Coming right back atcha, it’s the action-packed conclusion of our 2024 Rail Talk season featuring the second part of our discussion with industry titan Mike Repole!Mike, Joe and Jon go at it about the successes and shortcomings of HISA thus far, Fierceness’s case for champion 3-year-old male, who’s standing in the way of industry progress and much …

This week on Rail Talk! It’s a holiday double serving, as multiple Eclipse Award winner, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed commissioner of racing Mike Repole joins the show and gives us two episodes worth of content!In a lively discussion, Mike spars with Joe and Jon about the role of The Jockey Club, what progress his National Thoroughbred Alliance…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green go international, as they welcome Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges to fill us on in on this weekend’s prestigious Hong Kong International Races. Then our friend Andrew Stewart of Arion Pedigrees joins us to provide betting tips for the HKIR.The boys then preview the last big wee…

This week on Rail Talk! It’s a two-guest show, as Gulfstream Park’s excellent on-air analyst Samantha Perry stops by to preview the track’s prestigious Championship Meet, which gets underway this week. Perry also gives us insight on how to handicap Gulfstream’s synthetic-track racing, differentiating horses’ physical presence and where to go in Mia…

This week on Rail Talk! HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus and HIWU Executive Director Ben Mosier join Joe Bianca and Jon Green to correct some misconceptions about the new era of horse racing they’re ushering in and discuss all the progress being made to keep horses safer on the track.How logical are provisional suspensions? Is contamination an explanation or …

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are joined in the studio by very special guest and presumptive Eclipse champion jockey Flavien Prat! The three of them discuss Prat’s winding journey from France to California to New York, his enormous victory aboard Sierra Leone in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, all of the work it’s taken to bring him t…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome guest third host Michelle Yu to react to a star-studded weekend at the Breeders’ Cup. An outstanding reporter and analyst for Santa Anita and NBC Sports, Yu gives us her railbird review of Sierra Leone’s Breeders’ Cup Classic score, what it means for champion 3-year-old honors, whether or not…

This year’s Breeders’ Cup is so spectacular we had to drop two episodes of Rail Talk in two days, this time providing a betting companion to the 41st World Championships! On the latest edition of Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees, Joe Bianca is joined by friend of the show, owner and excellent handicapper Jim Politano to put together…

This week on Rail Talk! We are on the eve of Breeders’ Cup XLI, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green can barely contain their excitement. Starting with the intrigue of the Classic, the boys touch on what they’re most looking forward to in Friday and Saturday’s 14 combined championship races.Then, ace international handicapper and “Longshot Lad” Kev Humphre…

This week on Rail Talk! Our good friend and wise sage Tony Cobitz, a.k.a. Tinky, returns to the studio for another fascinating conversation with Joe Bianca and Jon Green on the state of racing and breeding.The three discuss the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic and its international flavor with main contenders City of Troy and Forever Young shipping i…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca returns to the mic from his honeymoon in Greece to catch up with Jon Green on all the latest happenings in racing, breeding and sigh HISA litigation. The two appreciate Irad Ortiz, Jr. after the jockey’s 4,000th win and discuss the effort by the IBEW to unionize the backstretch at Belmont.On the HISA legal front, …

On this week’s episode of Rail Talk, Jon Green and fill-in co-host Ren Carothers discuss some of the weekend’s WIN AND YOU’RE IN races including the three-way head bob in the Jessamine, the awesomeness of IDIOMATIC and CITIZEN BULL’S gate to wire victory. They also dive into the explosive 1-x family and which juveniles benefit from those potent gen…

Host Jon Green welcomes Fasig-Tipton’s Jesse Ullery and Leif Aaron to talk about the wild success of Fasig-Tipton digital sales. The clearance rate for the ultra-convenient, ultra-popular platform run at 83%. Jesse, a very familiar face, is the sales announcer and also an account executive. Leif, a former stallion nominations manager for Juddmonte,…

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green lament the predictable tragedy we saw Saturday on the Parx turf course. Despite obvious problems with the safety of the ‘grass’, horses were allowed to race over it on Parx’s biggest day, and it took one race for a horse to break down and have to be euthanized. How was this allowed to happen, and who…

On Episode 61, hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome esteemed lawyer and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Alan Foreman, to discuss the investigation into the University of Kentucky lab and Dr. Scott Stanley. They talk about the lawsuit at Hawthorne and the constitutionality (and success) of HISA and HIWU. The boys then reflect on la…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green take an overview of the Kentucky Downs meet—after Saturday’s performance, is it fair to call Cogburn the fastest horse in the world? And has the purse money given out at KD become too disproportionate to the quality of the horses running?That leads into a discussion about the Parx turf course, which …

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green put a bow on the Saratoga meet, which features a dazzling array of outstanding performances, but most importantly, boasted a safety record that was night and day from last year’s disaster. The boys give kudos all around, including to Flavien Prat for his record-setting meet, before debating whether o…

This week on Rail Talk! It was shaping up for weeks like a classic Travers, and if anything the race exceeded expectations, as champion colt Fierceness and presumptive champion filly Thorpedo Anna threw down in an all-time stretch drive that no racing fan will ever forget. Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to and appreciate the show that was put on be…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome jockey Dylan Davis, who’s enjoying a breakout season at Saratoga. Fresh off a huge Grade I win in the Saratoga Derby aboard West Point Thoroughbreds’ Carson’s Run, Dylan talks about his upbringing as the son of ultra-talented jockey Robbie Davis, the years of work he’s put in riding the harsh…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green celebrate a terrific weekend for the home teams, as DJ Stable/West Point Thoroughbreds’ Sandman takes his first step towards a potential Breeders’ Cup appearance with an impressive maiden score at Saratoga, while the always inspiring Carson’s Run notches a second Grade I win in the Saratoga Derby.Wit…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are both on scene in Saratoga Springs to bring you the latest from the most action-packed week of the summer in upstate New York.They discuss the absolute firework show that was Night One of the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale, and react to a monster Whitney win by Arthur’s Ride that vaulted the bi…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to a stellar weekend of racing, including a thrilling Jim Dandy that drove home the realization that this crop of 3-year-olds is pretty, pretty good. They then take a look forward to what’s shaping up to be a Travers for the ages and also preview plenty of great action in the meantime, includin…

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green break down all the top headlines from a great weekend of racing, including how Dornoch and Thorpedo Anna’s victories affect the races for 3-year-old championships and Horse of the Year, and Idiomatic scoring another game victory as she builds a potential Hall of Fame case. They then touch on hopefull…

This week on Rail Talk, Jon Green returns from his Canadian vacation and rejoins his buddy Joe Bianca, just home from opening week at Saratoga! The two break down all the storylines from the Spa—smaller than average crowds but solid handle, impressive 2-year-old performances and a speed-favoring dirt track.The boys then welcome Paulick Report found…

Happy Saratoga opening day! This week on Rail Talk, the team is back from a holiday weekend and Joe Bianca is joined by guest co-host Jim Politano, owner, bettor and rockstar. The two break down the latest court ruling on HISA’s constitutionality and Jim gives his input as a horseman on what needs to be fixed.They also discuss the concerns surround…

This week on Breakaway Rail Talk sponsored by Arion Pedigrees, Joe Bianca sits down for an in-depth 1-on-1 conversation with Dave Lyon, the founder and managing partner of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds. A Saratoga native, Lyon started Blue Lion as a tight-knit partnership with local friends and acquaintances. Before they knew it, the group found themselv…

We made it to 50 episodes! It’s been an absolute joy for the team here at Rail Talk to experience this journey with all of you, so for this week’s episode we had to celebrate our milestone with an extravaganza of surprise guests, games, and of course, some straight talk on racing’s hot-button topics.First, Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to the Supr…

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome back HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus for another illuminating, substantive discussion about a wide variety of racing’s hot-button topics. Joe and Jon ask about the improved breakdown statistics from the first quarter of 2024, the rationale behind HISA’s deferment of metformin suspensions, HISA’s invest…

For the first time in its history, the Belmont Stakes moved north to Saratoga, and the buzz was unmistakable at the old Spa during a phenomenal racing festival. This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to the thrilling capper to an exhilarating—and safe—Triple Crown and celebrate an array of superstar performances.Joe, who was in atte…

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome Louisiana racing’s finest and New Orleans native Dallas Stewart to update us on the pushback to the Bayou State’s racing commission loosening drug regulations. Stewart lets the viewers in on discussions happening behind closed doors to make the LRC reconsider the drastic move that will make h…

Joe Bianca and Jon Green had to get behind their mics for an emergency Rail Talk this morning after stunning news broke that the Louisiana Racing Commission is purposefully loosening regulations on drugs and injections for its horses.Outraged by the decision, Joe and Jon discuss the potential fallout—Louisiana racing ending up on an island where no…

Two races in, the 2024 Triple Crown has produced a pair of phenomenal stories, with the good vibes continuing Saturday as 88-year-old D. Wayne Lukas’s Seize the Grey went wire to wire at a rain-soaked Pimlico in Saturday’s Preakness. Joe Bianca and Jon Green broke down all angles of the popular victory, starting of course with the legendary Lukas.T…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green look forward to Preakness 149, a race that was drastically changed with the scratch of morning line favorite Muth. How likely is Mystik Dan now to take the Triple Crown’s second jewel? Who are the main contenders left standing in his way? And will this be the last Preakness day before Pimlico is fina…

The stars shined bright all week at Churchill Downs, culminating in a heart-pounding renewal of the Kentucky Derby that went to Mystik Dan in a razor-thin three-horse photo, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green soaked up every last bit of Derby goodness this week on Rail Talk with very, very special guest Mike Tirico.The legendary and incredibly versatile …

Surprise! It’s a double dose of Rail Talk this week, as Joe Bianca and Jon Green follow up their Derby 150 preview show with an examination of the much-anticipated New York Times documentary Broken Horses.Despite the scary and sensationalist title, Joe and Jon came away feeling like the show did an excellent job telling the entire story of racing i…

The milestone 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is almost upon us and to celebrate, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcomed the ‘Brunette Bonanza’ of America’s Best Racing’s Keeneland Weekend Preview Show to the Rail Talk set!Alexa Zepp, Ren Carothers and Rachel Miller’s show has caught on a ton and with good reason, bringing the humor and levity of ra…

This week on Rail Talk: Sales and Slam Dunks! Jon Green and Joe Bianca are back from Ocala with a wrap from the OBS spring sale while they fanboy over the New York teams in the NBA/NHL playoffs.Joining the boys were Boyd Browning, Fasig Tipton’s President and CEO, and Anna Seitz, their Director of Client Relations. They dove into Fasig Tipton’s dig…

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are on-site from Mark Casse's gorgeous training center in Ocala and welcome a star-studded lineup of guests before checking out seven-figure OBS March buy Sandman's latest impressive breeze. Stopping by the set were Casse himself, West Point Thoroughbred's CEO Terry Finley and founder of The Green Gr…

In the shadow of a cosmic marvel, there were some star performances on the racetrack this weekend with the final round of major Kentucky Derby preps setting the stage for the 150th Run for the Roses, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green teamed up to break it all down. With two clear favorites emerging in Fierceness and Sierra Leone, who else can we expect …

It was a busy weekend of Kentucky Derby preps as we inch closer to the 150th Run for the Roses, and Joe Bianca, Jon Green and Tinky broke it all down this week on Rail Talk. Showing us his face for the first time, Tinky (Tony Cobitz) appreciated Fierceness’s monster win in the Florida Derby before examining Todd Pletcher’s poor record in the Derby …

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome the always opinionated and thoughtful owner of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, John Sikura. The three tackle the challenges of introducing new stallions to the market, breeding for heartiness and not just speed, and innovative ways to increase interest/purses at the Breeders’ Cup.Joe and Jon then praise …

Jon Green speaks with Gulfstream Park Handicapper and Paddock Host Samantha Perry about her cross-country journey from Oklahoma quarter horse tracks to the Jersey Shore to South Beach. They also discuss how to handicap races on Gulfstream’s synthetic track and what to look for on Saturday’s Florida Derby card. Jon asks Samantha how being an exercis…

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back from Ocala and full of takes. First they discuss the disaster befalling the American betting system on Tampa Bay Derby day and how the sport needs to show more to respect its core customer, the average horseplayer. Then they look forward to Saturday’s Louisiana Derby card and touch on the la…

This week on Rail Talk, it’s the illuminating second half of Joe Bianca and Jon Green’s conversation with Tony Cobitz, the artist formerly known as Tinky. Continuing their discussion on ‘super trainers’ in general and Bob Baffert specifically, Tony also touched on his Twitter debate with Tom Ryan and the appreciation he has for open, respectful deb…

Horse racing Twitter lightning rod Tinky has returned for his third visit to the Rail Talk studio and this time came prepared to reveal his true identity to the audience. The former clocker, advisor, writer, author, consultant, track analyst, mating analyst, legal expert and jock’s agent joined hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green to review his many year…

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green confront the ugly and apparently avoidable loss of Congruent on Saturday at Gulfstream, wondering why and how the system failed another horse whose life had as much value as any superstar runner’s. Joe and Jon then analyzed the latest round of Kentucky Derby preps and welcomed Steve Crist, a Mt. Rush…

With the racing industry going through a crucial transitional period, Joe Bianca and Jon Green sat down with The Jockey Club President and COO Jim Gagliano for the latest edition of Rail Talk. The three had an expansive discussion on the most pressing issues facing the business and its biggest stakeholders—owners, breeders, horsemen and horseplayer…

The reaction was overwhelming—both positive and negative—to last week’s episode of Rail Talk, where Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcomed polarizing racing Twitter personality Tinky. So naturally, the boys had him back on this week to respond to the vitriol aimed his way, but also for another substantive, illuminating discussion on the hot-button issue…

Surprise! It’s a bonus episode of Rail Talk, our second of the week. Only one thing could spur Joe Bianca and Jon Green to return to their mics so quickly—a guest spot by the mysterious and brilliant Tinky. If you’re not familiar, @Tinky47flat has taken horse racing Twitter by storm in recent months with eloquent, funny and insightful posts taking …

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to a soggy but star-studded Saturday at Fair Grounds, where progeny of Gun Runner—including impressive Derby contender Sierra Leone—took center stage, as they so often do. They also said farewell to his brilliant daughter Echo Zulu and debated whether or not her career is Hall of Fame-worthy be…