Notification
Latest News
Benny Havens

First dirt race in six years no problem

Sep 27, 2026
Hidden Overture

Hidden Overture plays winning tune in Selima

Sep 26, 2026
Miss Harriett

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 27, 2026

Sep 26, 2026

REPLAY: Saturday’s Off to the Races Radio

Sep 26, 2026

CT: Intriguing group in allowance feature

Sep 26, 2026
Miss Harriett

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 26, 2026

Sep 25, 2026
Winslow

Winslow wires ’em for notable win

Sep 25, 2026

Off to the Races Radio lineup for September

Sep 25, 2026
Delaware Park

Delaware Park to postpone DelCap card

Sep 25, 2026
Laurel Park

Selima, Laurel Futurity highlight Saturday card

Sep 25, 2026

First dirt race in six years no problem for Benny Havens

Hidden Overture plays winning tune in Selima

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 27, 2026

REPLAY: Saturday’s Off to the Races Radio

CT: Intriguing group in allowance feature

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 26, 2026

#news by states
Maryland
Delaware
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia
New Jersey

Whats New

Benny Havens 01
Breaking Maryland MD Racing Press release recap Racing Top Stories

First dirt race in six years no problem for Benny

Press Release
Sep 27, 2026
Hidden Overture 02
Breaking Bylined Race Recap Maryland MD Racing Racing Top Stories

Hidden Overture plays winning tune in Selima

Frank Vespe
Sep 26, 2026
Miss Harriett 03
Breaking Handicapping Maryland MD Racing

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 27, 2026

John Piassek
Sep 26, 2026
04
Audio Breaking Press release other Regionwide Virginia

REPLAY: Saturday’s Off to the Races Radio

The Biz
Sep 26, 2026
01
Breaking Racing West Virginia WV Racing

CT: Intriguing group in allowance feature

The Biz
Sep 26, 2026
Miss Harriett 02
Breaking Handicapping Maryland MD Racing

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 26, 2026

John Piassek
Sep 25, 2026
Winslow 03
Breaking Bylined Race Recap Maryland MD Racing Racing

Winslow wires ’em for notable win

Frank Vespe
Sep 25, 2026
04
Audio Breaking Top Stories

Off to the Races Radio lineup for September 26, 2026

The Biz
Sep 25, 2026
Delaware Park 01
Breaking Business DE Business Delaware Top Stories

Delaware Park to postpone DelCap card

The Biz
Sep 25, 2026
Laurel Park 02
Breaking Maryland MD Racing Racing Top Stories

Selima, Laurel Futurity highlight Saturday card

The Biz
Sep 25, 2026
Laurel Park 03
Breaking Business Maryland MD Business

Laurel Park hosting Saturday ‘capping contest

Press Release
Sep 25, 2026
Maryland Racing Today logo 04
Audio Breaking Maryland MD Racing Top Stories

PODCAST: A jockey agent’s life, plus a weekend preview

The Biz
Sep 25, 2026
Martiniwithatwist 01
Breaking DE Racing Delaware Racing Top Stories

DEL: Locals face intriguing invaders in 2yo stakes

The Biz
Sep 24, 2026
Barbadian Runner 02
Breaking DE Racing Delaware Racing Top Stories

DEL: Barbadian Runner eyes million-dollar mark

The Biz
Sep 24, 2026
03
Audio Breaking DE Racing Delaware Top Stories

PODCAST: Talking Delaware Handicap

The Biz
Sep 24, 2026
Miss Harriett 04
Breaking Handicapping Maryland MD Racing

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 25, 2026

John Piassek
Sep 24, 2026
Benny Havens
#Breaking #Maryland #MD Racing #Press release recap #Racing #Top Stories

First dirt race in six years no problem for Benny Havens

Press Release
Sep 27, 2026
Miss Harriett 01
Breaking Handicapping Maryland MD Racing

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 27, 2026

John Piassek
Sep 26, 2026
Miss Harriett 02
Breaking Handicapping Maryland MD Racing

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 26, 2026

John Piassek
Sep 25, 2026
Miss Harriett 03
Breaking Handicapping Maryland MD Racing

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: September 25, 2026

John Piassek
Sep 24, 2026
Admiral Dennis 04
Breaking DE Racing Delaware Handicapping

Delaware Park picks and analysis: September 24, 2026

The Biz
Sep 24, 2026
Napoleon Solo 01
Breaking Business Maryland MD Business Preakness weekend Top Stories Triple Crown Trail

Preakness to move to Sunday, three weeks after Derby

The Biz
Aug 05, 2026
Deterministic 02
Breaking Handicapping Triple Crown Trail

Experts’ Belmont Stakes undercard picks

The Biz
Jun 06, 2026
Golden Tempo 03
Breaking Handicapping Triple Crown Trail

Experts’ Belmont Stakes picks

The Biz
Jun 06, 2026
Renegade 04
Breaking Press release preview Triple Crown Trail

Derby duo Golden Tempo, Renegade back for Belmont

Press Release
Jun 02, 2026
Golden Tempo 05
Breaking Handicapping Top Stories Triple Crown Trail

Belmont Stakes 2026: Horse by horse analysis

Joseph Aiello
Jun 02, 2026

LATEST VIDEOS

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
A jockey agent's life, plus weekend preview
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.
Talking Delaware Handicap
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.
Trainer talks unexpected beginnings and breaking new ground
When trainer Michael Simone dropped $8,000 to claim Micanopy, he was hoping for a solid horse to fit the Mid-Atlantic circuit. Just five months later, the gelding delivered Simone’s first stakes victory in the Smarty Jones and earned a spot in the Grade 1 $1 Million Pennsylvania Derby 2026! In this episode of Mid-Atlantic Racing Today (powered by The Racing Biz), host Frank Vespe sits down with Michael Simone, trainer, to talk about his return to horse racing after an 8-year break, building a 45-horse barn at Delaware Park, and his journey with the horse Micanopy straight to the Grade 1 PA Derby. Plus, handicapper Stan Salter joins the show to share his top Delaware Park Picks and break down the Delaware Park Late Pick sequences for this weekend's card. 00:00 - Intro: From $8k Claimer to $1M Pennsylvania Derby 2026 01:47 - Exclusive Interview: Michael Simone, Trainer 03:13 - Claim Micanopy Horse for $8,000? 04:39 - Smarty Jones Victory & Moving Step-by-Step 06:55 - Decision to Enter the Pennsylvania Derby 2026 10:48 - Michael Simone’s Comeback: Rebuilding a 45-Horse Stable 14:10 - Training Secrets: Vitamins, Supplements & TLC 16:31 - Pausing Career in 2012 & Returning to Racing 24:40 - Working with Jockey Paco Lopez 26:45 - Mid-Atlantic Racing Update & Weekend Preview 28:05 - Recapping Last Week's Delaware Park Racing Highlights 37:02 - Coffee, Sunshine & Horses Event Announcement 38:41 - Delaware Park Picks: Late Pick 4 Analysis with Stan Salter 39:06 - Race 5 Preview: Starter Allowance on Turf 45:38 - Race 6 Preview: 6-Furlong Sprint on Dirt 47:17 - Race 7 Preview: Fillies & Mares Turf Route 49:48 - Race 8 Preview: Get-Out Race Maiden Claiming 53:12 - Delaware Handicap Preview & Final Wrap-Up #PennsylvaniaDerby2026 #PADerby #MichaelSimone #Micanopy #DelawareParkPicks #DelawarePark
How'd an $8,000 claimer end up in a Grade 1 race?!?
Subscribe

Off To The Races Radio

Join Us for Off To The Races Radio!

Stay tuned for exciting conversations and inspiring guests on Off to the Races Radio. Catch our next shows and revisit our most recent discussions below!

 

Listen live at 10 every Saturday!

 

Upcoming Shows & Guests

The show airs every Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern now through October 31. The next episode will air on Saturday, October 3. Hosts Nick Hahn and Frank Vespe will take the reins for the 29th season of the program.

 

Recent Guests

Recent guests have included trainers Saffie Joseph, Jr., Graham Motion, Joe Sharp and Lacey Gaudet, jockey Axel Concepcion, HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback, and more. Listen to recent episodes at right.

Interested in Advertising with The Racing Biz?

Advertise With Us

Get The Racing Biz in your inbox!

Join our mailing list to get our latest news delivered to your inbox each week! And, by the way, we never sell our lists or share your info with outside parties. If you submit this form, you'll receive a confirmation email, and you must click the link in that email to be subscribed. Thanks!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Thanks for signing up!