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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Rail Talk Episode 92: New York New York & The Research Dept.

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back at their mics, refreshed from a week away and buzzing about Belmont Stakes week at Saratoga, as the Derby 1-2-3 reconvene at the Spa in what could be a classic renewal on the greatest stage in racing. Joe and Jon tackle that, plus the rest of a stacked two days featuring nine total Grade I’s, and wonder whether the popular Sandman’s absence will have any effect on the race’s ratings or handle. The boys then celebrate more good news for New York racing, as the Breeders’ Cup returns to Belmont Park for the first time in 22 years in 2027, and new penny breakage rules will pay out every cent on winning wagers starting in September. Join the ever-growing Rail Talk family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks a trillion to the sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group, Epic Insurance and Taylor Made for their support!

Rail Talk Episode 91:Journalism Won’t Be Denied

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back from the Preakness, full of crab cakes and hot takes. Did Journalism prove he’s head and shoulders the leader in this 3-year-old class? What’s the vibe from Team Sandman after his third-place run? How did Pimlico hold up in the final Preakness day at Old Hilltop? The boys then welcome multiple Breeders’ Cup-winning jockey and expert riding analyst Rajiv Maragh in the midst of a slew of jockey-related controversies. We get Raj’s opinion on the scary-looking incident involving Umberto Rispoli and Flavien Prat—aboard Journalism and Goal Oriented, respectively—at the top of the lane in the Preakness, as well as the heavy fine imposed on Junior Alvarado for exceeding the crop strike limit on Sovereignty in his Derby win and more. Nowhere else in racing are these kinds of candid, critical and incisive conversations happening. Don’t miss an episode of Rail Talk, join our ever-growing family and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Huge thanks to our sponsors Epic Insurance, Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group and Taylor Made for their powerful support.

Rail Talk Episode 90: Eurton Call from Britney

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green provide the backstory on Sandman’s surprise entry into the Preakness and dive into the rest of the field and its storylines with star NBC Sports racing host/reporter Britney Eurton. Britney also gives her take on the present and future of racing in her home state of California, how we can capitalize on an influx of young eyes watching this year’s Triple Crown and more. Joe and Jon then talk to HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus about the rationale behind the controversial fine levied upon Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Junior Alvarado for using too many strikes with his riding crop, and welcome Samantha Perry, Michelle Yu and Dan Tordjman for a final rundown of the Mage Rage Derby contest, won by Sam!

Rail Talk Episode 89: Derby Reactions w/Bobby Flay

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back from the 151st Kentucky Derby and give you all the reactions from Team Sandman, plus analysis of the first three across the wire and the state of the 3-year-old division. They then discuss Griffin Johnson’s impact on the race and the sport, the Kentucky Oaks and notable undercard performances, give a final rundown of their Mage Rage Derby contest standings and appreciate Junior Alvarado in this week’s EPIC Performance of the Week. In the guest chair this week is none other than chef, restaurateur, TV star and racing die-hard Bobby Flay, who relives his Derby day experience, gives his take on whether the Triple Crown’s spacing should be changed, discusses his footprint/strategy in racing and breeding, gives Jon a few restaurant recommendations and much more. The show continues to reach new heights and we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our viewers/listeners for their support. If you haven’t yet, join the family and subscribe to Rail Talk on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Shoutout to our sponsors The Green Group, Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made, Epic Insurance Brokers and Airdrie Stud for being the wind beneath our wings!

RAIL TALK BREAKAWAY EP 18: Undoing a Decoupling

Former Kentucky State Senator and Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI) Senior Advisor Damon Thayer sits down with Jon Green to get into the weeds of the Florida decoupling bill that will no longer see the light of day in this legislative session. Jon, TRI Vice President, has worked with Damon since forming the initiative along with David O’Farrell, Dr. Barry Eisaman, Mark Casse, and Aron Wellman. At that point, the decoupling bill looked like it was sailing through putting the future of Florida racing in serious jeopardy. The two give a behind the curtain peek at what went down and how quickly it all came together. Both praise the industry for coming together with rapid speed and efficiency. They examine the various paths Florida racing can take moving forward. Thank you to everyone who supported TRI and a special thank you to Arion Pedigrees for allowing us to continue these valuable one-on-one discussions.

Breakaway Rail Talk Episode 17: Handicapping the Derby/Oaks Cards w/Jim Politano

This week on Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees, Joe Bianca welcomes back friend of the show, owner and ace handicapper Jim Politano to put together multi-race tickets for the loaded Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks cards this weekend. Joe and Jim, previously together on Breakaway Rail Talk’s Breeders’ Cup handicapping shows which have produced multiple winning plays, hammer out late all-stakes Pick 5’s for Friday and Saturday as well as a two-day Pick 6 ticket, with $500 to spend on each venture. Follow along as they agonize over where to spread, where to single and who to leave out for two of the best racing days of the year.

Rail Talk Episode 88: At Long Last, It’s Derby Time

This week on Rail Talk! The Kentucky Derby is finally upon us, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green celebrate making it through the cold winter with a legitimate chance to take home the trophy in the 151st Run for the Roses. Joe and Jon give their honest reactions to Sandman drawing post 17, how they’d like to see the race unfold and what contenders they’re most worried about. They then welcome NBC Sports’ six-time Emmy-winning senior producer Lindsay Schanzer to take us behind the curtain on what it takes to broadcast an event as unique as the Derby. The boys also discuss the Kentucky Oaks, give one last rundown of the Mage Rage Derby contest leaderboard and appreciate an in-foal mare dominating on the racetrack in the Epic Performance of the Week.

Rail Talk Episode 87: Repole vs. Tinky

This week on Rail Talk! It’s our most highly-anticipated episode yet, featuring the great debate between Mike Repole and Tinky aka Tony Cobitz. This conflict has been simmering on horse racing Twitter for months, and the two agreed to get in the ring together for a verbal showdown on our podcast. No topic is off limits, as the outspoken billionaire owner and self-proclaimed commissioner of racing squares off against the industry veteran and pseudonymous online critic. Subjects covered include: the durability of the modern racehorse, shuttered racetracks, potential changes to the Breeders’ Cup, marketing the game, improving the product for horseplayers, HISA, stallion mare caps and much, much more. There’s plenty of animosity and feistiness, but also areas of agreement, understanding and even the potential to work together as a result of this debate. You don’t want to miss it! Joe Bianca and Jon Green also celebrate the likely demise of the Florida decoupling bill, crediting the industry for its organization (!) and spinning it forward to figure out what comes next.

Rail Talk Episode 86: Kornacki Hour

Rail Talk Episode 86: This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to the final round of Kentucky Derby preps, as Journalism solidifies himself as the favorite, Rodriguez wires the Wood and Burnham Square dives late to capture the Blue Grass. What holes are there, if any, to poke in Journalism’s case, and are the other winners contenders or pretenders? The boys then welcome star NBC correspondent Steve Kornacki to the show! Fresh off of signing a new contract to expand his coverage of politics and sports, Kornacki discusses his impressions of the Derby field, what he’s learned in broadcasting the Run for the Roses, his ownership experience with West Point, how he got his start in politics and much more. Joe and Jon also update the Mage Rage Derby contest standings, with Samantha Perry now the one to catch, and celebrate Kendrick Carmouche’s 4,000th win in the Epic Performance of the Week.

Breakaway Rail Talk Episode 16: KEE to Success

This week on Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees, Jon Green talks to Keeneland CEO and President Shannon Arvin about the upcoming Spring Meet, sales grounds improvements and upgrades in the paddock and viewing areas. They discuss her five-year tenure at the helm and what is on the near horizon for racing and sales fans.

Rail Talk Episode 85: Sandman Brings Derby Dreams

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back from a thrilling Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where they witnessed, along with 68,000 of their closest friends, Sandman punch his ticket for the Kentucky Derby with a convincing win in the meet centerpiece Arkansas Derby. The boys react to one of the most thrilling moments of their racing lives and start five weeks of spine-tingling anticipation with a horse who will be among the favorites in the Run for the Roses. Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse then joins the show to discuss his expert development of Sandman, the strategy for Derby day, his overall training philosophies and his dedicated involvement in the fight to kill the decoupling bill in Florida’s state Congress. Joe and Jon also react to the Florida Derby and look forward to this Saturday’s Wood Memorial in the Mage Rage Derby contest update, where Samantha Perry has caught Jon and Joe has climbed out of last place!

Rail Talk Episode 84: All Systems Geaux

This week on Rail Talk! We’re less than six weeks out from Kentucky Derby 151, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green take stock of the 3-year-old class heading into crunch time. Joe, just back from New Orleans, gives his in-person reaction from the Louisiana Derby, while Jon has a bee in his bonnet about the Jeff Ruby Steaks being a 100-point Derby qualifier. The boys then look forward to this weekend’s Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby, the latter featuring family horse Sandman taking on Rebel winner Coal Battle and potential superstar Cornucopian. Jon and Joe will be there in person to cheer the big gray home, as will Green Group/DJ Stable founder Len Green, who joins the show to give viewers/listeners a treasure trove of tax advice as the filing deadline approaches. Finally, we conduct the supplemental draft for our Mage Rage Derby contest with Michelle Yu, Samantha Perry and Dan Tordjman, as everyone discards and picks up three horses each in an attempt to reel runaway leader Jon in.

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back from Ocala, and dive into the statistics from HISA’s 2024 metrics report. Racing fatalities at HISA-run tracks were nearly half of those at the non-HISA tracks, proving that the system is working in keeping horses safer, and for the first time, we have data on training-related fatalities. Other takeaways include the increased safety of dirt surfaces, to the point where they’re nearly on par with synthetic tracks, and the credit due to unsung heroes like track superintendents and their crews. Joe and Jon then touch on the Florida decoupling bill, as it passes out of the state’s house committee and moves one step closer to imperiling racing in the Sunshine State. Jon gives his analysis and lets our audience know what’s next in the fight to protect Florida racing and breeding. The guys also preview this weekend’s Louisiana Derby and shout out Eddie Woods in the EPIC Performance of the Week.

Breakaway Rail Talk Episode 15: The Heart of Horse Racing

This week on Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees, Joe Bianca sits down with New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association president Tina Bond to discuss her bold marketing initiative, The Heart of Horse Racing. As a passionate advocate for the sport, Bond has enlisted an impressive array of stakeholders to tell their stories and organize to create a sustainable future for racing. Marketing and attracting new fans has been a consistent challenge as we fight for the game’s survival, and Bond also discusses the outside help she’s brought in to chart the path forward. The Heart of Horse Racing relies on financial support, and you can donate to the cause here.

Rail Talk Episode 82: Times and Times Again

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to the latest deeply unflattering New York Times article about the racing industry, this time coming in the form of a scathing, 4,600-word (!!) guest essay questioning the necessity of the sport’s existence. The boys let it rip on the negative slants, misrepresentations and omissions of the article, while also acknowledging and responding to the legitimate arguments it raises. Then, three-time Eclipse Award-winning writer and Paulick Report editor in chief Natalie Voss joins the show to provide her takeaway from the Times piece before showing why her work is so renowned, as she, Joe and Jon engage in a candid and expansive discussion on the existential issues facing the sport. What have we made progress on, and what still has to get much better? Joe and Jon also react to a monster weekend of Kentucky Derby preps as Jon builds his lead in the Mage Rage Derby contest with less than two months to go until the first Saturday in May.

Breakaway Rail Talk Episode 14: The Great Lasix Debate

This week on a special Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees, co-hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green continue to explore the impact of Lasix with guests Tony "Tinky" Cobitz and Southwest Stakes Winning trainer, Ron Moquett. Tinky provides a plethora of facts and figures backed by extensive research including how it affects two-year-olds, older horses and stakes competitors. Ron counters with anecdotal evidence he's witnessed over his four-decade long career. The lively discussion includes ingredients like Bull-butter, milkshakes and blood/mucus residue - which sounds like a great recipe for entertainment. Thank you to Arion Pedigrees for their sponsorship and helping us tell these stories!!!

Rail Talk Episode 81: A Good Week for the Good Guys

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green start a jam-packed show appreciating the immense progress being made in the HISA era. Racing fatalities dropped below 1 per 1,000 starts at tracks under HISA’s jurisdiction in 2024, the first time racing has crossed that benchmark since the advent of the Equine Injury Database in 2009. The same week the numbers were released, HISA also busted a veterinarian and 13 trainers at Penn National for allegedly breaking their rules on intra-articular joint injections, proving again the necessity of having cops on the beat. Joe and Jon then welcome back friend of the show Tinky aka Tony Cobitz alongside trainer Ron Moquett for a fascinating, substantive discussion on what the future of the HISA era will look like, initiatives to improve Thoroughbred aftercare, the importance of combatting misinformation about the sport and much more. The boys also react to the Rebel as Jon surges to the lead in the Mage Rage Derby contest presented by Airdrie Stud, and look forward to an action-filled weekend of prep races headlined by the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and San Felipe at Santa Anita.

Rail Talk Episode 80: Florida Horsemen Fight Back

This week on Rail Talk! We break some major news, as longtime Kentucky state senator Damon Thayer and Ocala Stud general manager David O’Farrell join the show to announce the creation of the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative, an alliance of major stakeholders organizing to stop the potentially devastating decoupling efforts in Florida. Thayer, whose experience includes spearheading the passage of historical horse racing legislation that’s been a boon for Kentucky racing and O’Farrell, whose family stallion/breeding farm has operated in Florida for 70 years, lay out the steps being taken as we speak in Tallahassee to secure a long-term future for the sport in the Sunshine State. They also discuss potential future interventions by the TRI to help racing fight existential crises across the country. Joe and Jon also discuss Equibase’s plan to create a rating system to replace some claiming and allowance races, hopefully increasing field size and decreasing the amount of times horses have to change stables. They then touch on Magnitude’s blowout win in the Risen Star and look forward to this weekend’s Rebel in updating their Mage Rags Kentucky Derby contest standings.

Rail Talk Episode 79: Ren, Rinse, and Repeat

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green discuss the Los Angeles Times article reporting that The Stronach Group has let potential buyers know that Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita are available for the right price. What needs to be done to ensure racing continues in Florida and especially California? What responsibilities do other racing-rich states have in maintaining the industry beyond their borders? Can the situation at Santa Anita be resolved with the installation of Historical Horse Racing machines and how likely are they to be greenlit? Tampa Bay Downs analyst and friend of the show Ren Carothers then jumps on to discuss the weekend’s stakes races, the Derby trail as a whole, and whether or not Tampa could potentially fill the role of Florida’s main Thoroughbred racing hub. The boys also preview this weekend’s Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds and update their Mage Rage Derby Contest standings.

Breakaway Episode 13: Stable Recovery

This week on Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees, Joe Bianca sits down with Frank Taylor and Christian Countzler, the co-founders of Stable Recovery, a groundbreaking program helping men struggling with addiction take back their lives. The organization, just honored with an Eclipse Award, teaches horsemanship skills, accountability and leans on its dedicated community to help their graduates not only recover, but find employment in the horse industry. Taylor and Countzler outline what happens when people enter their program, the steps they take to achieve a 100% employment rate for their graduates and the industry partners they work with as the program’s impact continues to widen. It’s a fascination conversation that also touches on the therapeutic nature of horses, the upcoming Spring Gala fundraiser and other ways viewers can help the cause. Thank you to Arion Pedigrees for their sponsorship and helping us tell these stories!

Rail Talk Episode 78: Stewart’s Inquiry

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome Resolute Racing founder John Stewart for a a wide-ranging, in-depth discussion as he continues to make early waves in the racing world. The three talk about how Stewart is trying to make sure that his guns-blazing entry into the game is sustainable, his attempts to market the sport and increase its outreach/visibility, his background as a horseplayer, the ongoing feud with Mike Repole and more. The boys then explore the topic of artificial insemination—what are the pros and cons of a breeding mechanism that would totally disrupt the world of Thoroughbreds but is fairly standard in how other animals are bred? They also react to the first weekend of Derby preps following their MAGE Rage Derby Contest, presented by Airdrie Stud, as Michelle Yu jumps out to an early lead. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content, be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Huge thank you as always to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made, The Green Group, Epic Insurance Brokers, and Airdrie Stud for making this all possible.

Rail Talk Episode 77: What Comes After Gulfstream?

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green kick off a loaded episode by reacting to the Pegasus World Cup card, perhaps one of the final major racing days in the life of Gulfstream Park. With The Stronach Group clearly uninterested in committing to racing there long term, the conversation moves to alternative homes for racing in Florida, and Joe and Jon discuss the pros and cons of the possibilities, including Hialeah, Palm Meadows, OBS and Tampa Bay Downs. The boys then appreciate a huge effort from Sandman—and jockey Cristian Torres—to overcome a disastrous start in the Southwest and run a huge second, taking a big step towards a potential Kentucky Derby berth. Finally, they welcome friends of the show and outstanding racing personalities Michelle Yu, Samantha Perry and Dan Tordjman for our fun and hilarious Mage Rage Derby contest draft, sponsored by 149th Derby winner Mage and our friends at Airdrie Stud! You truly don’t want to miss it. Who else in this industry has as many substantive discussions mixed with as many laughs as we do? Don’t miss any Rail Talk content—join our ever-growing family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Thank you to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group, Taylor Made, Epic Insurance and Airdrie Stud for their phenomenal support!

Rail Talk Episode 76: Florida Forecast: Cloudy with a Chance of Shutdown

This week on Rail Talk! Jon Green rejoins Joe Bianca in the studio for a jam-packed show covering the industry’s hottest topics. First, the boys break down The Stronach Group’s pressure campaign on Gulfstream’s horsemen and whether or not the South Florida staple’s days are numbered. Joe and Jon also discuss the reinstatement of jockey Paco Lopez after his six-week suspension for striking a horse in the face with his whip, John Stewart’s private equity firm being sued for $20 million, the continuing impact of computer-assisted wagering on smaller horseplayers and much more.

Rail Talk Episode 75: From Coast to Coast

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca is joined by guest co-host Samantha Perry live her from analyst post at Gulfstream Park, and the two discuss some of their early observations from the track’s marquee Championship Meet—Dylan Davis continuing his career-best form in his first winter at Gulfstream, Todd Pletcher unveiling better and better 3-year-olds and the level of buzz surrounding the Pegasus. Joe and Sam are then joined by Santa Anita reporter and horsewoman Michelle Yu for an update on the devastating fires in Los Angeles county and how Santa Anita is holding up the community as it prepares to resume racing this week.

Rail Talk Episode 74: In With The New

This week on Rail Talk! The boys are back and thrilled to kick off an exciting 2025 with lots of big news, as Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome brand new sponsor Epic Insurance to the show, and introduce the newest four-legged member of the RT family, Joe’s whippet puppy Juno! Joe and Jon then analyze the Eclipse Award finalists—which categories have potential for intrigue and debate, and are there any outside-the-box contenders who could take home championship statues? We’re also less than four months away from the Kentucky Derby, with no shortage of tantalizing prospects, and we take stock of the many potential-oozing newly-turned 3-year-old colts. Happy new year to everyone in our ever-growing Rail Talk family—we’re now up to 16,000 subscribers and 3,000,000 views on YouTube! If you haven’t yet, please smash that subscribe button on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thank you so much to our sponsors, Epic Insurance, Taylor Made, The Green Group and Fasig-Tipton for all of their support! Let’s have a great 2025!

Off the Rails Episode 12

Nothing says Merry Christmas to our viewers more than a compilation of Jon and Joe being themselves.

Episode 73: Happy Repole-Days Part 2

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 more. Then special correspondent Skip Anderson, full of holiday cheer and festive decor, stops by to talk about his findings from his masters thesis on Thoroughbred auctions, and associate producer Julia Agresta puts Joe and Jon on the hot seat for a new inscrutable Christmas-themed game.

Rail Talk Episode 72: Happy Repole-Days Part 1

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 is making, stallion mare caps, synthetic racing coming to Belmont and much more. Then our pal Andrew Stewart of Arion Pedigrees stops by to recap the Hong Kong International Races and look ahead to racing across the pond in 2025.

Rail Talk Episode 71: From Hong Kong With Love

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green go international, as they welcome Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-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 weekend of the year in New York racing, discuss the ongoing crisis at Woodbine and there’s a bee in Jon’s bonnet about a 2025 mating. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content, be sure to join our family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks to the sponsors The Green Group, Taylor Made and Fasig-Tipton for supporting our vision!

Rail Talk Episode 70: Green Eggs & Sam

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 Miami if you want to stay up all night! Then, Rail Talk champion Len Green of The Green Group returns to the studio to talk about all the tax benefits of horse ownership and how to take advantage of them in 2025. He also reflects on being honored at this summer’s Racetrack Chaplaincy brunch in Saratoga and all the money raised that day to support the backstretch community. Joe and Jon later give their takes on the tenuous situation in California racing and the need for cooperation between interests in the north and south before the state’s racing goes by the wayside.

Rail Talk Episode 69: HISA Mythbusting

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 an excuse for positive test findings? What’s being done to ensure labs are all singing from the same sheet? Lazarus and Mosier answer these hot-button questions before touching on exciting developments like Horse In-Sight, a new tool that gives veterinarians a full picture of a horse’s health before giving them the green light to race. Joe and Jon also appreciate the war horses who competed in Saturday’s Claiming Crown before their first look-ahead to Kentucky Derby 151 analyzing notable 2-year-old performances from the weekend. Nowhere else in racing are these kinds of substantive, consequential and honest discussions taking place. Be sure to join the ever-growing Rail Talk family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks as always to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group for making it all possible.

Rail Talk Episode 68: Flavien Prat Takes Center Stage

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 to the precipice of his first Eclipse Award and much more. Joe and Jon also reflect on a huge stakes weekend for West Point Thoroughbreds and what it means for the turf male division in 2025 before discussing perplexing trends Jon is noticing in the stallion and auction market. They then touch on the precarious situation with Woodbine’s main track and whether or not Kenny McPeek has a legitimate case to be Eclipse champion trainer. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content—join the ever-growing family making us one of the leading podcasts in the industry by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, etc. Huge thank you to our dedicated sponsors Taylor Made, The Green Group and Fasig-Tipton for their support.

Rail Talk Episode 67: Yu Talking To Me?

Rail Talk Episode 67: 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 Thorpedo Anna has locked up a Horse of the Year trophy and everything else that stood out to her from racing’s most important weekend. As someone who spends every day on the backstretch, Yu also speaks candidly about the new HISA amendments on their provisional suspension protocol and whether or not the program is catching actual cheaters.

Breakaway Rail Talk Episode 12: Breeders’ Cup Bets w/ Jim Politano

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 Breeders’ Cup tickets in hopes of making our subscribers some money this weekend. The two cashed a Rail Talk Pick 5 and a Pick 4 at last year’s BC, and they try to build on that success, putting their heads together to construct a Pick 5 ticket for Future Stars Friday, another Pick 5 culminating in the Classic on Saturday and finally, a Pick 4 for the last quartet of Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday. They also find time to reminisce about a fun but frustrating Saratoga meet full of chasing Pick 6 carryovers.

Rail Talk Episode 66: A Scary Good Breeders’ Cup

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 Humphreys joins the show to clue the audience into who’s hot and who’s not from the stout European and Japanese contingents descending upon Del Mar. Which horses should you be leaning on or playing against this weekend? And who are some big prices who can outrun their odds and spice up exotic payouts?

Rail Talk Episode 65: Tinky Returns

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 in from all over the world. Has the City of Troy hype train run off the tracks? Will there be enough speed to set up Forever Young? And where does top domestic hopeful Fierceness fit into the race? The conversation then turns to the world of stallions, and Tink brings observations and graphics aplenty. Why are even today’s top sires producing relatively few graded stakes winners and fewer horses who stick around longer than a dozen or so starts? What, if anything can be done to reverse this trend?

Rail Talk Episode 64: Union & Reunion

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, their outside counsel John Roach joins the show to break down the next steps in the fight over constitutionality and what will happen to the sport if the current system is struck down. Then the boys are joined by Claiborne president Walker Hancock to talk about a new effort to protect older mares, their new stallions for 2025(including a new stallion exclusive announcement here on the show!) and the future of the historic farm.

Off The Rails – Episode 11

Jon and Joe have made plenty of mistakes since our last episode and editors Nathan and Julia are happy to broadcast them to you. Enjoy! Brought to you by Black Dog Bloodstock

Rail Talk Episode 63: Of Sales and Storms

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 genes. OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski discusses how they are preparing for Hurricane Milton in advance of their current two-day yearling sale. He also discussed how the three major US-based sales companies banded together to implement an updated medication testing protocol in an effort to promote safety for all involved. Tod also provides the hosts with exclusives about eminent changes in OBS sale offerings. Finally, Jon shares some inside information about one of his Breeders’ Cup bound fillies VIXEN as the show hears from Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ Aron Wellman.

Rail Talk Episode 62: Parx & Degradation

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 shares in the blame? Dave Grening, the excellent longtime reporter for the Daily Racing Form, then joins Joe and Jon to react to his experience Saturday at Parx, update us on the reconstruction of Belmont Park, give his take on the future of New York racing and much more.

Rail Talk Episode 61: Marital Bliss, Laboratory Mess

On Episode 61 of Rail Talk, 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 last weekend's Woodbine Mile card which included some good DJ Stable success and preview the Pennsylvania Derby. Newlywed Joe Bianca shares an intimate look at his wedding celebration set to the voice of his dad (and 70's rock star) Russ Bianca.

Rail Talk Episode 60: Joe’s Bachelor Finale

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 was shut down recently after a trainer whose horse broke down over it posted a video of the atrocious condition of the grass. How does a modern racetrack fall into that state of disrepair? And is this a trend with tracks that are heavily subsidized by casino revenue? Joe and Jon then play the second part of the Not So Newlywed game, and Joe pays tribute to one of his first friends in racing, the late, great Chuck Simon.

Rail Talk Episode 59: A Saratoga Wrap & A Kim Valerio Chat

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 or not the boutique meet should be expanded to start July 4 weekend. Later on, Joe and Jon are joined by ace bloodstock agent Kim Valerio, who gives listeners the lowdown on how she picks out horses, what’s needed to improve the backstretch conditions for our athletes and her evolution on HISA.

Rail Talk Episode 58: A Travers for the Ages

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 before discussing what it means for the year-end championships and the sport as a whole. It wasn’t just the Travers that thrilled us this week, as an array of dazzling undercard performances were worth analyzing, and the boys even turn their attention across the pond to superstar City of Troy, who legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien stunningly says is the greatest horse he’s ever trained. Joe and Jon also touch on a New York veterinarian in some major hot water, Next potentially finally getting a challenge at the Breeders’ Cup and the upcoming mega-lucrative Kentucky Downs meet. Days like Saturday remind us why we love horse racing, and if you love it too, you absolutely need to be part of the Rail Talk family. Subscribe to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thank you as always to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group for giving us this platform.

Rail Talk Episode 57: (Don’t) Hold Your Horses

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 winters at Aqueduct and how he communicates with his horse and fellow riders during a race. Elsewhere on the show, Joe and Jon look forward to a massive Travers Day highlighted by a classic renewal of the ‘Midsummer Derby’, and Joe rants about an injustice he saw from the Del Mar stewards when a horse was unfairly held up in the gate yet still declared a starter. Don’t miss a moment of 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. Huge shoutout to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group for their support.

Rail Talk Episode 56: Grade I’s & Newlyweds

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. With producer Patty Wolfe out of the country, associate producer Julia Agresta steps in to host the not-quite-newlywed game as Joe and Jon are both tested on how well they know their partners. Then the boys look forward to Alabama weekend and take stock of the progress of both the show and the industry at large.

Rail Talk Episode 55: Postcards from Saratoga

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 big gray to the top of the handicap division. Later, the boys also look forward to Arlington Million day at Colonial and Jon relays an illuminating conversation he had with friend of the show (?) Mike Repole. Don’t miss an episode of Rail Talk—join our ever-growing family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thank you to our sponsors The Green Group, Taylor Made and Fasig-Tipton for giving us this amazing platform.

Rail Talk Episode 54: Straight A’s for This Sophomore Class

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, including a 12-horse Whitney leading into the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Later on, the boys discuss all of the seemingly avoidable mishaps that we’ve seen at NYRA tracks so far this year, and appreciate the continually declining fatality numbers released by HISA in their Q2 metrics report. Do the opponents of HISA really want to reverse all of that progress? Finally, the gang all wishes a very happy birthday to producer Patty Wolfe with a cacophony of off-key singing voices.

Rail Talk Episode 53: Keeping it Casse

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 hopefully the last chapter in the Bob Baffert vs. Churchill Downs saga as Baffert is allowed to resume racing under the Twin Spires after a three-year suspension. Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse then jumps on to discuss his unreal weekend of stakes victories all across North America, where we stand on HISA’s implementation, synthetic racing’s place in America’s racing ecosystem and much more.

Rail Talk Episode 52: The Summer Place To Be

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 founder and publisher Ray Paulick to analyze the latest developments from a potential Game of Silks rug pull, the opening of the Del Mar season, NYRA going all-weather all winter, and much more.

Rail Talk Episode 51: Jim-dependence Day

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 surrounding fantasy horse racing app Game of Silks, which is temporarily freezing its operations after raising millions of dollars in the past year. Joe and Jim also give their ode to the unbelievable Next, and look forward to another summer at the Spa.

Breakaway Rail Talk 10: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds’ Dave Lyon

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 themselves on the Kentucky Derby trail with Gotham Stakes winner Morello in 2022. But an untimely injury cost the colt his chance at the Roses, and Lyon tells all about the lessons he learned from managing his partnership through that massive letdown. The two also discussed both the excitement and challenges of getting a smaller partnership off the ground, what it takes to punch above your weight class in a business ruled by big money, the news that winter racing in New York will shift exclusively to synthetic and much more. Don’t miss any of these fascinating conversations on Rail Talk—be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks to Arion Pedigrees for giving us the fuel for our Breakaway Rail Talk fire.

Rail Talk Episode 50: A Beautiful Day in the Neigh-borhood

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 Supreme Court rebuffing a constitutional challenge to HISA and discuss some of the fascinating findings from McKinsey’s report on racing at the sport’s Welfare and Safety Summit. They also appreciate some strong performances on the track, headed by filly and mare sprint queen Vahva. Special correspondent Skip Anderson calls in from the road to play ‘Name That Horse’ with Joe and Jon, plus Joe’s dad Russ pops in to gives his take on the show and tell some slightly embarrassing stories about his son. Plus some of our other good friends chime in to offer their congrats and well wishes. Thank you so much to everyone who’s helped us establish Rail Talk as one of the leading voices in the industry. That means you, the viewers, listeners and subscribers and our outstanding sponsors The Green Group, Fasig-Tipton and Taylor Made. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Here’s to the next 50, 100 and beyond!

Rail Talk Episode 49: A Lazarus Encore

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 investigative powers, the successful pressure campaign forcing Louisiana’s about-face on its attempt to loosen drug regulations and much more. The boys also celebrate some big wins for the ‘home teams’ of DJ Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds and look forward to the respective debuts of Rail Talk family horses Burner Account and Mean to Me! Nowhere else in the racing world are these kinds of in-depth conversations being had. Don’t miss an episode—especially as we get ready to celebrate show #50–be sure to subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Lots of love to the sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group for supporting our vision from day one.

Rail Talk Episode 48: Belatoga Caps Thrilling Triple Crown

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 attendance all week at Saratoga, is then put in the hot seat as this week’s interview guest, as his buddy Jon has all sorts of questions about the inaugural ‘Belatoga’. What was the atmosphere like? What were the highlights? What can be improved upon? Joe tells all. Finally, analyzing the other major news of a busy week, the boys discuss the Louisiana Horse Racing Commission thankfully backing down from its irresponsible attempt to loosen drug regulations, and Frank Stronach being arrested on a slew of sexual assault charges.

Rail Talk Episode 47: Reversing a Bayou Bumble

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 horses less safe if enacted. He also touches on his former boss and mentor D. Wayne Lukas winning the Preakness and how Lukas’s willingness to take shots and run his horses has influenced his own career. The boys also appreciate a huge Epsom Derby win by City of Troy and the possibility of him coming across the pond to try his hoof in the Travers, and preview a fabulous week of racing as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival moves upstate to Saratoga. Don’t miss an episode of Rail Talk, join the family by subscribing to the show on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. Major shoutout to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group for supporting our vision from day one.

Episode 46: Louisiana Racing Commission loosening drug regulations

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 one wants to ship in or out, potential revocation of Derby qualifying points for Fair Grounds’s series of prep races, and of course the horses who will be at greater risk. Don’t miss any Rail Talk content. Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible or wherever you get your pods. Thanks to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group for lighting the way.

Rail Talk Episode 45: ‘Seize’ Part for Lukas in Preakness

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. They went on to analyze the other myriad storylines, including horses who ran two weeks ago at Churchill Downs finishing 1-2-3 in the Preakness just as the calls to increase the spacing Triple Crown reach a fever pitch. Joe and Jon then discussed the business model of winning owner MyRacehorse—is selling microshares in horses a scam, a great way to introduce new people to ownership, or something in between?

Rail Talk Episode 44: Preakness Preview with David Aragona

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 finally brought into the 21st century? The boys are then joined by ace handicapper from DRF/TimeformUS David Aragona to talk about the likely pace scenario in the 1 3/16-mile test, how to unearth longshots in cheaper races, the prospective new Belmont Park and much more.

Rail Talk Episode 43: Appreciating a Magnificent Derby 150 with Mike Tirico

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 broadcaster sat down with the boys for nearly 40 minutes for a fascinating, engaging and often hilarious discussion on what it’s like to host a five-hour Derby show, Mike’s take on the reform racing is finally taking on, his appreciation for the sport and much more. Joe and Jon also touched on Thorpedo Anna’s jaw-dropping Oaks win to give Kenny McPeek a double for the ages, several other star performances on the Oaks/Derby undercards, 700+ horses competing with no safety issues and the phenomenal viewership for racing’s biggest day.

Rail Talk Episode 42: Broken Horses: An Industry in Repair

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 in the 21st century—the ills, but also the major effort of the industry to correct and reform itself. After giving their full review, the boys welcome Times reporter and Broken Horses producer Joe Drape for an illuminating discussion on how the show came to be, the ways he’s seen racing change in his 25 years covering the game, his overall outlook on the future and much more.

Rail Talk Episode 41: Derby 150 w/the Brunette Bonanza

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 racing/handicapping to the forefront. That was obviously a natural fit with Joe and Jon, so all five of them put together a Derby handicapping contest. Many laughs were had, it was more than a bit unruly, but there were also some sharp insights as each participant picked their top four horses for Saturday’s Run for the Roses. The prize? Naming rights for a DJ Stable 2-year-old of 2025!

Rail Talk Episode 40: Sales and Slam Dunks!

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 digital and physical sales, and announced a special flash sale with DJ Stable's Mensa going live today! Amidst the horse talk, they also had a reminisce about Anna’s college basketball glory days. Joe and Jon then shifted gears to talk about Thoroughbred aftercare efforts by 1st Racing and Gulfstream Park. Thanks for joining us on the 40th episode of Rail Talk, brought to you by our wonderful sponsors, Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made, and The Green Group. Thanks to our devoted listeners/viewers, and if you aren’t one yet, be sure to subscribe to Rail Talk on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or RailTalkMedia.com.

Rail Talk Episode 39: An All-Star Lineup, ‘Live’ From Ocala

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 Group/DJ Stable Len Green. Casse discussed Sandman's rapid progress and the history/legacy of his farm, while Finley touched on a variety of industry issues and Green broke down the tax implication of Thoroughbred ownership.

Breakaway Episode 9 – Michelle Yu & Billy Koch

It’s a “reciprocal” Breakaway Rail Talk episode - as Jon Green welcomes 1/ST racing analyst Michelle Yu and Little Red Feather’s Founder/Managing Partner Billy Koch. Fresh off their discussion on the Owner’s Box Podcast, the gang discusses the complex dynamics of Cali racing, the merits of having owners in the Racing HOF, the added value of buying horses with a well-established manager and a gaggle of other thought-provoking subjects. Don’t miss a minute of this highly entertaining episode on…BREAKAWAY RAIL TALK, brought to you by ARION PEDIGREES.

Rail Talk Episode 38: Eclipse Edition!

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 to shine on the first Saturday in May? The boys then discussed Frankie Dettori’s remarkable six straight wins on Saturday at Santa Anita, DJ Stable’s decision to give Hades one more chance to get into the Derby and HIWU’s suspension of top trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Rail Talk Episode 37: Fierceness Bounces Back

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 and what it says about owners of 3-year-old colts. Jon then told us what’s next for DJ Stable’s star colt Hades and the three all discussed former Bob Baffert trainee Laurel River’s shocking renaissance in a Dubai World Cup romp.

Rail Talk Episode 36: John Sikura on the industry

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 the three sales companies for coming together to institute new, uniform drug policy, analyze 1/ST Racing’s threat to close Santa Anita and appreciate some rare horseplayer-friendly developments courtesy of Washington state racetrack Emerald Downs.

Breakaway Rail Talk – Episode 8 The Ocho with Samantha Perry

Breakaway Rail Talk - Episode 8 The Ocho. 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 exercise rider improved her ability to predict winners and how the recently defunct NowNowNow Stakes launched her career as an interviewer.

Rail Talk Episode 35: Tote-al Disaster

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 latest racing Twitter beef. Fresh off his 2,000th career win, the great and always opinionated Kenny McPeek stops by to talk Derby contenders and industry issues, and Andrew Stewart of Arion Pedigrees jumps on at the crack of dawn in New Zealand to talk Sandman’s pedigree and his view on American racing from afar. Make sure to subscribe to Rail Talk on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify so you don’t miss any new episodes. The growth of the show has been really exciting to see, so major thanks to our viewers/listeners and sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group and Taylor Made for fueling this fire.

Off the Rails – Episode 10

Jon and Joe head to a pizza parlour, Joe is attacked by his own prop and celebrates his birthday with a special gift from Jon and Producer Patty on this episode of Off the Rails! Thank you Lauren Carlisle of Black Dog Bloodstock for sponsoring Off the Rails!

Off the Rails – Episode 9

You can thank (blame) Lauren Carlisle for bringing you outtakes from #RailTalk - Thank you Black Dog Bloodstock for sponsoring!! In Episode 9 of Off the Rails, Joe Bianca, Jon Green, and Patty Wolfe are airing their dirty laundry - not voluntarily as editors decide what goes in!

Rail Talk Episode 34: Tink Tank Two

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 debate. The trio then moved on to the recent Mike Repole and Pat Cummings interview, agreeing that the NTA aftercare initiatives are admirable and right while questioning whether the nascent organization will have the discipline and focus necessary to bring about real change.

Rail Talk Episode 33: Tink Tank

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 years in the Thoroughbred industry before weighing in on the topics of the day. The trio expounded on the mare cap discussion and Tinky brought a lot of data along to back up his positions. From there they ventured into the very hot topic of super trainers and their effect on the industry. Alas, there was too much to say and too little time, so the second half of the conversation will be released in a few days to finish the super trainer debate and touch on more pressing industry issues.

Rail Talk Episode 32: Every Horse Matters

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. Rushmore-level figure in the worlds of handicapping and turf writing. With Crist, they debated the merits of computer-assisted wagering, how far we’ve come on eliminating ‘juicer’ trainers and what roles synthetic tracks should play in racing’s future. The boys also welcomed back special correspondent Skip Anderson for the latest edition of ‘Tackle or Trade’ in which we learn Jon is a secret scuba king?

Breakaway Rail Talk – Lauren Carlisle, Black Dog Bloodstock

Jon Green sits with up-and-coming bloodstock agent, Lauren Carlisle of Black Dog Bloodstock. Lauren discusses her recent successes (including Grade I winning Hoosier Philly), what it's like to bid on and sign for a seven-figure horse and how she short-lists a sale with over 4,000 entries. Jon and Lauren also talk about how quickly they fall in and/or out of love with a horse (the amount of time will surprise you). Breakaway Rail Talk is of course brought to you by Arion Pedigrees, the go-to site for your pedigree needs.

Rail Talk Episode 31: State of the Industry with Jim Gagliano

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 horseplayers. Topics included: the rollout of HISA, what can be done to attract new bettors to the game, what’s the best way to diversify the gene pool of the U.S. Thoroughbred, where are we on rectifying the problem of performance-enhancing drugs and the continued efforts to reduce racing and training fatalities. Joe and Jon also reacted to the satisfying result of the Saudi Cup and looked forward to a superb Fountain of Youth Day card at Gulfstream.

Rail Talk Episode 30: Tink Twice

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 issues in the sport today. The three tackled the failed proposal of a 140-mare cap for stallions and debated what, if anything, can be done to address the shrinking gene pool of the U.S. Thoroughbred. They then touched on the bloated graded stakes schedule, the Saudi Cup and the overall shortsightedness of breeding to sell instead of breeding to race.

Rail Talk Episode 29: Tinky’s Corner

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 to task some of the biggest names in the game. Clearly well versed in the history of racing, Tinky had heretofore never been seen or heard from outside of his Twitter posts. But he took Joe and Jon up on their invitation to lend his voice to their open and honest discussions on Rail Talk, and the results were magic. The three instantly clicked and talked frankly about many of racing’s biggest hot-button issues, including Bob Baffert, The Jockey Club, HISA and ‘commissioner’ Mike Repole.

Rail Talk Episode 28: All About Gun Runner

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 before touching on the issues being caused by the proliferation of computer-assisted wagering. Joe and Jon then welcomed in Ocala Stud general manager David O’Farrell to discuss how the family business has managed to stand out in a crowded stallion landscape, the safety improvements at 2-year-old sales and more. Don’t miss an episode of Rail Talk, be sure to subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Audible. Thanks to our sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group and Taylor Made for their continued love and support. It’s an exciting week at Taylor Made, as they’re approaching what would have been Daddy Joe’s 100th Birthday this coming Friday. To honor him, they’ve introduced Servant Leader Awards, designed to recognize employees driven to serve their team, clients, community, and horses with unwavering dedication while wearing a smile. Winners will be announced Friday!

Rail Talk Episode 27: It’s Raining Ren

This week on Rail Talk! Joe Bianca and Jon Green, who toughed it out through a case of COVID, discuss two major trainer suspensions and whether or not they were justified before Jon lets it fly on the decisions of certain Eclipse Award voters. Original guest Ren Carothers also stops by to talk about a big weekend of racing at Tampa, a loaded renewal of the Risen Star and how she reacts when someone calls her Mary Poppins, then the boys are joined by special correspondent Skip Anderson for a Valentine’s Day-themed round of Tackle or Trade.

Rail Talk Episode 26: Holy Hades

The road to the 150th Kentucky Derby kicked off in earnest this past weekend, and it started with a BANG as Jon and Len Green’s DJ Stable captured the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes with Hades, upsetting Mike Repole’s heavily-favored 2-year-old champion Fierceness in the process. So naturally this week on Rail Talk, Jon and co-host Joe Bianca talked all about that euphoric experience and welcomed in Hades’s trainer Joe Orseno to map out the next few months leading up to the Derby. Of course it wasn’t just Hades who set the racing world on fire this week—Bob Baffert trainee Nysos dominated the Grade III Bob Lewis Stakes and looks like clearly the best 3-year-old in America. Will it take away from the Derby not having banned Baffert’s top runners in the gate? And what does that mean for the other two legs of the Triple Crown? All that, plus special correspondent Skip Anderson stops by to play a Super Bowl-themed edition of Tackle or Trade on this week’s episode of Rail Talk.

Rail Talk Episode 25: Casa Bianca

At the start of the NFL season, Rail Talk hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green made a friendly wager involving their favorite teams. Though neither the Jets or Giants could be classified as winners this season, Joe’s Jets finished with a better record than Jon’s Giants and as the slightly bigger loser, Jon had to journey from suburban New Jersey all the way to Joe’s Brooklyn apartment to record Episode 25 of Rail Talk. Even more lively when together in person, Joe and Jon give their spicy takes on certain Eclipse Awards acceptance speeches, react to the Pegasus World Cup card and discussed the proposal of a second Pegasus-like celebration called the California Crown at Santa Anita. Also on the table was the story of Bob Baffert’s owners standing by their man and refusing to transfer their potential Derby horses to other trainers by Churchill Downs’s deadline, plus the upcoming weekend at Gulfstream as Derby prep fever begins to heat up. Joe’s dog Cy makes a special appearance for the last segment and it seems everyone forgot about Special Correspondent Skip Anderson.

Rail Talk Episode 24: The (Unbelievably) Slow Wheels of Justice

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green take an involuntary trip back in time, as Bob Baffert has finally decided to drop his appeal of the 2021 Kentucky Derby disqualification. Will Baffert be welcomed back to the Derby by Churchill Downs now? Would he have even been sanctioned in the first place had he taken responsibility and accepted the decision from the jump? Later, the guys are joined by America’s Best Racing marketing manager Don Tordjman for a fascinating discussion about the challenges of bringing new, younger people into the game. What works, what doesn’t and how do we make the racing world more inclusive? Joe and Jon also look forward to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf, where they’ll be clashing head to head with Integration and Webslinger, and share footage of the Rail Talk namesake 2-year-olds getting their early training lessons in Ocala!

Rail Talk Episode 23: A Couple of Particular Italians

It might be freezing seemingly everywhere, but the cold temperatures also mean we’ve reached foaling and breeding season! This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome Darley stallion coordinator Elizabeth Masi to learn all about the matings being planned and new life being welcomed into the world on a major stallion farm. Plus she discusses the unique personalities of Darley legends Medaglia d’Oro and Bernardini and shines light on some of the common misconceptions around Thoroughbred breeding operations. Sticking with that theme, the boys also celebrate the first foals of Flightline hitting the ground and debate what would be considered a successful first few years at stud for the generational superstar. They also touch on an emergent Kentucky Derby contender bred by the Greens’ DJ Stable and new initiatives led by young people in the industry to help combat negative PR thrown at racing.

Rail Talk Episode 22: And Just Like That, It’s a New Year

We’re welcoming in the New Year on Rail Talk! Jessica Paquette joins hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green to talk race calling, Parx, combatting sexism in racing, and getting young people into the sport. More money in the pot for the Kentucky Derby tops the Triple Crown news while Maryland racing braces for some big changes. How will Stronach leaving Maryland and the influx of state money affect the Preakness Stakes? Rail Talk welcomes its first special correspondent, Skip Anderson to the show for game called Tackle or Trade which attempts to get to know – or at least embarrass – our hosts. We thank our sponsors for running it back with us in the new year as we celebrate hitting half a million views. Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group, Taylor Made, Arion Pedigrees and Black Dog Bloodstock, we are honored by your support and look forward to a great year together.

All I Want For Christmas Is You, And Also Transparency in the Graded Stakes Evaluation Process

Happy holidays from the Rail Talk team! In this final, bonus episode of 2023, Joe Bianca and Jon Green take on the perplexing decisions of the American Graded Stakes Committee. The AGSC continued its trend of downgrading several historic New York races per year in 2024, while the list of 30 total races downgraded somehow included zero from Kentucky. Joe and Jon asked for more transparency in the decision-making at the very least, and brought on former voting member Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm to try to shed some light on the process. Finally, they looked forward to some of the biggest storylines for 2024, including the Belmont Stakes heading north to Saratoga. Thank you so much for supporting Rail Talk in 2023.

Breakaway Rail Talk Episode 6

Kim Wickens, author of Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse joins Jon Green to discuss her national best-selling book which is attracting readers inside and outside of the racing audience. Lexington, 1850-1875, was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse with international fame. He rose to stardom at a time when the United States was fracturing. The Civil War provides a backdrop for this incredible tale of hardship, grit, determination, and dominance. Lexington is considered the most successful sire in American racing history and his name appears often many times in the pedigrees of racing champions today. Reviewers are calling Kim’s book phenomenal and her research exhaustive. Many reviews mention a new appreciation for racing: “I am not a fan of the horse racing world. To say I went in with a chip on my shoulder reading this would be light, but I wanted to give this book a shot and I'm so glad I did...Lexington is a foundational American sire in the US horse racing world...This is an expansive and interesting story for anyone who knows horses…” - Amazon reviewer And “Horses haven't ever been my thing. But lately my interest is piqued, and Kim Wickens's book Lexington: the Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse, provides a wealth of information that places this particular horse in the context not only of his time, but all time. Lexington was the father of a dynasty!” - Amazon reviewer We are happy to bring you this interview as we salute Kim’s ability to bring a new audience to racing. Thank you to Arion Pedigrees for your continued support and sponsorship. We love how deep Arion’s pedigree of Lexington runs. “Back to the stone ages,” according to Jon.

Breakaway Rail Talk – Vicky Leonard: Correcting Racing Misconceptions

Jon Green welcomes Vicky Leonard for Episode 5 of Breakaway Rail Talk. Vicky is the managing director of Kick Collective in Sydney, Australia and the founder of the successful Kick Up for Racing, an initiative which counters the negative press and impressions of horse racing through media in Australia. Kick Up for Racing is based on four pillars: 1) Addressing misinformation, 2) Amplifying positives and progress, 3) Empower the racing community 4) Accountability. You can learn more at kickup.com.au. Vicky is teaming with partners in the USA to launch Light Up Racing with the same mission of educating the non-racing public on the many positives of the industry and correcting misimpressions through data and information. You can sign up for more information at LightUpRacing.com. Thank you to Vicky for spending time with us and for all she does for the industry. Also, a big thank you to Arion Pedigrees for sponsoring Breakaway Rail Talk.

Rail Talk Episode 19: Reasons to Give Thanks

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green get the rest of the story that 60 Minutes left out of its ‘drugs in racing’ piece with HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. The three discuss the reforms racing has implemented *in response* to its doping crisis that are already showing tangible results, making the sport safer and cleaner. To that end, Joe and Jon branch off to celebrate that from their perspectives as horseplayer and owner, they’re seeing way fewer inexplicable results in the HISA era. They also touch on the spotless 2023 training record of Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track despite it being utilized more than ever, and the incredible performance of emerging West Point/Woodford star 3-year-old Integration.

Off the Rails – Episode 8

Rail Talk Episode 18: 60 Minutes, Only Half the Story

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to the biggest news of the week: an expose on doping in horse racing that aired Sunday on legendary news program 60 Minutes. Was the story reported fairly? Or was there too much focus on the sensationalist drug bust of 2020, not enough focus on what racing is doing to clean itself up in the aftermath? Plus, the guys react to the HBPA head predictably making 60 Minutes' broadcast all about himself and his anti-HISA campaign, celebrate the news that Auguste Rodin will race as a 4-year-old and wonder whether or not Churchill's turf course needs to be torn up again.

Rail Talk supports the New York Race Track Chaplaincy

Over 3,500 people make up the community of workers who toil behind the scenes in support of the Thoroughbred racing industry at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack, and Saratoga Springs Race Course. The New York Race Track Chaplaincy ministers to the heart and soul of this entire community of stable workers and their families with children’s enrichment, teen mentoring, women’s programming, social service, recreational, and educational programs as well as non-denominational religious services. The NY Chaplaincy provides these extensive services with the intent of satisfying spiritual needs and basic human necessities, as well as providing the tools necessary for the realization of personal strength and growth through a connection to God and community. Michael Dubb, Nick Caras, Xochilt Solorio, and Irad Ortiz discuss their passion for the work of Chaplain Humberto Chavez and his tireless team. To learn more about the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, visit: https://www.rtcany.org/

Rail Talk Episode 17: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Fresh off their groundbreaking on-site episode from the plane to the Breeders’ Cup, Joe Bianca and Jon Green were back at their regular stations to break down a phenomenal week of racing and sales on the latest episode of Rail Talk. Jon and Len Green’s DJ Stable had the honor of selling a champion at Fasig-Tipton November’s Night of the Stars in Wonder Wheel, and Jon takes us behind the curtain for all the excitement when their beautiful filly hammered for $3.2 million. Then the boys recap a terrific Breeders’ Cup experience, headlined by the brilliant performance of Auguste Rodin, and pay tribute to the touching story of Cody Dorman and Cody’s Wish.

Racing For Home with Sherrie Courtney

Sherrie Courtney founded Racing for Home with her daughter and broadcaster Acacia Clement. Racing for Home rescues retired race horses who are most in need. Sherries gives them a second chance at life. Some go on to second careers. Many are adopted. And some will stay under Sherrie's care for the rest of their days. Sherrie Courtney is one of our Odds On Favorite people.

Breeders’ Cup Pick ‘Em Contest Results

Joe Bianca and Skip Anderson of Baa Baa Acres announce the winner of the Breeders' Cup Pick 'Em Contest.

Episode 16: Reaching New Heights

Joe Bianca and Jon Green host the show from this week’s special guest Len Green’s plane en route to the 40th Breeders’ Cup. DJ Stable’s (owned by Len, managed by Jon) Can Group is scheduled to run in the Juvenile Turf on Friday. The hosts cover the news of unfortunate scratches and losses before welcoming Len Green to talk about his fifth successive Breeders’ Cup. Len also shares valuable tax and business advice for individuals in the horse industry. Joe and Jon welcome another passenger from the back of the plane, horse owner Aron Yagoda, to do some quick handicapping before the weekend.

Rail Good Bets: Breeders’ Cup Bonanza with Jim Politano

It’s Breeders’ Cup week! And to celebrate the 40th renewal of the World Championships, we at Rail Talk are proud to premiere the first episode of our latest spinoff series, Rail Good Bets! For the new handicapping-focused podcast’s debut we welcomed owner and sharp bettor Jim Politano to break down all 14 Breeders’ Cup races with host Joe Bianca. Joe and Jim put their heads and opinions together to construct multi-race bets for both Friday and Saturday’s races, then Jim provided insight on how he’ll attack the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, a $10,000 buy-in live money tournament where he’ll be competing against some of the best horseplayers in the world.

Episode 15: A Couple of Funky Nuts

The countdown to the Breeders’ Cup has entered its final stages, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcomed an array of fun guests to get you primed for the 40th renewal of the World Championships this week on Rail Talk. First, the brilliant and hilarious FanDuel/TVG reporter/analyst Andie Biancone stopped by for a rollicking discussion on what she looks for in a horse’s physical appearance, the therapeutic power of horses, handicapping Hong Kong racing and growing up with/working for her quintessentially French father, successful trainer Patrick Biancone. The boys were also joined by Andrew Stewart of Arion Pedigrees for an international perspective on the Breeders’ Cup’s European and Japanese hopes, and ‘Joe or Jon’ contest winner Anna Simms sat in on the show after guessing 8/10 facts correctly about the hosts! Joe and Jon also touched on the HISA penalties applied to small-time trainer John Pimental and whether more common sense is needed in HISA’s enforcement, and previewed next week’s show which will be shot on the plane to the Breeders’ Cup.

Episode 14: Studs & More Studs

This week Joe Bianca and Jon Green talk stallion fees as farms begin to release their 2024 rosters. Three at $250,000 still hold good value while another’s doubled fee is clearly ‘justified.’ Some second-year sires see reduced fees but not reduced quality. While on the topic of breeding Joe and Jon welcome Bret Jones to catch up on Airdrie Stud’s roster and a lot more including growing up (and raising kids) in the business. And what would we be without another contest? Instead of true or false, it’s Joe or Jon. Winners guessing the most correct answers will be invited to be in the virtual studio for next week’s record. Is that a “win”? Time will tell, but it is always a lot of fun. See behind the curtain and witness the nonsense.

Off the Rails – Episode 7

The cameras keep rolling, they keep talking and we remain committed to showing you the less serious side of our esteemed hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green. We also are honored to welcome Black Dog Bloodstock to the Rail Talk family. Thank you Lauren Carlisle!

Episode 13: All Together Now

Does racing need a new association of owners and trainers to confront its challenges? Should there be an increase in the Kentucky Derby purse? Just how many words can a person fit into one tweet? Those are all questions ultra-successful Thoroughbred owner Mike Repole attempted to answer this week, and it provided fuel for a fascinating discussion this week on Episode 13 of Real Talk. Joe Bianca and Jon Green dissected Repole’s rants, which they said contained a number of great, actionable ideas that need the kind of attention Repole is providing, but also wondered whether or not a new organization would be helpful or harmful in an era of racing that *finally* has a central governing body. Later, Joe and Jon welcomed FanDuel/TVG host Scott Hazelton to talk about what makes racing at Keeneland so irresistible, and celebrated some monster performances on the racetrack during the last big tuneup weekend for the Breeders’ Cup.

Episode 12: Let Them Fight

This week on Rail Talk, the boys go guest-less because there was simply too much news to discuss, starting with the ultimate confrontation between Horse Racing Twitter™ and the sport’s institutional giants. Bob Baffert is suing two of racing’s most well-known social media firebrands/instigators/rabble-rousers for alleged defamation and extortion, and Joe Bianca and Jon Green break it down from every angle. Joe and Jon then ask when is enough enough re: Paco Lopez and his irresponsible riding style, and analyze the findings from a Blood-Horse investigation into the seemingly preventable death of New York Thunder. Finally, they look forward to a monster weekend of racing across the country, as the last round of tickets to the Breeders’ Cup will be punched.

Breakaway Rail Talk: Of Matzos and Men

Jon Green catches up with his best friend and racing companion, Aron Yagoda, Executive Vice President of Streit's Matzos, in this installment of Breakaway Rail Talk presented by Arion Pedigrees. These two put the fun in dysfunctional. No holds are barred/no topics off limits. Aron shares the story of his first Kentucky Derby -- the highs, ALMOST making a $750,000 deal and the lows, ALMOST losing his shoes on a Greyhound bus. And all at the age of 16. They reminisce about past sales, Eclipse Awards, and big races with D.J. Stable owners Len & Lois Green and how "Aron is the son they never had." You can try not to laugh and have fun listening to this episode, but you will fail.

Breakaway Rail Talk: Making It On Your Own w/Jim Politano

It’s not easy to be a successful racehorse owner, even with all the money and institutional backing in the world. It’s even more challenging to try to do it on your own, as a regular person. But Jim Politano, a die-hard racing fan and renaissance man from Boston, has proven it can be done. A West Point Thoroughbreds partner, he struck out on his own in 2021 and his horses have earned over $750,000 since. Friday, Jim sat down with Joe Bianca for the latest episode of Breakaway Rail Talk, sponsored by Arion Pedigrees. The two had an immensely fun and candid conversation about what it takes to make it in this game, the overall state of racing, his night job as the lead singer of a band that’s also carved out a strong niche in the New England area, and much more.

Episode 11: Conquering New Terry-tory

This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome Terry Finley, the founder and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, for an illuminating discussion on racing, auction strategy, the brave new world of HISA and much more. Fresh off of a huge three-week span of graded stakes successes, West Point was also extremely active at the Keeneland September Sale, including taking a piece of the $3-million topper. Finley takes the audience behind the curtain and let us in on how those million-dollar deals come to fruition. He also talked about how special it was for Carson’s Run, named after a WPT partner’s son who has a rare disease, to win a Grade I to punch his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup, and laid out the significant early accomplishments of HISA. Piggybacking off that, Joe and Jon later talked about how mind-explodingly great it is to finally have a unified voice to respond to industry crises with both strong words and action. They also paid tribute to racing/breeding legend Brereton Jones and touched on the latest track to close in Turf Paradise.

Episode 10: Jay Talking

Joe Bianca and Jon Green are back at their mics for a late-night record of Rail Talk, with Jon reporting from the September Yearling Sale with lots of good news and big numbers. Joe then welcomes one of his racing heroes, illustrious journalist Jay Privman, who recently retired from his post as the excellent National Correspondent for the Daily Racing Form. Joe and Jay cover the topics and challenges of racing today, including renewed safety concerns, the implementation of HISA, Bob Baffert, the progress of California racing and much more. We couldn’t get enough of Jay, so we asked him to join us again leading up to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita for more insights and for some reason he said yes. There were also updates on the ill-fated NFL bet between the hosts that included a debate over whether or not Jon is a witch, after his eerily accurate prediction of Aaron Rodgers’s injury, plus a discussion of Churchill’s new claiming restrictions some are calling “The Linda Rice Rules”.

Episode 9: Winds of Change

They're back! Joe Bianca welcomes Jon Green back from his European adventures as Mark Casse brings some sanity to the mix. There's a lot of catching up to do. Reflections on the Saratoga meet, the (preventable?) tragedy of New York Thunder, synthetic tracks, wearable biometrics and a look ahead to the Breeders' Cup are all on the table this week. Celebrated trainer Mark Casse offers expert insight on keeping horses safe. Spoiler alert: synthetic tracks are at the top of the list. We are so grateful Mark took some time to spend with us. He has more experience than most with synthetic surfaces, and we learned a lot from the discussion. See video of the naming contest yearlings along with some of Jon's personal stash of vacation pictures.

Breakaway Rail Talk: All About Pedigrees with Arion’s Andrew Stewart

Andrew Stewart, Bloodstock Manager for Arion Pedigrees, Ltd. joins Joe Bianca this week for a fun discussion to kick off Arion’s presenting sponsorship of Breakaway Rail Talk, the shorter, one-on-one spinoff of the Rail Talk podcast. Arion Pedigrees, Ltd. is a New Zealand-based pedigree provider with a comprehensive and unparalleled database. Joe used Arion Pedigrees while he was a thoroughbred industry writer and though he and Andrew have known each other for a while, this was the first time they actually met—computer face to computer face. The two dove into the rich world of racing and breeding in Australia/New Zealand and why those countries’ exports do so well on the world stage, Andrew’s maiden voyage to Saratoga, his random support of the Cincinnati Bengals and much more. For the deepest pedigree dives, Andrew will return in special Pedigree Corner segments of the Rail Talk podcast. Thank you to Arion (hyper link) for their sponsorship of Breakaway Rail Talk. We know our audience will be equally grateful to use their service to explore the fascinating world of pedigrees.

Episode 8: Hall of Fame Jockey, Even Better Person Ramón Dominguez

It seems like yesterday that Ramón Dominguez, the three-time defending Eclipse Champion Jockey, was forced to walk away from racing after several bad falls put him on the precipice of catastrophic injury. In reality, it was 10 years ago, and if anything, Ramón’s legend has only grown since. A regular at New York racetracks since his retirement, he’s become one of the game’s top ambassadors and one of the most revered people in the industry, for good reason. This week, the always engaging Dominguez sat down for a fun and enlightening conversation with Joe Bianca and Jon Green on Rail Talk. In it, he touched on the most exhilarating feeling he ever experienced on a horse, the importance of mental health support for jockeys, his charity work with the Race Track Chaplaincy, and how his passion for the game always keeps a smile on his face. We could’ve talked to Ramón for hours, he’s just that good of a dude, but Joe and Jon also found time to preview a star-studded Travers and Personal Ensign, visit with jockey-turned-theatre-star Robert Montano for a sneak peek at his off-Broadway play “Small”, and announce the winner of their latest yearling naming contest.

Robert Montano’s show “Small” is a BIG hit!

Robert Montano's life's ambition was to be a jockey. He struggled to get rides from trainers, worked to get trust from the horses and - like so many jockeys - tortured himself to make weight as his young body grew. In this one man show, Robert shares the extreme emotion of being a rider and the utter heartbreak too. Small is getting rave reviews in its Off Broadway run and we were honored to visit with him and learn more about his incredible journey. To purchase tickets visit: https://www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/small/

Off the Rails – Episode 5

They simply can't stay on the rails. A most contagious giddy fit has taken hold.

Episode 7: State of the Union

It’s a new era in racing. Long clamored for, the sport finally has an umbrella organization to unify its rules and regulations—most significantly, its anti-doping policies. The woman at the top of that organization, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, is CEO Lisa Lazarus. This week, she joined Joe Bianca and Jon Green on Episode 7 of Rail Talk to answer questions about the successes and missteps of HISA’s early days, reveal how the industry has reacted to the new sheriff in town and project what the path forward looks like for all of racing’s stakeholders. Elsewhere on the show, Joe relived his visit to sweltering Colonial Downs for Arlington Million Day and Joe and Jon came to grips with the inevitability of the Triple Crown changing forever.

Episode 6: Mourning Those Loved and Lost

It was an incredibly difficult weekend for horse racing at Saratoga. Emotions were as raw as they’ve ever been, particularly over the soul-crushing breakdown of Maple Leaf Mel as she was just a few strides from winning the Test Stakes. Incidents like that make us fundamentally question the sport we all love so much. This week on Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green held an informal therapy session to cope with the devastating losses of Maple Leaf Mel, Ever Summer and Sopran Basilea at Saratoga. They also gave appreciation for how, through tragedy, the outpouring of support for the fallen and their affected caretakers displayed the best of this community, and hoped that kind of love will help light the way forward. We still found time to smile and laugh, too, discussing the Whitney Stakes, analyzing the electrifying results of Fasig-Tipton Saratoga and struggling to remember how our yearling naming contest worked, even as we announced the winner. Let us know if there’s anything you need to say in the wake of this heartbreaking week. We’ll bring you on the show.

Episode 5: Tour Stop One

Road shows are always the most fun. With the intersecting buzz of Whitney weekend, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the upcoming yearling sales, there was no better place to be Friday morning than Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga. With buyers inspecting horses in the and the enshrinement after-party in the background, thats exactly where the Rail Talk crew set up shop, recording Episode 5 of the growing podcast featuring an array of illustrious guests. Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcomed Fasig-Tipton President & CEO Boyd Browning, who remembered the night the lights went out in the middle of the Saratoga Sale, Taylor Made Sales President & CEO Mark Taylor as a share in their stallion Not This Time goes up for auction, and Fasig-Tipton Director of Client Relations Anna Seitz to discuss the growth of New York-bred and Horses of Racing Age sales.

Breakaway Rail Talk: Episode 1 with Jennifer Kelly

Jon Green launches our inaugural Breakaway Rail Talk with Jennifer S. Kelly, author of The Foxes of Belair and Sir Barton. Breakaway Rail Talk is one on one conversations departing from our usual current event format. We talk in depth with interesting people in and around the horse racing industry.

Off The Rails – Episode 4

Off the Rails is what it is. With Joe Bianca and Jon Green the cutting room floor is too much fun to delete forever.

Rail Talk reacts to Jason Servis sentencing

Joe Bianca and Jon Green react to Jason Servis sentencing in this bonus episode.

Episode 4: Your Eyes Only

This week's episode has all the twists and turns of a classic Bond Flick - action, peril, villains, and suspense. Hosts Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome the "Voice of Saratoga" Frank Mirahmadi to the show. The guys discuss Frank's journey from Beverly Hills High to the heights of race calling at the most premier tracks in the country. Frank also provides insight as to how the Golden Gate closing affects the Golden State. Thanks to Joe's persistence (some would say grovelling), we unveil an exciting "secret" naming contest, exclusively for Rail Talk subscribers.

Off the Rails – Episode 3

The problem with recording when the work day is through, is that everyone is punch drunk by that point. Acacia Clement did her best to keep Joe & Jon on point, but there is only so much a person can do.

Episode 3: Acacia the Mondays

This week, on Episode 3 of Rail Talk, Joe Bianca and Jon Green welcome star host/reporter for NYRA/Fox Sports Acacia Clement! The three break down an upset-filled opening week at Saratoga and the closure of Golden Gate Fields before paying tribute to the late, great Funny Cide. Joe and Jon also tackle the unorthodox decision to put 2021 Preakness winner Rombauer back into training after he failed to secure a high-profile stud deal, and try to determine once and for all whether Joe actually listens to Jon when he talks. Don’t miss an episode (or a blooper reel) of Rail Talk, which is proudly sponsored by Fasig-Tipton, Taylor Made and The Green Group. Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and check us out on RailTalkMedia.com

Off the Rails – Episode 2

Sometimes it feels like they are each playing to an audience of one. Do they even need us?

It’s Rail Talk 2: Electric Boogaloo!

This week on Rail Talk, longtime host of industry-leading daily radio show At the Races on Sirius/XM Steve Byk joins Joe Bianca and Jon Green to talk about finding his dream job in racing in his late 40s and the legacy he’s been creating since. The three also reflect on what makes Saratoga so special as the marquee summer meet gets underway and later, Joe and Jon react to the monumental suspensions handed down in the early days of HISA’s anti-doping program.

Off The Rails – Episode 1

Keeping it together is not in our skill set. Here's another episode of what we, mercifully, left on the cutting room floor.

Annnnd we’re off! Pedigeek Ren Carothers visits | Rail Talk Ep. 1

Annnnnd we’re off! Hello Rail Talk family! Joe Bianca here, and I’m proud to present the very first episode of our irreverent new racing podcast, Rail Talk. For our maiden run, Jon Green and I were joined by award-winner writer, analyst and pedigree expert Ren Carothers. We talk Bob Baffert vs. Churchill Downs, breeding lines and have a ton of laughs, mostly at each other’s expenses. Special shoutout to sponsors Fasig-Tipton, The Green Group and Taylor Made Sales Agency. We’re so excited to begin this journey with you, our beautiful listeners! Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know your thoughts in the comments—we might just bring you on the show!

Episode 0: Welcome To Rail Talk

Eclipse Award winners Joe Bianca and Jon Green reunite to co-host Rail Talk, an innovative weekly podcast tackling all topics in the world of Thoroughbred racing. The longtime friends and co-hosts take on racing’s hot-button issues, review top races, handicap upcoming stakes, preview sales and provide humorous insights in a free-flowing format. In this abbreviated episode, Joe & Jon discuss Royal Ascot, Frankie Dettori and George Weaver.