Standardbred Trainer Nancy Takter / Woodbine’s Marketing Manager, Racing and Wagering, Tony Elliott / Woodbine Track Announcer Robert Geller

Ann and Larry interview Standardbred Trainer Nancy Takter, who discusses tonight’s Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park and her two horses, Christchurch, and Save America. She also discusses what it was like to work for her Hall of Fame Father and whether she has adapted some of her Father’s training techniques now that she is on her own. Nancy also talks about what her schedule has been like since the Elimination races last Saturday  and also if there is any similarity between her two North America Cup entrants this year and  her previous North American Cup winners Captain Crunch and Tall Dark Stranger. Woodbine’s Marketing Manager, Racing and Wagering, Tony Elliott, who discusses tonight’s  North America  Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park and some of the race contenders. He also talks about some of the other upcoming stakes races at Woodbine Mohawk Park and then discusses the tremendous betting handles at both Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk Park and in particular at Woodbine, how the start of Turf Racing has caused an uptick in wagering handles. Tony also mentions about a new initiative, Woodbine’s Canada Day Racing Festival and how it will feature five Graded Stakes races that day and talks about if there was a huge learning curve for him when he moved from Western Fair and Clinton Raceway’s to Woodbine Entertainment. Woodbine Track Announcer Robert Geller, who talks about what it was it that he liked about Mage when he selected him as his Kentucky Derby pick the last time that he was on the show. He also discusses the biases that have existed on both Woodbine Turf Courses lately and for our listeners selects a couple of potential betting plays on the Saturday Woodbine racing card. Robert also talks about how having a Tapeta racing surface has now given Woodbine more recognition from other North American horsemen and has helped to increase interest in races like the King’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks now and perhaps assist in Woodbine receiving the Breeders Cup some time down the road. In our new feature, ‘ In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry  discusses the recent draw at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday for the final post positions for tonight’s Pepsi North America Cup and why post positions are important to the potential outcome of a harness race. Larry also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today. 

Key Points:

Nancy discusses her two entrants in tonight’s Pepsi North America Cup, Christchurch, and Save America and whether she was happy with their elimination races last Saturday. She is also asked to compare these two horses with two North America Cup winners that she trained in the past, Captain Crunch and Tall Dark Stranger and talks about the busy racing schedule she has had this week, since last Saturday’s eliminations. She also discusses growing up working for her Father, Hall of Fame Trainer Jim Takter, and how when she became a Trainer and raced against her dad, it became very competitive. Nancy also discusses whether she has copied any of her Father’s training methods and mentions whether there is a possibility that any of her kids may follow her into the harness racing business and finally tonight, will she be cheering for a dead heat in the Pepsi North America Cup between her two horses? 

Tony initially talks about tonight’s stakes filled card of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which includes the Pepsi North America Cup Final and mentions about some of the other activities taking place tonight at Mohawk. He also talks about how deep in talent the field for the Cup Final is and shortly, how we will be getting deep into the Grand Circuit Stakes races at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which includes the Mohawk Million in September. Tony also discusses the surge in wagering at Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk Park and attributes the start of Turf Racing at Woodbine to helping contribute to this increase and discusses Woodbine’s new Canada Day Racing Festival which will see five Graded Stakes events on the Saturday afternoon Thoroughbred racing card. Tony also discusses whether there has been a major adjustment for himself, moving to Woodbine from his former positions at Clinton and Western Fair Raceway’s and touches upon how preparations are going for the King’s Plate and how listeners can buy tickets to the event. 

Robert initially talks about his selection of Mage in the Kentucky Derby and what he liked about the horse and talks about the results of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He also discusses the fact that there is a prominent track bias on both of Woodbine’s Turf Courses and then makes a couple of potential betting selections on Saturdays Woodbine card for our listeners. He also discusses how the Tapeta racing surface is currently helping to attract Turf-Bred horses to races like the King’s Plate or the Woodbine Oaks and how an artificial dirt track may not be a detriment in the future to a track like Woodbine in possibly hosting the Breeders Cup. When asked, Robert talks about who he believes was the greatest horse that he ever saw race and why.