Today, Larry goes one-on-one with jockey Ryan Munger, who returns to Ponies 24-7 following a standout opening weekend at Woodbine where he recorded four wins from just six mounts. Munger reflects on what went right over those two days, how he prepared for the start of the twenty twenty-six season, and the momentum he carries after his most successful Woodbine campaign last year, which included seventy-eight wins and more than three point six million dollars in purse earnings. He also discusses the path that brought him to Woodbine, including riding stops in South Africa, Singapore, and Zimbabwe, and shares his goals for the upcoming season as he looks to build on his recent success and continue climbing the rider standings. Also today, Woodbine trainer Bill Tharrenos joins the show to discuss his strong start to the new season and the continued development of his stable following another productive winter at Gulfstream Park. Bill talks about his experience at the Gulfstream Championship Meet, reflects on a twenty twenty-five season that saw him record thirty-five wins and over one million dollars in earnings, and outlines expectations for twenty twenty-six. He also previews one of his top three-year-olds, Silver Is Best, who is set to compete in the Woodstock Stakes, a key early season race for horses with aspirations toward the King’s Plate. Bill shares insight into his training approach, the makeup of his stable, and what he looks for when identifying promising young horses. Then, jockey’s agent Tom Knutz joins Ponies 24-7 for the first time to provide a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important and often overlooked roles in horse racing. Tom discusses his responsibilities as an agent, including managing mounts, building relationships with trainers, and guiding the careers of the riders he represents. He also talks about his work with accomplished jockey Emisael Jaramillo, who has enjoyed strong success since moving his tack to California, and explains what he looks for in a jockey when taking on their book. Tom offers insight into the demands of the job, the challenges of navigating different racing circuits, and what continues to motivate him within the sport. In our feature “In Case You Missed It,” Larry recaps the biggest racing headlines from the past week across North America. Later, he delivers his Ponies Picks of the Day, sponsored by Rocket Ship Racing, highlighting potential wagering opportunities at Woodbine, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and several other tracks racing today. And in this week’s Road Trip, Larry heads to Aqueduct for the Woodhaven Stakes, a one mile turf race for three-year-olds and an emerging fixture on the spring racing calendar.
