Flatter Pod: Kentucky Derby winner skips Preakness again

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.