'Winning Ponies' welcomes trainer Chris Block and DRF/NTRA contests qualifier Daven Turner
December 30, 2010
Hosted by John Engelhardt
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Episode Description
Chris Block grew up in the business with his parents, who have been involved in racing and breeding for about 40 years. "My dad loved racing and ran a few down at Fairmount when I was a kid. I insisted he takes me every time he went. I loved the horses and the races. The more I went, I knew I'd get involved in racing." At one time Chris thought about being a jockey. He worked three summers as a groom for the Bill Mott stable in Illinois, Minnesota and Kentucky before taking out his trainer's license in 1989. He spent the following year training at the Kentucky Training Center, then brought six horses to Chicago and has trained there ever since. His stable size is about 40 horses and races at Chicago-area tracks Arlington Park and Hawthorne. His best horses to date: Ioya Two, winner of the 2001 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park as well as four other stakes; multiple stakes winner and million-dollar-plus earner Mystery Giver and Vacare, who provided him with his first grade 1 victory when she won Keeneland's 2006 running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Mr. Block is perenially a top five trainer at Arlington Park and his stable finished second in the standings there in 2008 with 32 victories. This past August, Daven Turner managed to capture his second DRF/NTRA Keeneland Handicapping Challenge. Mr. Turner a Galloway, Ohio resident received $12,000 for his handicapping prowess and will now be headed to the Red Rock Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the National Handicapping Championship in January. Mr. Turner has qualified four times for DRF/NTRA contest and will be talking contests and handicapping with our host, which should be very informative on how to navigate the handicapping circuits.
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.”
