From Laurel Park in Maryland, this weekend's Preakness Stakes at its unique 2026 location is the centerpiece of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer John Scheinman pays his annual visit by way of an after-dinner interview from his hometown Baltimore. He talks about the changing landscape of Maryland racing as it moves to new caretakers and a reimagined Pimlico next year. He also talks about the past, present and future of the Preakness in addition to offering his tips for Saturday's race.

Ocelli's trainer Whit Beckman, Chip Honcho's trainer Steve Asmussen and undefeated Taj Mahal's wife-and-husband team of trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Sheldon Russell have the view from the stables as they look forward to the 151st Preakness.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch zeroes in on three stakes on the Saturday card at Laurel Park, including the $2 million feature.

Co-hosts John Cherwa and Keith Nelson join Ron in going through feedback about the Cherwa plan to save the Triple Crown, a proposal built around requiring a fit Kentucky Derby-winning horse to race in the Preakness.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

With a 14-horse field to ponder and study, the hard-core handicappers are back to analyze every horse in Preakness 2026. They are on this special, pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

FanDuel TV's Caton Bredar joins Horse Racing Nation handicappers Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland as well as host Ron Flatter from Laurel Park. They consider whether Iron Honor is a worthy 9-2 favorite on the morning line. They also weigh the possibility that the shortest price come post time Saturday could be Incredibolt or Ocelli from the Kentucky Derby or perhaps new shooter Chip Honcho.

The absence of Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo and the largest Preakness field in 15 years contribute to the conversation about overlays and underlays for this 151st edition of the Preakness, which is being run this year at Laurel Park while Pimlico is being rebuilt.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

Reaction to the decision not to send Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo to Preakness 2026 is the main topic of discussion this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde talks about the choices he had to make in writing his story about Golden Tempo's victory last week, especially balancing Cherie DeVaux being the first woman to train a Derby winner and the Ortiz brothers riding to a one-two finish. He also weighs in on the long-term future of when the Preakness should be run.

From the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas in March, the reigning NHC Tour winner Dave Nichols talks about how tournament play has improved his everyday play at racetracks. He gets into handicapping strategies that have been born from his becoming a more aggressive tournament competitor.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty has early angles on the Preakness, and he handicaps this weekend's Grade 3 Peter Pan and Take the A Train stakes at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

Co-hosts John Cherwa and Keith Nelson join Ron in going through feedback from Horse Racing Nation readers about Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

The final preview of Kentucky Derby 152 brings together the best of TV personalities, trainers and handicappers on this week's Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

NBC's Steve Kornacki spends some time talking about the field for this year's Derby and how he will go about dispensing statistical trends that are his specialty on the national telecast.

Trainers Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher and Mark Glatt chat about their contenders in the Derby. Cox discusses Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Commandment and Blue Grass (G1) victor Further Ado. Pletcher explains his outlook for morning-line favorite Renegade, the Arkansas Derby (G1) victor, having to start from the less-than-desired post 1. Glatt offers his thoughts about Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner So Happy as well as the personal challenges he and his family have faced during the winter.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch is along to present his tips for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and the Derby itself.

In the feedback section of the show, a mystery celebrity icon calls in to compare his Derby pick with those of Cherwa, Nelson and Flatter.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

HARD-CORE HANDICAPPERS

Caton Bredar, Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland analyze every horse in Kentucky Derby 2026 and offer a snapshot of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Flatter_Pod_Kentucky_Derby_2026_hard_core_handicappers_123

Deep analysis of every horse in Kentucky Derby 2026 from the main draw through the also-eligibles is ready to hear now with the hard-core handicappers pop-up episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Horse Racing Nation handicappers Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland and FanDuel TV's Caton Bredar go through the entire field from the favorite Renegade to the longest of long shots. They evaluate every horse from 1 to 20 plus the four horses who were entered as also-eligibles.

How do they think the rail draw may affect Renegade? Will the Brad Cox-trained trio of Commandment, Further Ado and Fulleffort figure prominently on their tickets? Do they think Chief Wallabee will give Bill Mott his second consecutive Derby triumph? Who are the tosses, and who are the value plays? The panel answers all those questions.

There also is a snapshot preview of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is posted every Friday with pop-ups like this one for Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup races. It is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

The field for Kentucky Derby 2026 will be drawn this weekend, when final breezes will show up on the Churchill Downs work tab. That is the setting for this episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Riley Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, is preparing his first two Derby horses for next Saturday's big date. He talks about Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt and Grade 2 Wood Memorial victor Albus as well as his relationship with their owner Pin Oak Stable.

In a nod to bettors, National Thoroughbred Racing Association chief operating officer Keith Chamblin discusses the growth of handicapping contests in the blush of the most exciting renewal of the National Horseplayers Championship. He talks about the formats of these competitions as well as his concerns about the future of money-troubled Hawthorne, which has been a breeding ground for NHC winners from Chicagoland.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty looks at early handicapping angles on the Derby and areas where he may be aiming his money. He also has tips for the Roxelana Stakes on opening day Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat and offer reaction to listener and reader feedback.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

Coming Saturday night: The pop-up episode featuring Kentucky Derby 2026 hard-core handicappers Caton Bredar, Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland.

A fortnight before Kentucky Derby 2026, a rematch between Sovereignty and Journalism highlights the weekend as well as the discussion this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Godolphin USA bloodstock director Michael Banahan about reigning horse of the year Sovereignty and his third meeting with Journalism, this time in Saturday's Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. Sovereignty won both their previous showdowns last year in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes to galvanize his championship case. Banahan discusses the Godolphin homebred colt's return from a seven-month layoff and his strategy for the six-horse stakes this weekend in Arkansas. He also looks back on the decision to skip the Preakness after winning the Kentucky Derby.

Economics professor and Thoroughbred owner-player Marshall Gramm talks about the course in horse betting that he has been teaching this spring at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.

Handicapper Ed DeRosa has Saturday tips for the Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas and the Elkhorn (G2) and Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat and take part in a review of listener and reader feedback about the lawsuit filed by White Abarrio's owners over the controversial vet scratch in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

The field is penciled into place for Kentucky Derby 2026 in three weeks at Churchill Downs. It also is set for Saturday's Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn. Both races come into focus this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

U.S. and Canada hall-of-fame trainer Mark Casse discusses Eclipse Award winner Nitrogen's bid to win the Apple Blossom. He also has Oaklawn stakes winner Nerazurri in the race. Casse also discusses his Kentucky Derby contender Silent Tactic and Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopes Counting Stars and Search Party.

Horseplayers advocate Chris Larmey talks about his book Betting On Horse$ in an interview at the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch offers some early thoughts about the Derby as well as weekend tips for Oaklawn.

Co-hosts John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times and Keith Nelson of Fairmount Park have their popular host chat, and feedback offers listener and reader reaction to last week's interview with former FanDuel TV host Todd Schrupp.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.