Bret Calhoun on Off to the Races radio Saturday

by Press Release | Sep 25, 2020 | Breaking, Business, Regionwide

Photo by The Racing Biz.

Off to the Races Radio returns Saturday, September 26 with a lively program focused on Thoroughbred racing and breeding from Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic, and around the country.

The weekly radio show, which airs on the ESPN Richmond (VA) family of stations, and is available everywhere via livestreaming, returns for its 21st season, starting February 22. Terrestrial stations include 99.5 FM, 102.7 FM, and 950 AM. It will continue through October 3.

The program airs each Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It will also be archived on theracingbiz.com and espnrichmond.com.

This week’s guests include trainer Bret Calhoun, jockey Sheldon Russell, and much more. Calhoun conditions Mr. Big News, who ran third in the Kentucky Derby and is training towards a date in the October 3 Preakness. Russell, recently returned from injury, has been one of the top Maryland riders for a number of years. As usual, Darrell Wood will also join host Nick Hahn for a Virginia Racing and Breeding Minute. Frank Vespe checks in with a Mid-Atlantic report. Of course, Derby Bill Watson, who gained fame as the original on-air handicapper for Colonial Downs, also will be on board to handicap the day’s races.

“We are excited to get Off to the Races back up and running,” said Frank Vespe, host of the program and owner of The Racing Biz (www.theracingbiz.com), which develops the program. “This should be another great show as we recap the news, look ahead to handicap major races, and talk with some of the most interesting people in the racing game.”

In 2019, on a similar schedule, Off to the Races had a wide-ranging roster of top-notch guests. They included last year’s Preakness-winning trainer Mark Casse; Hall of Fame jockey and Triple Crown winner Ron Turcotte; trainer Graham Motion, who has won numerous Breeders’ Cup races; and many others.