WP Welcomes Handicapper Brad Free & Writer Bob 'Railbird Roberts
February 3, 2022
Hosted by John Engelhardt
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Have a seat, get comfortable, curb your enthusiasm, and tighten your seat belt as we start the roller coaster ride called “The Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.” This week, there are five “points” races (10-4-2-1) from coast to coast – no better time to pull down those EZ-Win Forms from winningponies.com. Brad Free is based in Southern California covering Santa Anita, Del Mar, Fairplex, and Hollywood Park. He joined Daily Racing Form in 1992 and is the author of "Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets." Brad provides a daily analysis of the races. Each day during the meet, Brad Free offers his insight and analysis of the entire card. Santa Anita will offer points for both sexes on Sunday when they present the Gr. 3 Las Virgenes for fillies and the Gr. 3 Robert B. Lewis for colts and geldings. We’ll ask Brad to go outside his comfort zone and analyze the Gr. 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. Our second guest handicapper will be turf writer Bob “Railbird” Roberts who likes to take his mind off the Cleveland winters by focusing his sights on the warm Gulfstream Park meet. Roberts began his career at the Mentor Morning Monitor before heading over to The News Herald where he was named sports editor in 1970 at the age of 22. The Cleveland Plain Dealer hired Bob in 1985 and he remained there for over 20 years before accepting a buyout in 2006. Roberts is a multiple award-winning writer who has covered racing for the Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer for over 40 years. His duties included his daily “Railbird” selections. Roberts has covered every Kentucky Derby from Secretariat to Barbaro and is an avid handicapping contest participant.
Winning Ponies
Thursday at 5 PM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
On the show we will talk about the Sport of Kings. We will delve into the different features of the WinningPonies.com website. John Engelhardt will talk about the issues of the day that affect horse racing, such as synthetic surfaces, medication rule changes, the fate of the industry as a whole, VLTs and Casinos, and human interest stories of triumph and defeat. You will also hear our spot play of the week, where John will handicap the feature races for the upcoming weekend, and will give out his best plays. We will keep you abreast racing’s big events. Featured on the show will be guests (trainers, jockeys, owners, celebrity handicappers and industry insiders). Promotional giveaways will be featured, such as brand merchandise and free WinningCredits.
"Winning Ponies" is broadcast live every Thursday at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
John Engelhardt
You may recognize him as "Racing's Regular Guy." For ten years, John Engelhardt hosted the informative and sometimes irreverent handicapping show from his base at River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio. He developed a passion for thoroughbred racing as a youngster at Saratoga, and has been able to make his love of the sport his life's calling.
Engelhardt, a native of Syracuse, New York is a graduate of the University of Dayton. His professional career in racing began as the track photographer at Beulah Park in 1983 and he has worked in racing ever since. John produced "The Stretch Run" for eight years, which aired on the CBS affiliate WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. For four years Engelhardt co-hosted "The Regular Guy Handicapping Show on HOMER 1530-AM in Cincinnati with former "Winning Ponies" host Ed Meyer.
John served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America in 2009 and 2010, after serving several years as the Midwest Vice-President of that organization. He is currently a consultant for Pinnacle Entertainment handling publicity, public relations, marketing, advertising and special events for River Downs. Under the "nom-de-course" of Heart of an Angel Stable, he has bred and owned thoroughbreds for 18 years.
"Racing's Regular Guy" has been exposed to racing on many levels and greets the sport with enthusiasm and well-rounded knowledge. Tune in Thursdays at 5PM PT, as he welcomes nationally recognized guests, who will help you find those "Winning Ponies.”
