Winning Ponies welcomes Bob Fortus and Marcus Hersh
December 8, 2011
Hosted by John Engelhardt
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Guest Information
Episode Description
We are taking a trip to New Orleans for Louisiana Champions Day. Bob Fortus has been the Turf Writer for The Times-Picayune for over two decades. Bob who always tells it like it is, has developed a fantastic rapport with the trainers and jockeys at the Fair Grounds. His writing talents are not limited to the Crescent City. He covers the national racing scene, and in 2009 he was presented with the Old Hilltop Award for covering racing with excellence and distinction. The following season he won the 2010 New York Racing Association's Joe Hirsch Memorial writing contest recognizing the best print coverage of the Belmont Stakes. In the second segment, Daily Racing Form columnist Marcus Hersh will be our guest handicapper. He concentrates his efforts on the Fair Grounds and Chicago racing scene. Hersh has worked for the Daily Racing Form for over a decade and is the co-international correspondent and a Daily Racing Form features writer. He will help us muddle through the Louisiana Champions Day races to be run this week-end at the Fair Grounds.
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.”
