The Rail Talk Podcast
Tune in to get the latest coverage of racing's biggest events happening throughout the year featuring co-hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green.
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The Latest from the Rail Talk Podcast
Rail Talk Episode 103: Chalk of the Town
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to a star-studded Travers Day at Saratoga, headlined by Sovereignty‘s dazzling 10-length romp in the ‘Midsummer Derby’. Where does he rank in the pecking order of elite 21st century 3-year-olds? And what does it say about this year’s sophomore class that Journalism could still potentially overtake him in the championship hunt if he beats elders in the Pacific Classic this Saturday? The boys also discuss the latest Grade I victories from superstars Thorpedo Anna and Book’em Danno, and where the two go from here, before giving their takes on the swift one-year suspension of jockey Albin Jimenez at Belterra, HISA’s Q2 safety metrics and the data surrounding voided claim rules.
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Rail Talk Episode 102: Monday Nitro
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to a seismic win for DJ Stable’s Nitrogen in the Alabama, as the superstar filly proves she can handle dirt as well as turf. Jon reflects on what the homebred’s victory means for his family’s program, Mark Casse’s stable and their sophomore filly’s chances of a year-end championship. Speaking of stars, elite racing broadcaster Laffit Pincay III then stops by for a fun chat with the boys about what it takes to put on a 5+ hour show every day from Saratoga, his early days in journalism and what he thinks racing needs to fix most. The boys also look forward to the meet centerpiece Travers card this Saturday while lamenting only five horses entering the Midsummer Derby, try to figure out what’s going on with the epidemic of voided claims this meet and bestow two new Rail Talk Citations on either coast.
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Rail Talk Episode 101: The Good, the Bad, and the Alabama
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back in their home studios and kick off their second hundred episodes with plenty to discuss, chief of which was the embarrassing gate misplacement in Saturday’s finale at Saratoga. How does this keep happening? What steps will be taken to ensure it never happens again? The boys also look forward to the 1 1/4-mile (we hope) Alabama, which features DJ Stable’s own superstar filly Nitrogen. That leads into an announcement from Jon about DJ reducing its stock this fall, plus Joe and Jon unveil two new Rail Talk Citations, a world-record setting Epic Performance of the week and much more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to join the Rail Talk family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks as always to our superstar sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group, Taylor Made and Epic Insurance Brokers for their support.
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Rail Talk Episode 100: ‘Live’ From Saratoga
This week on Rail Talk, it’s Episode 100, on scene from the center of the racing world, Fasig-Tipton at Saratoga! Joe Bianca and Jon Green take the set and the sales grounds by storm with an array of highly influential guests, starting with Taylor Made president Mark Taylor, who was followed by Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning and director of client relations Anna Seitz to talk all about the record-breaking select yearling sale. DJ Stable founder Len Green then stops by to tell the story of how his two-man team is able to compete at the highest levels of the game, and last but not least, Mike Repole sits down with the boys in advance of his meeting with The Jockey Club where things got.. interesting. Joe and Jon also react to Sierra Leone capturing the Whitney, Ewing’s huge win over Obliteration in the Saratoga Special, Joe’s weekend at Del Mar and more. We are so proud and grateful to have reached the 100-episode milestone. We couldn’t have done it without our outstanding and dedicated production team, our all-star lineup of sponsors—The Green Group, Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made, Epic Insurance and Arion Pedigrees—or our phenomenal base of viewers and listeners. Thank you all for every ounce of support, it truly means the world to us. And if you haven’t officially joined the RT family, please be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Here’s to the next 100 being even more fun than the first!
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Episode 2: Steve Duncker: August Member of the Month Spotlight
Presented by Rail Talk in proud partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) This month on Breakaway Rail Talk, we sit down with Steve Duncker, TOBA’s August Member of the Month—a lifelong racing enthusiast, former NYRA chairman, and a passionate advocate for ownership partnerships in the Thoroughbred industry. Steve shares how a teenage driveway-sealing business turned into his first racehorse investment, leading to a long and impactful career in racing. From owning a piece of champion Bates Motel to recent success with graded stakes winner Deterministic, Steve’s journey reflects the heart of TOBA’s mission. He also reflects on his decades-long friendship with the late Christophe Clement, and what it meant to see Christophe’s son Miguel earn his first Grade 1 victory in the Manhattan Stakes. This episode is a celebration of legacy, community, and the joy of owning horses with friends.
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Rail Talk Episode 99: CAW-se for Outrage
This week on Rail Talk! We’re knocking on the door of our milestone 100th episode by digging fully into the madness of late odds drops caused by computer-assisted wagering groups, which reached its breaking point over the weekend at Del Mar. A long-time frustration for regular horseplayers, CAW action cut several winners’ odds by more than half at the track on Saturday, and track officials were forced to respond to public outcry. Joe and Jon break it all down, then welcome National Thoroughbred Alliance Executive Director Pat Cummings, the foremost authority on this problem who’s written eloquently about it for years, to discuss every angle of this ongoing injustice and what can be done to level the playing field for bettors. The boys then react to Sovereignty ruling again in the Jim Dandy, preview a phenomenal Whitney Day card and look forward to next week’s 100th episode, which will be on site from Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga!
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Rail Talk Episode 98: What are the Odds?
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca is joined by guest co-host and Gulfstream Park TV analyst Samantha Perry as the 3-year-old class turns for home in the championship hunt. Joe and Sam react to another thrilling Grade I victory by Journalism in the Haskell and debate whether or not he should come back East once more for the Travers or stay home and take on elders in the Pacific Classic. They then touch on the phenomenal attendance/handle numbers at Monmouth and what the New Jersey staple is doing that could be a model for other tracks before looking forward to a tantalizing renewal of the Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Plus, there’s a bee in Joe’s bonnet about the summer stakes schedule and Del Mar’s late odds drop continue to madden regular horseplayers. NY Racetrack Chaplaincy executive director Rev. Humberto Chavez also joins the show to discuss the popular upcoming Saratoga brunch fundraiser, the ever-expanding programs of the Chaplaincy and the depth of their impact in the backstretch community.
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Rail Talk Episode 97: The Summer Wind
This week on Rail Talk! It’s Haskell Week, so Joe Bianca and Jon Green shine their spotlight on beloved Monmouth Park, where the signature $1 million Grade I for 3-year-olds will be contested for the 58th time. Will Journalism prove too classy for his rivals, or is there an upstart ready to ascend to the upper echelon of the competitive sophomore division? Joe and Jon also welcome Monmouth general manager John Heims for a lively and wide-ranging discussion about the future of the jewel of the Jersey Shore, how they get so many fans to come to the races in an era of shrinking on-track attendance, how much hope there is for adding casino gaming revenue and much more. The boys then touch on the two-year suspensions handed down to veterinarian Dr. Michael Galvin and trainer Phil Serpe, and the consternation surrounding NYRA taking so many races off the turf at Saratoga. Join the ever-growing Rail Talk family as we close in on our milestone 100th episode! Be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Lots of love to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group, Taylor Made, Arion Pedigrees and Epic Insurance Brokers for all of their support.
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Rail Talk Episode 96: Ewing to the Hoop
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to a monster holiday weekend of racing at Saratoga and celebration for the team downstate. An array of exciting stakes races boosted handle at the Spa above $83 million for the four-day festival, a 121% increase over last year at Aqueduct. Plus, Ewing dazzles in his debut, earning the first-ever Rail Talk Citation, Jon celebrates his 55 1/2 birthday at the Subway Series, and Julia Agresta takes the stage at her engagement party! The boys also discuss the implications of Fasig-Tipton moving to an untimed breeze show for next year’s Midlantic sale, and welcome Black Dog Bloodstock’s Lauren Carlisle to explain what changes she’d like to see in the sales world and what stood out to her about Ewing and Dazzle d’Oro while she was scouting them. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content—as we approach 4,000,000 total views, be sure to join our ever-growing family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Huge thanks to the sponsors Taylor Made, The Green Group, Fasig-Tipton, Epic Insurance and Arion Pedigrees for being the wind beneath our wings!
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TOBA’s Breakaway Rail Talk | Matt Dorman, July Member of the Month Spotlight
Presented by Rail Talk in proud partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Welcome to Breakaway Rail Talk—a special interview series highlighting the individuals who are shaping the future of Thoroughbred racing. In this episode, we’re proud to feature Matt Dorman of Determined Stud and Determined Stables, TOBA’s July Member of the Month. Matt shares the story behind his lifelong love of racing, the vision driving his breeding and ownership strategies, and the personal grit that defines both his name and his approach. His unwavering commitment to the sport perfectly embodies the spirit of TOBA. As Jon Green says: “I can’t think of a better partner for Breakaway Rail Talk than TOBA. We launched this series to offer in-depth, one-on-one interviews that complement—and sometimes contrast with—the news, issues, and opinions covered in Rail Talk.” This episode also looks ahead to TOBA’s 40th Anniversary National Awards, taking place Saturday, September 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington. With a relaxed “blue jeans, boots, and bling” dress code, live Bluegrass music by Dan Tyminski, a Kentucky bourbon experience, and hosting by FanDuel’s Scott Hazelton, this year’s celebration promises to be a truly unforgettable evening.
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Rail Talk Episode 95: Mindframe & The Music Man
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green fire up the take cannon and react to a star-laden Stephen Foster day at Churchill. Where does Mindframe rank in the older horse division coming off of consecutive Grade I wins? Is Thorpedo Anna back, or did she just beat up on weak competition in the Fleur de Lis? The boys then welcome Morplay Racing and Rich Music founder Rich Mendez to talk all about his passion for racing, what he learned from the music business that’s helping him navigate our industry, how he unearths musical talent and more. Plus Joe and Jon analyze the Supreme Court ruling sending HISA’s constitutionality debate back to the lower courts. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content—join our ever-growing family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Mega shoutout to the sponsors Epic Insurance, The Green Group, Taylor Made, Fasig-Tipton and Arion Pedigrees for seeing and supporting our vision.
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Rail Talk Episode 94: Lukas’s Legacy & ICE Comes for Racing
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back after a week away to catch up on racing’s biggest stories. First, they appreciate and honor the outstanding career of D. Wayne Lukas, whose Hall of Fame career has come to its end after nearly five decades of groundbreaking success and influence. Joe and Jon then react to the ICE raid of Delta Downs, which resulted in over 80 arrests of backstretch workers, the vast majority of which had no criminal record. Is this a sign of things to come, which would undoubtedly doom racing and leave it without a workforce, and what can be done to help racetracks and horsemen protect their employees? Immigration experts Will Velie and Rebecca Shi then join the show to answer those questions and more, plus Joe and Jon look forward to a stellar Stephen Foster Day card at Churchill. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content—join the ever-growing family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Huge thank you to the sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made, The Green Group, Epic Insurance and Arion Pedigrees for supporting our vision and independence.
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Rail Talk Episode 93: Dynamic Duo Lights Up Belmont
This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green wrap up a tremendous Triple Crown season with their reactions to the scintillating Belmont at Saratoga, as Sovereignty and Journalism put on a show at the Spa. Just how good are these two 3-year-olds historically, and what has been their impact beyond the walls of the racing industry this spring? The boys also analyze the star-studded undercard races, featuring breakout performances by Nitrogen, Raging Torrent, Deterministic, Ways and Means and more, and Joe gives his reviews of the entire racing festival after spending the week in Saratoga. Then, Mark Casse, coming off an incredible weekend of stakes success, joins the show to discuss all the monsters in his shedrow, his training philosophy and more. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content, be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks to the sponsors Epic Insurance Brokers, The Green Group, Taylor Made and Fasig-Tipton for all of their support!
Watch + Listen NowTOBA Breakaway Rail Talk
TOBA Breakaway Rail Talk is the one-on-one companion to the Rail Talk podcast featuring the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's Member of the Month. In depth conversations with owners and breeders gives viewers unique insight into the Thoroughbred industry.
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