Midlantic Racing Today

Maryland Million and the stallion business

With Maryland Million upon us - it takes place Oct. 24 at Laurel Park - we wanted to see what this celebration of Maryland stallions means to those who stand studs in the Free State. Maryland Million is a day where the biggest races are restricted to the offspring of Maryland stallions, helping to promote the stallions and create demand for their offspring. Country Life Farm, in Bel Air, MD, has four stallions currently, and their roster over the years has included such stalwarts as Allen's Prospect, Citidancer, and Malibu Moon. Country Life's Mike Pons and Christy Holden are the guests on today's episode if Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. They tell us what Maryland Million means to them, as Country Life breeds horses, stands stallions, and runs partnerships, too. And they share their favorite memories of Maryland's Day at the Races! Today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today is presented by the Maryland Jockey Club.

Previewing the Maryland Million with Mackenzie and John

With Maryland Million 2026 nearly upon us -- it takes place Saturday, Oct. 24 at Laurel Park -- it's time to open those past performances and get to handicapping! Mackenzie Pfeiffer of the Maryland Jockey Club and our own John Piassek are the guests on today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz! Saturday's card as a 12-race brain-buster featuring eight stakes races and four challenging starter handicaps. The stakes feature such popular regional runners as Barbadian Runner, Slewperstitus, Witty, and Celtic Contender. Where to spread and where to single? Which favorites are vulnerable and which look too good? Mack and John have the answers. Today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today is presented by the Maryland Jockey Club.

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Talking Fasig-Tipton fall yearling sale

Fasig-Tipton's annual fall yearling sale in Timonium is upon us -- well, almost. It takes place Tuesday, Oct. 27. And this year's edition comes with a couple of significant changes: a new format designed to highlight the Mid-Atlantic region's breeding programs and a Preakness bonus that could significantly sweeten the pot if a graduate of the sale wins the Middle Jewel. Frank Alosa from Fasig-Tipton joins us to discuss all of this and more on today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Just three days prior to the sale, one of its top recent grads will try to defend his title in the Maryland Million Classic. That's now-4-year-old Barbadian Runner, who cost just $5,000 as a yearling but has now surpassed $1 million in career earnings. A horse like Barbadian Runner might just be the sale's best advertisement of all. Don't forget to like and subscribe to Midlantic Racing Today -- anywhere you get your podcasts!

Talking with the riding King of Charles Town

Arnaldo Bocachica has been the longtime king of Charles Town riders, and if he wins this year's local riding title -- he has a 15-win advantage -- will secure his ninth consecutive leading rider title. Arnaldo Bocachica is our guest on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Bocachica has often saved his best for the biggest days, once winning eight WV Breeders Classics races on a single card. This year he won two, including with the ultra-impressive Ryan's Run and with Zip Start in the Cavada. Bocachica's success has been built on a foundation of his own talent and hard work, his longtime partnership with top trainer Jeff Runco, and his success at staying healthy. In recent years, he's also had the chance to ride with brother Orlando and son Abnel. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Charles Town Races Today, is presented by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

Previewing closing weekend at Delaware Park!

Delaware Park racing analyst Stan Salter joins us on Midlantic Racing Today as closing weekend looms. Midlantic Racing Today is powered by The Racing Biz. Delaware concludes its 2026 season with a 10-race program on Oct. 17, but if the season is ending, it's ending with a bang. There are full fields everywhere and two stakes top the card. Those two are the $100,000 Wilmington for older runners and the $200,000 Endine for fillies and mares, both at six furlongs -- and both with plenty of intriguing handicapping questions. Get the jump on your handicapping with today's episode featuring Stan Salter! This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

Flying under the radar at Delaware Park

While some of the trainers who've had strong meets at Delaware Park are pretty familiar names -- think Jamie Ness, Gary Capuano, Mike Simone, or Greg Compton -- a few others have flown under the radar. One of the latter group is Chris Seale, who joins us in this exclusive interview on Midlantic Racing Today. Seale's operation -- based most of the year in Florida -- won with nine of 31 starters during the Delaware meet, a stellar performance that built on his seven-win 2025 meet. And that's not all. Seale also works as a pinhooker, buying young horses to develop and resell. And he does all that as part of a family operation, with his wife Margo and younger son Cash. Here's an inside look at a smaller, family-based racing operation. Today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today is presented by Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino!

Midlantic Racing Today weekend preview: WVBC and more!

Lots of Mid-Atlantic horse racing action is on tap this weekend, and we bring in Charles Town announcer and linemaker Paul Espinosa and Delaware Park analyst Stan Salter to help us sort through it. They are our guests on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz! At Charles Town, it's West Virginia Breeders Classics weekend, with a 10-race program dedicated to the best in West Virginia-bred racing action! Meanwhile, at Delaware Park, we recap last weekend's big Delaware Handicap card and look ahead to the top races on Saturday. Delaware's season is winding down, with one more week to go! Today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today is presented by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Delaware Park Racetrack and Casino!

"Racing as it should be": A Maryland Million legacy

More than 40 years ago, famed sportscaster Jim McKay and others had a big idea -- maybe even a preposterous one. Why not have a day of racing, modeled on the Breeders' Cup but dedicated to Maryland, featuring the progeny of Maryland stallions and celebrating Maryland breeding and racing? Where would the purses come from? Who would show up? Would breeders support it? Could it possibly work? Now, as we approach the 41st running of the Maryland Million, we know Maryland Million as one of the best days on the Maryland racing calendar. Cricket Goodall was there at the inception, and this year will be her final one as the executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Million Ltd. She is our guest on Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Goodall has seen racing's fortunes wax and wane while plans for the future came and went. But through it all, Maryland Million continued to thrive as Maryland's day at the races. Learn how that happened -- and how she's approaching her final Maryland Million as the event's head -- in this exclusive interview. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Maryland Racing Today, is presented by the Maryland Jockey Club.

The art of not going broke with homebreds while overcoming tragedy

If you're looking for a quick way to go broke in horse racing, breeding and then racing your homebreds is usually the ticket. It's a slow, expensive process, and any money the horse might earn for you is three or more years off in the future. But nobody gave Chas Blanford the memo. Blanford, an owner and breeder based in Maryland, joins us for an exclusive interview on Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Blanford's most accomplished current runner is the 4-year-old filly Beautiful Blome, recent winner of the Ogletown Handicap. But it's another horse -- Olivia's Legacy -- who has the most compelling story. Find out why in this exclusive horseracing interview. Plus, we'll preview all four stakes with Laurel Park on-air analyst Mackenzie Pfeiffer. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Maryland Racing Today, is presented by the Maryland Jockey Club.

Talking WV Breeders Classics at 40!

October 10 marks the 40th running of the West Virginia Breeders Classics -- the biggest night of the year for local horsemen! WV Breeders Classics co-founder Carol Holden is our guest on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. In a couple of weeks, we may see nine of last year's 10 winners back in WVBC races -- including horses like WV-bred Horse of the Year Teachintherelease, surprise Dash for Cash winner Time to Rock, and defending Cavada champ Petty Perfect. Plus we'll hear about all the rest of what goes into making WV Breeders Classics such a key part of the Charles Town season -- and how this all came to be. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Charles Town Races Today, is presented by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

A jockey agent's life, plus a weekend preview

Laurel Park hosts three stakes Saturday afternoon, and one of them -- the Selima -- has produced a Breeders' Cup winner Jockey agent Tom Stift will be well represented with one of his clients riding in each of the three. Angel Cruz has mounts in the All Along (on Mischief in Motion) and the Laurel Futurity (Fire Marshal), while Vincent Cheminaud pilots Sea Isle City in the Selima. Tom Stift joins us for an exclusive interview on Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Stift has been an agent for 38 years, and his career includes stops in California, Oregon, and Texas before a shift to the East Coast. Also in there are sojourns to New Orleans and Tampa Bay, along with a working trip to Jamaica (nice work if you can get it!). Plus, we'll preview all three stakes with Laurel Park on-air analyst Mackenzie Pfeiffer. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Maryland Racing Today, is presented by the Maryland Jockey Club

Talking Delaware Handicap

Regaled was a powerful winner of the 2025 Delaware Handicap, rallying from well back to win by six lengths -- a triumph she parlayed into a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Only seven horses in the history of the Delaware Handicap have defended their crowns. Can Regaled be the eighth? We'll dig into that question on today's episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. The DelCap is the featured and final of four stakes on the card. We'll also discuss the Battery Park (Barbadian Runner goes for $1 million) and the two 2-year-old races, the White Clay Creek and Rocky Run. Get the jump on your handicapping with today's episode! This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

Trainer talks unexpected beginnings and breaking new ground

Back in 2020, Keri Brion was in Ireland overseeing a string of horses for her boss Jonathan Sheppard when she learned he was unexpectedly retiring -- a move that thrust her into a training on her own, a job she'd expected to have... just not quite yet. Then The Mean Queen won the Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser, and things started to happen for her. Keri Brion joins us for an exclusive interview on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. These days Brion has a growing operation based at the Fair Hill Training Center, and while she wants to remain prominent in jumps circles, she's hoping to for growing success on the flat side. It's a great conversation with a trainer with an interesting story. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

How'd an $8,000 claimer end up in a Grade 1 race?!?

When trainer Michael Simone dropped $8,000 to claim Micanopy a few months back, he was hoping for a solid enough horse who would fit in the Mid-Atlantic. But he never expected to land the horse who would give him his first stakes win -- and then take him to the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Michael Simone joins us for an exclusive interview on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Simone followed his father's footsteps into the racing industry, becoming a trainer just like Dad, but after his father passed away, Simone stepped away from training. He was out of the business from 2012 to 2020. Now he's in the midst of a career year and hoping for bigger things still to come. It's a great conversation with a trainer with an interesting back story. Plus we'll take a look ahead to the racing at Delaware Park this weekend with analyst Stan Salter. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

Anthony Farrior's fleet 2-year-olds

Charles Town's first 2-year-old stakes of 2026 are upon us this weekend, and trainer Anthony Farrior arrives holding a strong hand: two, including the favorite, in Friday's John McKee Memorial, and an intriguing debut runner in Saturday's Henry Mercer Memorial. Farrior, Charles Town's defending leading trainer who this year is chasing Ronney Brown, is our guest on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Farrior will send out 3-5 Crystal Veil, along with 12-1 Kickin' With Caity, in Friday's McKee Memorial. Saturday in the Mercer, he'll unveil debut runner Hundley. We'll also check in on his pursuit of 1,500 wins -- he could get there this year -- and Grey Bells, his surprising worst-to-first winner going four furlongs at Timonium in August. Later we visit with Charles Town Races track announcer and morning line maker Paul Espinosa to preview the weekend ahead and recap Charles Town Classic night. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Charles Town Races Today, is presented by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

Trainer Pedro Nazario on the journey to his first stakes win

When For the Ladies got up late to win the $75,000 Shine Again Stakes at Timonium Aug. 29, it wasn't just her third consecutive triumph. It also provided the first stakes win of trainer Pedro Nazario's career. Pedro Nazario joins us for an exclusive interview on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Nazario struck out on his own as a trainer in 2021 and has won 70 races and more than $1.5 million in purse earnings since. He worked his way up from hotwalker to galloping horses to assistant trainer to trainer, though he still gallops some of his own. It's a great conversation with an up-and-coming trainer. Plus we'll take a look ahead to the racing at Delaware Park this weekend. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

Retired jockey Mario Pino on the journey to 7,000 wins

Only 10 jockeys in the entire history of Thoroughbred racing have amassed 7,000 or more victories. One of them is Delaware native and longtime Midlantic riding stalwart Mario Pino. Mario Pino joins us for an exclusive interview on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Pino entered the last week of his riding career needing five wins to become racing's 10th 7,000-race winner. He bagged six to reach 7,001 by the time it was all said and done. Plus, what was it like riding Hard Spun to a near-win in the Derby? And what happened the time Spectacular Bid came to town? It's a great conversation with one of Mid-Atlantic racing's top riders. Plus Delaware Park analyst Stan Salter will stop by for news and handicapping. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

Father-son training duo dishes on racing and life

Veteran trainer Gregory Sacco has won more than 900 races, including nine graded stakes, in a long career. Now his son -- and top assistant -- Will is looking to carry on a multi-generation family legacy. Gregg and Will Sacco join us for an exclusive interview on this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. The Saccos will see barn star Crazy Mason try his luck against sprint champ Book'em Danno Saturday in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga and next month they have their eyes on the Delaware Handicap for Social Fortress. And they have a cadre of two-year-olds they're excited about heading towards the racetrack. It's a fun conversation about racing, working with families, carrying on legacies and much more! This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.

Scouting out Charles Town Classic night

The biggest night of the year at Charles Town Races arrives Friday, and we've got you covered. Paul Espinosa, Charles Town track announcer and morning line maker, joins this episode of Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. The Classic has drawn a field of 10, including prior winners Skippylongstocking (2023-2024) and Banishing (2025), along with last year's runner-up, Willy D's. And Midlantic racing folks will have plenty to root for on the day, including Maryland-bred Barbadian Runner in the Classic and West Virginia-breds like At a Premium (Oaks), Ryan's Run (Hilton Memorial), and Xcellent Start (Classic). Hear all about it in this exclusive interview! This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Charles Town Races Today, is presented by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

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Autism Awareness day and Delaware Park's #1 fan

Matt Halter, a 20-something racing fan who also happens to be autistic, has become Delaware Park's #1 fan. That's in part due to his mom's social media presence and even more to his own unquenchable enthusiasm. Matt's mom, Megan Halter, joins us today on Midlantic Racing Today, powered by The Racing Biz. Matt Halter’s racing journey began with a pony, a blaze, and a Kentucky Derby winner. Where it's taken him is... just about everywhere. Give a listen. We'll also bring in Delaware Park racing analyst Stan Salter to take a look back and a look ahead to this weekend. This episode of Midlantic Racing Today, Delaware Park Today, is presented by Delaware Park Racing and Casino.