Riders Up | The Podcast

This weeks guest is extra special - meet Justina Severni! You may have seen her around the sales grounds with South Point sales...we talk with her about navigating the consignment's final sale, what it's like managing a farm, and her social media skills with the Thoroughbred Daily News. Enjoy! - S & A

We've talked to a lot of guests about a wide variety of topics but we've never actually taken a deep dive into our own interests / skill sets. Today the interviewer becomes the interviewee! Shayna interviews Autry about how she got in the sport and dives deep into Autry's social media marketing philosophy, what makes Spendthrift Farm's marketing so elite, and what the sport could be doing better. We hope you enjoy this little change-up! - S & A

Well, it's been a minute. Shayna & Autry are BACK you degenerates, we know you missed us. Episode 2 features a recap of our time in Saratoga with a very special guest - our friend, our inspiration, the great Sabrina Moore! You may recognize her name in context with a very impressive G1 winner she bred - Knicks Go! We hope you enjoy the chaos of this episode. Brought to you by the GO TO GUY IN HORSE RACING FOR ALL THINGS APPAREL: www.yourhatguy.com 

Brought to you by America's Best Racing! This week we chat with Mark Toothaker, the head of Stallion Sales at Spendthrift Farm. He takes you through his journey in the horse industry... working for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, standing his own stallions, running his own consignment, a brief stint in the Army, growing up on the track with his dad, to now selling stallion seasons for the most influential stallions in North America. Oh, and yes, he talks about all things Kentucky Derby winner AUTHENTIC! Throughout the episode he also gives you a peak behind the curtain of how stallions are recruited and how stallion deals come about.Enjoy! - S & AEpisode Sponsor: Hagyard Pharmacy - check out their RelyteHA electrolyte paste!To learn more, call or text Hagyard Pharmacy’s amazing Thoroughbred Specialist Danielle Bricker at 631-560-3755 or dbricker@hagyard.com. Be sure to tell her Shayna & Autry sent you!Riders Up Sponsor: www.YourHatGuy.com - the go-to guy in horse racing for all things apparel 

It only took until episode 29 and we finally branched out - this week we are welcoming Eventing Superstar, Lainey Ashker! Lainey is known for her dedication to the OTTB aka off the track thoroughbred. She has competed at the highest levels in her sport aboard thoroughbreds, including fan-favorite Anthony Patch. Throughout the episode we talk about her favorite horses, the retired racehorse project, the fact that she essentially made owning an OTTB "trendy", and more! Also, for those horse racing industry die-hards, she tells a great story about shadowing top bloodstock agent Donato Lanti. Enjoy! - S & ALearn more about Lainey and her story here: https://www.laineashkereventinganddressage.com/about-laine-ashkerThis episode is brought to you by: https://www.tackshopoflexington.comRiders Up | The Podcast is brought to you by: http://yourhatguy.comThis is an America's Best Racing production (https://www.americasbestracing.net) 

SEASON 2 BABY! And we have a new hosting platform - America's Best Racing! This week we kick off the new year with Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Graham Motion of Herringswell Stables. He is known for winning the Derby with Animal Kingdom and training top horses including Better Talk Now, Main Sequence, Irish War Cry, Miss Temple City, Sharing, and more. We chat about how he got into the sport, what it was like winning the Kentucky Derby, his opinions on the Horse Racing Integrity Act, and more. We also play a fun game where we ask Graham questions about racing around the world! Enjoy! - S & A  Episode is brought to you by our longtime sponsor, YourHatGuy.com 

WOW 2020 has been one hell of a year. Let's be honest: it sucked. BUT - we are trying to remember only the good parts because the past, as they say, is in the past. We wrap up our final episode of the year by calling a few of our favorite guests and asking them their 2020 highlights. We chat with Pat Cummings, Ashley Bradshaw Franz, Ramiro Restrepo, Nick Bush, Taylor Cambra, the elusive YourHatGuy.com, Ron Moquette, and Tom Law. Enjoy! - S & APS - 2021 is going to be a huge year, big announcements, new content, and more coming soon!

After 20 years of riding in races, Kendrick Carmouche grabbed his first G1 win on True Timber! We talk with Kendrick about how he became a jockey, what it's like to be in this industry for 20 years, the feeling of getting your first Grade 1 win, and more! Enjoy - S & A

Episode 25: We chat with our personal favorite horse racing analyst - Maggie Wolfendale! She is the paddock analyst for NYRA (as seen on FOX Sports) and has grown up in the game. She talks about her life from growing up at the track to going to college in broadcasting to becoming one of the most recognizable & most beloved racing analysts currently in the game. Oh & she gives us gambling tips for racing at Aqueduct. Enjoy! - S & A

Wow we missed you! After our brief hiatus due to sales season and Breeders' Cup madness, we have returned. This episode gets...wild. We drink, we laugh, we bullshit, we tell stories. An old guest calls in and recaps the Breeders' Cup with us. Grab a beer or a glass of wine & settle in - this episode is a fun one! - S & A

After a quick hiatus during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, we're back! This is our first in-person interview since March & things get..weird. We talk all things Concrete Rose, Weep No More, the September yearling sales, Bo's Hinge profile, and more. Enjoy! - S & A

Happy Kentucky Derby Week (in September)! This week we grill Eclipse Award Winning handicapper Paul Matties on the best picks for Derby weekend. We learn how he got into the sport, what it's like to be a professional gambler, and more. Enjoy! - S & A (we also get in a very in-depth conversation about ice cream)  Follow Paul Matties on Twitter: @PaulMattiesJr This episode is brought to you by YourHatGuy.Com - the #1 guy in the horse industry for apparel! 

Episode 21 features up and coming jockey, Keith Asmussen! You may recognize his last name - his father is Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. We talk about his life growing up in a horse racing family, riding Breeders' Cup Sprint Champion & Eclipse Award Winning racehorse Mitole, being surrounded by some of the best racehorses the sport has to offer, and more! Keith is only 22 years old and kicked off his riding career in June 2020, quickly earning his first stakes victory...sky's the limit for this kid. Enjoy! - S & A

Episode 20 is with Phil Shelton of Medallion Racing! We talk with Phil about how he got in racing (hint, it starts with a little thing we call gambling), different jobs he's had in the industry, and all things Medallion Racing + what it's like to be in a racing partnership. Enjoy! - S & A

Summers in Saratoga feel like a distant memory *enter crying face* WE'RE BACK AT IT AGAIN Y'ALL. This week we talk to Tom Law of the Saratoga Special discussing how he got his start in racing, what it's like to work at the Saratoga Special, how Saratoga is operating during the COVID crisis, and more! We also talk chicken wings, beer, and no loud music after dark because #corona ENJOY!

Episode 18 features multiple graded stakes winning jockey, Jose Ortiz! You may recognize him from riding top horses including GOOD MAGIC, OSCAR PERFORMANCE, SHANCELOT, STRUCTOR, LA VERDAD, TAPWRIT, TACITUS, and more! We chat with him about how he got into racing, his favorite experiences as a jockey, the best horses he's riding right now, how he balances his personal life from his professional life, especially having an equally famous and successful brother, Irad, and more. Enjoy! - Shayna & Autry

We chat with private horse trainer, Kevin Noltemeyer, of Silver Springs Training this week! Kevin has worked with top trainers including Todd Pletcher and Dallas Stewart and now works as a private trainer, specializing in starting two year olds (aka racehorse kindergarten) and rehabbing horses off the track. We cover a wide range of topics from racetrack lifestyle to the difference between working on a private training track vs. for a top trainer to how you can create work-life balance, even when you're married to another industry professional, and more. There is tequila involved. Enjoy! 

WE'RE BACK! After a hiatus (we moved into a new house, it was quite the experience), Shayna & Autry are BACK AT IT Y'ALL. With no plan on slowing down anytime soon. This week we chat with Adrian Gonzalez of Checkmate Thoroughbreds, a multifaceted thoroughbred operation based in California. From breaking yearlings to pinhooking to brokering stallion deals to doing his own blacksmith work, Adrian does it all. We also have a long discussion on the bias of California/regional bred thoroughbreds when trying to sell in the premier Kentucky market. Enjoy!

Episode 15 is a fun one y'all! Shayna & Autry chat with the ultimate father/daughter duo, Jeff & Hannah Bloom of Bloom Racing! Learn about all things Midnight Bisou, what it was like to ride Sunday Silence, how Hannah keeps the Midnight Bisou fans updated, how Jeff went from jockey to successful horse racing manager/owner, and more! Enjoy! #RidersUp

This week Shayna and Autry talk with their first jockey - Tyler Gaffalione! He is 25 years old and already has earnings over $56MIL - yes, million. Get to know Tyler from how he got his start in racing to what it's like winning the Preakness to his daily schedule. Riders Up!

Shayna & Autry are back at it again! Episode 13 is hands down the one we wish never ended. This week we chat with Ron Moquett, the ultimate Oaklawn Park trainer and the man behind multimillionaire, Whitmore. He chats about what sparked his interest in racing, what it's like training at winning at Oaklawn, how to train a very opinionated horse like Whitmore, his thoughts on what we should change in horse racing, and more. Enjoy! 

Kentucky Derby 2020 is one we'll never forget. Mainly because...it hasn't happened yet? The Kentucky Derby is set for the first weekend in September and horse racing people are trying to wrap their heads around it. This week Shayna and Autry speak to Ned Toffey (Spendthrift Farm), Craig Bernick (Glen Hill Farm), Elliot Walden (WinStar Farm), and Liz Crow (BSW/Crow Bloodstock & Elite Sales) about their favorite Oaks & Derby memories. Enjoy! Oh & if you want merch made, contact YourHatGuy.com

This week we are talking to Ashley Franz of Four Star Sales - an industry-leading horse sale company. Growing up around racing she didn't always have that Kentucky Derby Dream...in fact, her dream was more Michelle Kwan-related. Dive on in to Episode 11 as we talk to this incredible, leading female in horse racing as she discusses growing up around Richard Mandella, Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas, and more! 

Happy quarantine y'all! This week Shayna & Autry are chatting with well-known exercise rider Nick Bush. We talk about the many generations of horsemen in his family, his passion for riding horses, working with Todd Pletcher & riding a Kentucky Derby winner, and so much more. We also learned how much sand is in Dubai (update, it's a lot). 

We're back at it again! Shayna and Autry sit down with international horse racing photographer Alex Evers discussing a lot y'all, shew! With COVID-19 ramping up through the world Alex brings a unique perspective - he recently spent time in Hong Kong and photographed Santa Anita in a crowd-less racetrack. In addition, he talks about what it takes to get prepared to photograph a large sporting event like Breeders' Cup, the difference between North American racing and Hong Kong racing, and how he got his start as a photographer. Riders up!

We're asking the hard questions. This week Shayna and Autry talk with Pat Cummings of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation on his entry into racing, his experience working in Hong Kong, and his reaction to the news of a recent FBI Investigation revealing the use of illegal drugs, race fixing, and more. FYI: connections to "middle school horse girls", The Yankees, Bulgarian athletes, and more were not harmed in the making of this podcast. 

This week Shayna and Autry sit down with Lauren Carlisle, an up and coming bloodstock agent in horse racing. UofL Equine Programs alum, Lauren came into the industry with no prior racing experience or background and quickly found her way to the racetrack...the rest they say, is history. Also, she wanted to be a sea world instructor so that's quite a pivot! 

We're back at it again with another horse racing industry game changer! UofL Alumni and successful bloodstock agent Josh Stevens stops by and discusses early success in racing, having a horse in the Kentucky Derby, and his competitive spirit. AKA he practices the ring on a string game you see at bars... at home. This episode is brought to you by Goldencents & YourHatGuy.com (and Miller Lite).

Episode 5 is flyin' at you! Autry and Shayna throw rapid fire questions at Fasig-Tipton's Ramiro Restrepo. Just FYI - he's not a fan of roller coasters. 

Autry and Shayna sit down with Ramiro Restrepo of Fasig-Tipton chatting about how he went from night club promoter to racehorse owner. From semi-professional tennis to pinhooking a Breeders' Cup winner, you won't be bored. 

Autry and Shayna discuss Kentucky Derby favorites while answering listeners questions. Zenyatta 2020. They also give guidance on starting a career in the horse industry...pro tip: there are no stupid questions

This week we chat with up-and-comer Hannah Mathiesen discussing her introduction into horse racing, the difference between American and Australian racing, and more. BTW - she is only 22 years old with a Kentucky Derby Trail contender already on her roster. Check out her newest business venture at www.oakmonthorseclub.com 

Welcome to the Riders Up podcast! This is not your typical horse racing podcast...we can promise you that. We are bringing you behind the scenes of horse racing and telling you the stories that don't hit the headlines. This week we are chatting with Taylor Cambra, Pegasus favorite Omaha Beach's exercise rider, about more than just his day job - you'll how he ended up as the world's tallest extra-cise rider (we kid). Enjoy!