from race riding and whether it was a difficult decision and whether she had any regrets. She also talks about why she always wanted to be a Paramedic and how her family is involved in Health Care and mentions about the Paramedic program and how it has come with its challenges. She also mentions how she first applied for the program in Saskatchewan and how she was wait-listed, which accounted for her applying at an Ontario school and getting accepted almost immediately. She also talks about growing up and some of the health challenges that she had to face and how through her own determination she was able to get through them.

• Klaus discusses his role with Woodbine and for our new listeners explains what constitutes foreign handle. He also talks about how Woodbine’s foreign handle has continued to grow since he was last on the show in 2021 and whether Woodbine is currently looking at other areas for simulcast partners. Klaus also talks about a particular racing jurisdiction which just became part of Woodbine’s simulcast network and why it took almost ten years for them to come on board. He also talks about how people can now bet these foreign horse racing products and talks about how Woodbine is collaborating with its foreign simulcast partners to provide better handicapping tools for their customers. Klaus also discusses a horse, EQUINOX, who was recently voted ‘Longines World’s Best Racehorse of 2023’ and what was so significant about this horse.