Hosts Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy talk with Todd Pletcher about his huge weekend in New York on Wood Memorial day, including horses Vino Rosso and Army Mule - Maryland stallion Friesan Fire's first Grade I Winner! Todd tells us about his many talented colts headed to the Kentucky Derby, including Magnum Moon who looks to take the Arkansas Derby this weekend. We also talk to Todd about the "mega-trainer" and his large New York based operatio. Finally we had to talk about his former employee and our trainer, Horacio De Paz's time with him! Listen in to also learn about all things Sagamore Racing including - newly named 2YO's and tours. And all things Sagamore Spirit including - the One Year Anniversary celebration at the distillery and a special LTO whiskey launching in May. Subscribe to the podcast here. Episodes are available for download on iTunes as well. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and episode teases.

Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey

Special Rye Day the 13th Episode - Featuring Todd Pletcher

As 2017 comes to a close, Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy look back on a record year for both the Sagamore Racing and Sagamore Spirit teams! Listen in to learn about holiday offerings at the Sagamore Spirit Distillery and upcoming races on the track.  Thanks for listening to Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey, we'll be back in 2018! For more from the Sagamore teams, visit us on social media: @Sagamore Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  @SagamoreSpirit on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.     

The Spirit of the Holidays at Sagamore

After a brief hiatus, the Sagamore Racing and Sagamore Spirit teams share some exciting updates with Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey fans and play a quick game of Three Diamonds. Coming up this week, Sagamore Racing is preparing for Chubby Star to run in G3 Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel Park this Saturday and Southampton Way in the G3 Miss Grillo Stakes on Sunday at Belmont. Rye Street Tavern is now open right next door to the Sagamore Spirit Distillery. Listen in for details on delicious food that’s available at the new restaurant and upcoming events at the distillery including RYE DAY the Thirteenth. Get the inside scoop on LTOs from Sagamore Spirit too! This podcast episode also includes our Saratoga Meet wrap-up featuring four big wins, Equestricon festivities, and tips on how to lead a horse into the winner’s circle. Ginger N Rye, a Sagamore Spirit favorite, had a great win at Saratoga in the Smart N Fancy Stakes. Watch the replay here.

Horsin’ Around + What’s New on Rye Street

Hunter and Brian tour the Saratoga Race Track as we preview the G2 Saratoga Special and talk with Sagamore Racing trainer Horacio De Paz on recent successes at the summer meet. We also catch up with some of horseracing’s finest - Mark Casse, Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin, jockey Jose Lezcano, and more! The guys talk with Horacio De Paz as he gets set to run Sagamore’s Barry Lee in today’s G2 Saratoga Special. We also recap Sagamore homebred Southampton Way’s 2nd place finish in the G2 Adirondack Stakes and talk with Todd Pletcher about his filly, Pure Silver, who beat out Southhampton. Mark Casse talks about World Approval’s win in the Fourstardave stakes. We also catch up with Sean Clancy of the Saratoga Special and talk with Kiaran McLaughlin at Greentree about his work with Sheikh Mohammed and the Maktoum family. This episode kicks off our presence at Equestricon. Visit Sagamore Racing and Sagamore Spirit at the Sagamore Social Lounge. Follow Equestricon on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #EQcon17. Follow @SagamoreRacing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for live racing updates and more. Follow Saratoga via Twitter @NYRA using #Saratoga.

LIVE at Saratoga! Saratoga Special Preview + Interviews Around the Track

We go LIVE during the Royal Ascot as Miss Temple City runs the Queen Anne Stakes. Leading into the race, Hunter Rankin chats with Maryland Thoroughbred horse racing analyst Gabby Gaudet about her experience at Royal Ascot and outlook on the three-year-old division.  You can follow @SagamoreRacing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for racing updates and more! You can follow Gabby Gaudet on Twitter @Gabby_Gaudet_!

LIVE during Royal Ascot, Maryland Racing Analyst Gabby Gaudet Joins Us

Summer is in the air at Sagamore! Coming off an incredible Preakness weekend, Hunter Rankin celebrates Sagamore Racing’s recent wins as momentum continues to build for the racing team this Triple Crown season! The guys preview the Belmont Stakes, Sagamore’s upcoming Stakes entries and what’s heating up this summer at the Sagamore Rye Distillery. Podcast fans can also help Brian Treacy choose the perfect Instagram name! Tune-in as we share the latest and greatest about our fast horses and slow whiskey.  For daily racing updates, be sure to follow Sagamore Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow Sagamore Spirit on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for details on summer events!   

Belmont Stakes & Sagamore’s Summer of Rye

It’s Preakness Week in Maryland! In this episode of Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey we preview the middle (and our favorite) leg of the Triple Crown with Pimlico track announcer Dave Rodman and horse racing advocate Dan Tordjman of America’s Best Racing. As we celebrate this exciting week for Maryland racing, Dan Tordjman of America’s Best Racing takes us beyond the track and into the Triple Crown fan experience. From fashion and parties, to food and drink, Dan shares the who, what, where and when of Preakness week! We’re also joined by long time Pimlico and Laurel Park track announcer, Dave Rodman as he gets set to call his 27th Preakness Stakes! Dave looks back at his favorite Preakness calls and shares his outlook on this year’s contenders.   Get the inside scoop on the Sagamore Racing horses scheduled to run on Preakness day, and where to find Black Eyed Rye, the official Rye drink of Preakness! The team also shares a special code word to get a free drink at America's Best Racing 4th Annual Pre-Preakness Party on Wednesday night. Get the party details here.   For more, visit sagamoreracing.com and sagamorespirit.com!  

Preakness Week in Maryland; The Voice of Preakness Dave Rodman Joins Us

Its Kentucky Derby week and we’re joined by Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens and trainer Graham Motion to preview the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown! Gary Stevens burst upon the national scene by winning the Kentucky Derby in 1988 with HOF Winning Colors. He won the Derby again in 1995 with Thunder Gulch and also in 1997 with HOF Silver Charm. Along with his Kentucky Derby victories, Stevens won the Preakness Stakes three times (Silver Charm in 1997, HOF Point Given in 2001 and Oxbow in 2013), the Belmont Stakes three times (Thunder Gulch in 1995, Victory Gallop in 1998 and Point Given in 2001) and eight Breeders’ Cup races. Stevens retired in 2005 with 4,888 career wins but returned to the saddle in 2013 and won the Preakness with Oxbow. Notable for his work with 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Better Talk Now, renowned thoroughbred horse trainer Graham Motion joins the podcast to preview Irish War Cry’s entry in the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Sagamore’s co-owned Miss Temple City is trained by Graham, and will run in the Distaff Turf Mile on Derby Day. Motion began training his own horses at the age of 29 during the 1993 season and earned his first victory with Bounding Daisy at Laurel Park Racecourse. He has been a constant presence in the Maryland racing scene, winning over 1,000 races at Laurel Park alone. With a total of 2,081 wins to his name, Motion has collected over $100 million in earning. He also took Sagamore’s Shared Account to a victory in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Learn more at SagamoreRacing.com.

Kentucky Derby Preview with HOF Jockey Gary Stevens & Trainer Graham Motion

Sagamore team pride shines as we talk with the people behind Sagamore Spirit while touring the new whiskey Distillery just after the ceremonial ribbon is cut for Opening Weekend! Get the inside scoop on this weekend’s rye whiskey filled festivities and feel the energy as the teams gets set to introduce the Sagamore Spirit Distillery to the community. Hosts Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy talk with Brand Director Rachel Cook about the growth of Sagamore Spirit and Baltimore’s Women Who Whiskey chapter. From facilities maintenance, to the bottling line, to guest experience, we give listeners an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to operate the Distillery! Sagamore Spirit is a Baltimore-based whiskey company, committed to putting Maryland back on the map as the premier distiller of rye whiskey. Founded in 2013, Sagamore Spirit hit the market in May 2016 with a signature 83-proof American Straight Rye Whiskey. Sagamore Spirit has a unique mash bill and proofing process. Sagamore Spirit ages two different rye mash bills – a high rye and a low rye – and then blends them to make their proprietary recipe. The distilling team proofs the whiskey with a unique spring-fed water from Sagamore Farm. Sagamore pays homage to the water’s journey from the farm to the distillery – a trip down I-83 – by cutting their signature product to 83 proof. Sagamore Spirit will host an Opening Weekend party from Friday, April 21st – Sunday, April 23rd. Tours are free (10AM – 5PM) and on a first-come first-served basis. IDs are required and guests must be present to receive a ticket. Local food trucks will be available throughout the weekend, as well as live music! For more information visit the Sagamore Spirit website. 

Live from the Sagamore Spirit Distillery to Preview Opening Weekend!

And we’re off! With Triple Crown season approaching, Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey turns its attention to the track. We catch up with legendary Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron on Arrogate, the Dubai World Cup and more. The winning name in the Sagamore Racing Thoroughbred horse naming contest is revealed and we talk to the lucky winner about her entry! And with March Madness coming to close, we talk to NCAA basketball coach and horse racing enthusiast Jimmy Patsos. A retired American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey, Chris McCarron won nine Breeders' Cup races, including five Breeders' Cup Classics, and rode six winners in the U.S. Triple Crown Races. McCarron rode many of the best horses of his era, including John Henry, Alysheba, Precisionist, Lady’s Secret, Sunday Silence, Paseana, Tiznow, Touch Gold, Go for Gin and Alphabet Soup. In 1989, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. McCarron finished as thoroughbred racing's all-time leader in purse earnings with more than $264 million in winnings. Jimmy Patsos is the head men’s basketball coach at Siena College. This season, his 14th as a Division I head coach, he recorded his 200th win. In his first three seasons at the helm, Patsos piloted the Saints to a pair of 20-win campaigns and national postseason tournament appearances. Patsos came to Siena after nine transformative years at Loyola University Maryland. He led Loyola to a school-record 24 wins and a MAAC Championship in 2011-12, and the following season the Greyhounds went 23-12 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).  Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey is hosted by Sagamore Racing President, Hunter Rankie and Sagamore Spirit President, Brian Treacy. 

HOF Jockey Chris McCarron Joins Us; Horse Naming Contest Winner Revealed

March Madness is here and things are heating up for hoops, horses, and rye! In this episode of Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey, Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy talk with legendary college basketball analyst Bill Raftery about college hoops, his career and passion for his work. Recording live from the Sagamore Spirit Distillery, the team also shares updates on grand opening plans and our whiskey themed race horse naming contest! Renowned college basketball analyst Bill Raftery is the lead game analyst for FS1’s BIG EAST men’s basketball coverage, teaming with his longtime play-by-play partner Gus Johnson. A veteran analyst with playing and coaching experience, his keen analysis and opinion are accompanied by unsurpassed enthusiasm and unique catchphrases like “Onions!” and “With a kiss!” During his 32 years covering basketball as an analyst on television and radio, Raftery  has covered the sport’s premier events, including the NCAA Tournament, Final Four, the BIG EAST Championship, Big Ten Championship, ACC Championship, SEC Championship and New Jersey Nets telecasts. From 1970-81, Raftery was the head basketball coach at Seton Hall, where he revitalized the program and led the Pirates to seven straight winning seasons. He guided the team to four ECAC postseason tournaments and two National Invitation Tournament appearances. To vote in the Sagamore Racing horse naming contest, visit us @SagamoreRacing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Learn more about Sagamore Spirit here. 

March Madness edition with legendary college basketball analyst, Bill Raftery

In this episode, Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen joins the show to discuss the state of the horse racing industry and continued success of the Kentucky Derby! Hunter Rankin is joined by guest host Tom Geddes, CEO of Plank Industries, who shares perspective on Sagamore’s investment in Maryland. William “Bill” C. Carstanjen was named Churchill Down Incorporated’s 12th CEO in August 2014 after serving as CDI’s President and Chief Operating Officer (2011 – 2014), CDI’s Chief Operating Officer (2008-2011) and as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Development Officer for the Company (2005-2008). Carstanjen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his leadership role at CDI. Throughout his tenure, Carstanjen has led CDI’s diversification strategy into online wagering on thoroughbred racing via TwinSpires.com and into regional casino gaming, as well as helped lead the growth of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby events. Tom Geddes is CEO of Plank Industries where he manages the growth of Kevin Plank’s real estate, horse racing and whiskey distilling businesses. In this episode he gives an insider’s perspective on Kevin Plank’s investment in the city of Baltimore, and why Sagamore Farm is the cornerstone of Plank Industries’ entrepreneurial spirit and growth. Geddes, a native of England, worked in education, nonprofits and wealth management before founding Plank’s company in 2012.

Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen Downloads on the Kentucky Derby

Gatewood Bell, President of Cromwell Bloodstock joins us for this week's episode of Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey to preview the upcoming 2YO Sales in Florida. Bell was recently featured by BloodHorse in an issue profiling the new generation of men and women poised to carry the industry forward. Read more here. Hosts Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy also share some exciting updates on the move to the new Sagamore Spirit distillery in Port Covington, including an inside look at distillery tours. Grain deliveries are expected next week, so cooking and distilling will be underway soon! Also, you can enter the fifth annual Sagamore Racing naming contest here. This year, fans are encouraged to submit names with a whiskey theme.

Gatewood Bell of Cromwell Bloodstock previews the upcoming 2YO Sales

In this episode of Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey, Sean McDonough of ESPN's Monday Night Football joins the show to preview this weekend’s big game! Hosts Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy also look back at the inaugural running of the The Pegasus World Cup Invitational, celebrate recent Sagamore Racing wins and share updates on the Sagamore Spirit distillery being built in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sean McDonough of ESPN's Monday Night Football Joins Us

In the 2nd episode of Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey, Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy catch up with David O'Farrell of Ocala Stud to get an update on the Sagamore two-year-olds in training who began their journeys at this world-class facility as yearlings. David also shares his perspective on the year ahead in Thoroughbred racing. As Hunter explains, "Ocala Stud, in terms of what they do and how they do it, they're the best in the business." Ocala Stud is the oldest, continuously operated Thoroughbred farm in Florida. David O'Farrell is the Operations Manager. His father, J. Michael O’Farrell Jr., took over running the now solely family-owned operation in 1971 when he was but 22. Other topics this week include the Pegasus World Cup on January 28 where Arrogate and California Chrome will have an exciting rematch, past and potentially future Derby and Oaks winners at Ocala Stud, a game called Three Diamonds, and some Ravens vs. Steelers rivalry.  

Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey: David O'Farrell Joins Us

The official podcast of Sagamore Racing. Horse racing and whiskey, the Sagamore way with Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy.