An exclusive interview with Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen is the feature this week on the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Carstanjen provided 45 minutes of his time to answer a wide range of questions at CDI’s corporate headquarters in Louisville, Ky. He discusses long-range plans for the company’s racing properties as well as snapshot of Churchill’s casino and online gaming components. He also talks about the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority with all its nuances, the end of the suspension of trainer Bob Baffert, the successful spread of historic horse-racing machines, the controversial closing of Arlington Park, plans for the continued expansion of the Churchill Downs racetrack and what it is like to be the boss on Kentucky Derby day.

Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch offers tips on weekend races at Churchill Downs including the Iroquois Stakes (G3), the first points prep for Kentucky Derby 2025.

Co-host John Cherwa reacts to the interview with Carstanjen.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

Closing weekend at Del Mar, big-money races at Kentucky Downs and the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs fill a busy weekend that gets the attention of this week’s Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

Getaway Car is the favorite for Sunday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, a race that has produced seven Kentucky Derby winners. SF Racing managing partner Tom Ryan discusses the process he and trainer Bob Baffert use to identify the best 2-year-olds in hopes they make repeated trips to the winner’s circle.

The Virginia Derby caps the summer season at Colonial Downs. It also signals the dawning of a new era at the track, which will host a Kentucky Derby points prep in March. Jill Byrne of the Virginia Equine Alliance checks in with a snapshot of how and why racing in her state is on the rise.

Horse Racing Nation handicapper Ed DeRosa offers tips for the Virginia Derby plus stakes at Kentucky Downs and Del Mar. John Cherwa joins Ron to go over the feedback from last week’s interview with jockey Juan Hernández.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.

The Labor Day holiday brings the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar, opening week at Kentucky Downs and closing weekend at Saratoga. They also are conversation starters this week for the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

FanDuel TV’s Christina Blacker offers local knowledge from Del Mar, including her assessment of the summer season and her thoughts about the mare Adare Manor taking on males Saturday in the Pacific Classic.

Adare Manor’s jockey Juan Hernández discusses the race and his success in both Northern and Southern California.

Super Screener creator Mike Shutty has weekend handicapping for Del Mar, Kentucky Downs and Saratoga.

John Cherwa joins Ron to field listener and reader feedback about last week’s Travers (G1) and trainer Kenny McPeek’s plan to ease Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan back to racing this winter.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com.