WP Welcomes Handicapper Mike Battaglia and DRF Robert Forbeck
October 28, 2021
Hosted by John Engelhardt
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Before there were numerous television and on-line hosts of handicapping productions, there were two individuals chosen to be nation’s handicappers – Mike Battaglia and the recently deceased Bob Neumeier. The duo came from different directions to earn the respect of national audiences over the years. Together they entertained us through the national broadcasts of the Breeders’ Cup and Triple Crown for over a decade. Popular Boston sportscaster Bob Neumeier, a reporter and analyst on horse racing telecasts on NBC and ESPN for more than a quarter century, died Oct. 23 at the age of 70. Known as “Neumy” to friends and fans, Neumeier – a graduate of Syracuse University –he became a reporter and sports anchor for Boston's Channel 4 in 1981, a position he held for 20 years. In the 1980s, Neumeier – an avid horse racing fan and sharp handicapper – began working for Breeders' Cup on a newsfeed that distributed news and personality features nationally to local TV channels. In 1990. Neumeier joined the NBC Sports broadcast team for the Breeders' Cup. Mike Battaglia will share his memories of his days with “Neumy,” on and off the set while covering over a decade of racing’s top competition. Robert Forbeck is the Marketing Director for the Daily Racing Form, but he is far from a pencil-necked geek who sits behind a desk and studies the analytics of the information highway. He has been handicapping horses since he was a young man photo-bombing John Engelhardt and Kevin Goemmer on the set of “The Stretch Run” on the 1980’s. Over the years, Forbeck has refined his observation of the racing game and has played his way into numerous handicapping tournaments after gaining experience on the staffs of River Downs, Hollywood Park and Turfway Park. As a player and a longtime fan of the DRF, Forbeck, is perfectly suited to a position for the ongoing changes in the presentation of racing information to both the new and experienced horseplayer. He’ll discuss the growth and changes in DRF’s presentation in print and on-line, especially leading up to the Breeders’ Cup. As testimony to his handicapping skills, he will join John to examine the final two graded stakes of the Keeneland meet – the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes and Grade 3 Valley View.
Winning Ponies
Thursday at 5 PM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
On the show we will talk about the Sport of Kings. We will delve into the different features of the WinningPonies.com website. John Engelhardt will talk about the issues of the day that affect horse racing, such as synthetic surfaces, medication rule changes, the fate of the industry as a whole, VLTs and Casinos, and human interest stories of triumph and defeat. You will also hear our spot play of the week, where John will handicap the feature races for the upcoming weekend, and will give out his best plays. We will keep you abreast racing’s big events. Featured on the show will be guests (trainers, jockeys, owners, celebrity handicappers and industry insiders). Promotional giveaways will be featured, such as brand merchandise and free WinningCredits.
"Winning Ponies" is broadcast live every Thursday at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.
John Engelhardt
You may recognize him as "Racing's Regular Guy." For ten years, John Engelhardt hosted the informative and sometimes irreverent handicapping show from his base at River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio. He developed a passion for thoroughbred racing as a youngster at Saratoga, and has been able to make his love of the sport his life's calling.
Engelhardt, a native of Syracuse, New York is a graduate of the University of Dayton. His professional career in racing began as the track photographer at Beulah Park in 1983 and he has worked in racing ever since. John produced "The Stretch Run" for eight years, which aired on the CBS affiliate WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. For four years Engelhardt co-hosted "The Regular Guy Handicapping Show on HOMER 1530-AM in Cincinnati with former "Winning Ponies" host Ed Meyer.
John served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America in 2009 and 2010, after serving several years as the Midwest Vice-President of that organization. He is currently a consultant for Pinnacle Entertainment handling publicity, public relations, marketing, advertising and special events for River Downs. Under the "nom-de-course" of Heart of an Angel Stable, he has bred and owned thoroughbreds for 18 years.
"Racing's Regular Guy" has been exposed to racing on many levels and greets the sport with enthusiasm and well-rounded knowledge. Tune in Thursdays at 5PM PT, as he welcomes nationally recognized guests, who will help you find those "Winning Ponies.”
