Tampa Bay Downs Handicapper Ren Carothers / RCMP Sergeant Major Scott Williamson / Woodbine Mohawk Park Announcer Ken Middleton

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Ann and Larry are joined by Tampa Bay Downs Handicapper Ren Carothers, who discusses in detail todays Sam F. Davis Stakes and touches upon the Suncoast Stakes for fillies. Ren also talks about how it is upsetting that as of last week there is no live horse racing in the state of Michigan now and also discusses whether there was a handicapper growing up that she followed. RCMP Sergeant Major Scott Williamson who is the Riding Master for the RCMP’s Musical Ride, who discusses the Divestment of Horses program, that finds new homes for retired Musical Ride horses. Scott also discusses how the decision is made to retire the horses and the requirements necessary for people to participate in the Divestment program. Woodbine Mohawk Park Announcer Ken Middleton, who talks about what it is like to be back in the announcer’s booth after missing time because of a training accident. Ken also mentions where he is in the recouperation process from his accident and talks about the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance and some of the initiatives that the Alliance has undertaken over the past couple of years. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about some of the results from last Saturday’s O’Brien Awards that were held in Charlottetown and in a new feature, ‘Road Trip’ Larry talks about the background behind the running of the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs 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:

• Ren talks first about the Sam F. Davis Stakes today and why she like a particular horse to win the stakes race. She also talks about how the stakes race is a good indicator of what we may see next month in the running of the Tampa Bay Derby and how there have been several top trainers that have enjoyed good success in the Sam F Davis. Ren also talks about the Suncoast Stakes and who she feels will run a good race today and mentions how she became involved in horse racing initially. Also having spent much of her life in the state of Michigan, Ren talks about the recent closing of the last racetrack in the state to offer live horse racing and why it is a sad time for horse racing and the state of Michigan. She also discusses how she became so heavily involved in handicapping and whether there was a handicapper ‘back in the day’ that could be considered a mentor.

• Sergeant Major Williamson talks about the recent Divestment of Horses program that the RCMP offered in December and how it proved to be popular in finding good homes for some of the horses. He also talks about how the RCMP decides when it is time to retire a horse and the process that people that want to adopt need to go through to qualify for the program. He also talks about the breeding program that the RCMP have in place to constantly provide new horses to the Musical Ride and talks about the training program that a person needs to go through to be part of the Musical Ride. He also discusses what is it that makes his job as Riding Master for the RCMP’s Musical Ride so fulfilling and mentions how Woodbine Mohawk Park has been a great partner for the RCMP Musical Ride.

• Ken discusses his return to the Woodbine Mohawk Broadcast Booth and whether he had any ‘butterflies’ on that first night of racing. Ken also talks about what stage he is in, recuperating from a serious training accident last year and talks about an important initiative that he is part of the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance. He also talks about Bill Galvin as a person and his major passion for harness racing and mentions some of the initiatives that the Alliance has worked on over the past year. Ken also discusses how someone can volunteer and help in the organization of some of the Alliance’s events