Flatter Pod: Scheinman, Hettel, DeRosa on Preakness thriller

The Preakness 2025 hangover has not been cured yet, and why should it? One of the great races of all time is subject to review as the Belmont Stakes looms on the horizon on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer John Scheinman from Baltimore has his thoughts about the race, the Triple Crown schedule and the future of racing in Maryland with old Pimlico scheduled to be demolished this year.

Bernie Hettel, the former top steward in Kentucky and Arkansas, weighs in with his opinion about Journalism’s squeeze to victory in the Preakness and who should have been disqualified if anyone in one of the most physical stretch runs in Triple Crown history. He also has thoughts about the crop penalty assessed to jockey Júnior Alvarado in riding Sovereignty to a Kentucky Derby triumph.

Ed DeRosa looks ahead to the holiday weekend with handicapping of races at Santa Anita and Churchill Downs.

Co-host John Cherwa helps to go over some of the listener and reader feedback about Journalism’s Preakness victory. There also is a tribute to the late Kentucky Derby trainer Larry Demeritte.

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.