Keeneland Racecourse Track Announcer Kurt Becker / Santa Anita Racing Analyst Peter Lurie / Retired Woodbine Jockey Steve Bahen

Ann and Larry interview Keeneland Racecourse Track Announcer Kurt Becker, who discusses todays Blue Grass Stakes, one of the last  important preps for the Kentucky Derby and why the race continues to have such a major impact on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Kurt also breaks down the race and discusses some of the key contenders and talks about the Keeneland track and its history and why it has such a huge appeal to racing fans everywhere. Kurt then speaks from a fan perspective and discusses one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby winner Forte and whether he believes he is a legitimate favorite moving forward to Derby Day and as the only Track Announcer in Keeneland history, what is it that keeps him working every race day. Santa Anita  Racing Analyst Peter Lurie, who discusses todays Santa Anita Derby and some of the key contenders, including the Japanese horse Mandarin Hero, who will be ridden by Woodbine’s leading rider Kazushi Kimura. Peter also discusses how his relationship with FanDuel TV came about and his time as an actor and what a typical day is like for him when he  is at Santa Anita and how he is sometimes a ‘gun for hire’ and cites the example of working as part of the Woodbine Mile broadcasting team last September and how he hopes to be able to work the race this year.  Recently retired Woodbine jockey Steve Bahen , who discusses why he made the decision to retire after the Woodbine meet ended last December and whether it was a difficult decision to make. Steve  also talks about some of his riding career highlights including winning the 2002 Queen’s Plate on T J’s Lucky Moon and how the horse was a longshot at odds of 82-1 and talks  about some other riding accomplishments throughout his career. He also discusses his  last win as a jockey last December and is asked who was the toughest jockey to ride against during his riding career. Larry  provides  his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks. 

Key Points:

Kurt talks about todays Blue Grass Stakes  at Keeneland Racecourse and why the race is so important with qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby and discusses some of the races starters and who he feels has a legitimate chance to win. He also discusses the appeal of the Keeneland race  meet to racing fans and how he has been the only announcer in Keeneland  history and why he has been a ‘lifer’ calling the races at the Kentucky track. Kurt also talks about recent Florida Derby winner Forte and whether he is a legitimate early favorite for the Kentucky Derby and whether  the horse may ‘bounce’ on Kentucky Derby day and also talks about a Blue Grass entrant by the name of  Sun Thunder who is racing back after running in the Lousinana Derby, just two weeks ago. In closing Kurt gives a positive shout out to Woodbine and its fans and to the Canadian fans of Nascar. Peter, initially talks about how he became interested in Thoroughbred racing at an early age through his father and then discusses todays Santa Anita Derby and some of the race’s contenders, including the Japanese horse Mandarin  Hero, who will be ridden today by Woodbine leading jockey Kazushi Kimura.  Peter also talks about his relationship with FanDuel TV and why he considers himself a ‘gun for hire’  in the racing business and mentions how he worked last September on the Woodbine Mile broadcast with the Woodbine Broadcasting staff.   Peter also discusses what a typical day is like for him working on the Santa Anita boradcasts  and what horse has impressed him the most on the Kentucky Derby trail so far this year and mentions about an acting career in the past.Steve, first talks about the decision to retire and whether it was a tough decision to make and when did he actually  decide to walk away from riding.  He is also asked  whether the decision had already been made when he won his last race as a rider at Woodbine in December.  Steve also discusses his riding career including the highlight of winning the 2002 Queen’s Plate on 82-1 longshot T J’s Lucky Moon and whether winning the race came as a surprise to him. He then mentions some of the other good horses that he had an opportunity  to ride throughout his career and how being of a larger frame than most jockeys, made it difficult to make the necessary riding weight. Steve also discusses  what the fuure will hold for him in the racing industry and when asked, discusses who in his opinion was the toughest jockey to ride against. He also talks about his first win and the connections involved with that victory.