'Winning Ponies' welcomes Isaac Murphy Award's recipient and future Hall of Fame rider Ramon Dominguez
February 25, 2010
Hosted by John Engelhardt
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Ramon began riding horses at age 16 in Venezuela, despite the strong disapproval of his father, who wanted him to become a doctor. At his father’s suggestion, he started to learn show jumping instead, but after about a year he slipped away to a nearby training center, where he began getting on racehorses. After about a week, his father found out and ended up “being very supportive.” Dominguez, however, had to promise to finish high school. He came to the United States from his native Venezuela in 1995, and began riding in 1996 at Hialeah Park. First win was aboard Solo Moondance in March of that year. More recently he won the 2009 Spring/Summer Belmont Park riding title with 98 wins, 27 more than Rajiv Maragh, also led the Saratoga standings with 45 wins, and was also the leading earner with $2,734,486. On October 2, he became only the fifth jockey in history to win 300 races in one year at New York's Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga. The other riders to accomplish the feat were Angel Cordero Jr., Steve Cauthen, Mike Smith and Eibar Coa. Mr. Dominguez met his wife Sharon at Delaware Park, where she galloped horses in the mornings and ponied in the afternoons. They married the day after the 2001 Belmont Stakes, but delayed their honeymoon until January of 2002 because of the opportunity to win the national riding title. Although leading rider at Delaware Park for 2004-2007, Ramon finally switched his tack permanently to New York in 2009.
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.”
