Team

Mike Penna

President / Host

Mike first sat down behind a microphone in 2003 when he began co-hosting the popular Saturday morning “Equine Forum” talk show. In 2005, Mike and the late Pete Kules established the Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN). In addition to producing the “Equine Forum” every week, the duo started traveling to racetracks around the country, providing fans with live coverage of many of the nation’s biggest races. Mike is currently President of HRRN and also serves as the anchor for many of its broadcasts. 

 

In early 2011, Mike and HRRN received an Eclipse Award for coverage of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships and in 2013 was honored with the prestigious Old Hilltop Award by the Maryland Jockey Club. In 2019, HRRN received the heralded Sovereign Award from the Canadian Jockey Club in recognition of outstanding coverage of the 159th Queen's Plate and the coveted Charles W. Engelhard award given by the KTOB.  Mike and the network received two more Eclipse Awards for their broadcasts of the 2019 and 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

 

Mike’s passion for racing spans more than 30 years. In 1989, he stood alongside the rail at historic Saratoga Racecourse and watched as Easy Goer won the Travers Stakes. After cashing his winning ticket on the heavy favorite, he was hooked for life. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mike and his wife, Michelle, relocated to Lexington in 1997. Mike worked at The Jockey Club, Thoroughbred Times, and Keeneland’s racing office before pursuing his interest in broadcasting.

Bobby Neuman

Host/Analyst

Born and raised Los Angeles, CA, Bobby currently resides with his wife and daughter in Weston, FL. Bobby attended UCSB before going to the University of Arizona to be part of their Race Track Industry Program. His extensive knowledge of racing stems from jobs in all facets of the business. Bobby worked as a groom for Hall of Fame trainers Charlie Whittingham and Bobby Frankel, spent time as a mutuel clerk in California and Arizona and worked on the gate crew at Rillito Park before pursuing his passion for race calling. His extensive announcing career includes stints on the Arizona Fair Circuit, Sandy Downs in Idaho, Downs at Albuquerque, Downs at Santa Fe, Thistledown, Calder, Ocala Breeders' Sales, and Los Alamitos. In addition, he spent time calling at The Red Mile in Lexington, KY, Pompano Park, and Churchill Downs. When not at the racetrack, Bobby enjoys playing golf and poker. Bobby joined the HRRN team in the spring of 2019, working as an analyst, host and paddock reporter.

Kurt Becker

Analyst

Kurt Becker joined HRRN as an analyst in 2009. Kurt began announcing Standardbred and Thoroughbred races as a teenager on the Illinois fair circuit in the mid-1980s, before accepting a post as the Voice of Chicago Racing in January of 1993. In the latter role, he succeeded legendary race caller Phil Georgeff at Arlington Park, Hawthorne Race Course, and Sportsman’s Park. After adding duties as a play-by-play announcer for Motor Racing Network’s live coverage of NASCAR events in 1994, Becker found his way to Kentucky in the spring of 1997 as the track announcer at both Keeneland Race Course and Churchill Downs. Today, Becker remains as the track commentator at Keeneland while also serving as announcer for auctions conducted by both Keeneland Association and the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society. He also continues in his role with MRN Radio as an anchorman and play-by-play announcer, while adding duties as announcer for Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auctions in 2006.

Dave Friedman

Host/Analyst

A longtime racing junkie, Dave joined the HRRN team in 2021. While he has spent two decades broadcasting college football and basketball, his love of the ponies dates back to the early 1980's when John Henry won the Golden Gate Handicap. As a toddler he attended the race with his dad and grandfather and fell in love. His time at Syracuse University included regular trips to Vernon Downs, Finger Lakes, and Saratoga. From Keeneland to Del Mar, Meydan to Happy Valley, the Kentucky Derby to the Breeders Cup, and OTB's in every corner of the globe, Dave has been lucky to experience racing globally.

Bob Nastanovich

Host/Analyst

Bob was born in Rochester, New York. When he was a young kid, his family moved South of Richmond, Virginia just before Secretariat's march to the Triple Crown. It was a great introduction to horse racing. Later, while attending University of Virginia, he often made the trek to Charles Town. Soon after, as a bus driver in NYC, he spent time in OTBs and frequented The Big A and Belmont. As a member of the rock band Pavement, he utilized his free time to become the first American to witness live racing at every British racecourse. He lived across the street from Churchill Downs for 14 years. Bob is a breeder, owner, Equibase chart caller and Thorograph data collector. Previously, he was a field reporter for DRF, a mutuel clerk and a night watchman for Jack Van Berg. He is a full on "racing tragic".

Jude Feld

Contributor

Jude Feld joined the HRRN team in 2007 as paddock reporter and analyst. He has loved Thoroughbred racing since his youth. He began his horseracing career in 1978, making charts for the Daily Racing Form at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky under the tutelage of legendary trackman Jack Valentine. After a stint as assistant trainer to Doug Udouj in the Bluegrass State and to Julio Canani in California, Jude took out his own trainer’s license in 1980. He has trained the winners of 23 stakes, including graded winners Pewter Grey, Steff Graf (Brz) and Vieille Vigne (Fr) as well as multiple stakes winners Broadway Pointe, Freya Stark (Ire), Order and Capel Meister (Fr). Retiring from training in 2000, Jude became a racing publicist, public handicapper and bloodstock consultant. In 2003, he was honored with an Eclipse Award, alongside G.D. Hieronymus, for their collaboration “If it was easy…everyone would do it,” which he wrote and G.D. produced for Keeneland. Jude has an intimate knowledge of the Sport of Kings and countless friends in the Thoroughbred racing industry. In 2011, Jude was honored with his second Eclipse Award as part of our HRRN’s broadcast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Jeff Bloom

Analyst

A thoroughbred industry veteran of more than 30 years, Jeffrey Bloom was a professional jockey in addition to serving as a racing manager, marketing and media relations’ consultant and broadcaster. During his 9 year riding career, Jeffrey raced at many of the major tracks throughout North America. After retiring as a jockey, he became the main workout rider for leading trainers that include Eddie Gregson and Hall of Famer Charlie Whittingham. Following his riding career, Jeffrey earned a B.S. degree in Financial Services from San Diego State University and his business resume includes a successful venture in software technology sales and corporate business development. Jeffrey founded and runs Bloom Racing Stable, LLC a horse racing partnership company which is now affiliated with Bloom Squared, LLC, an investment company he started with his brother Bryan Bloom and Andrew Yaffe Jeffrey recently joined the advisory board of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance a nonprofit organization that provides funding for approved racehorse aftercare facilities. He also serves on the board of Ivey Ranch Park Association, a nonprofit organization that provides service and care for special needs children through therapeutic equine activity. Jeff joined the HRRN team as an analyst in 2014.

Dan Mason

Analyst
Dan joined HRRN as an analyst in 2016. He returned to sportscasting after a long tenured career as a media executive, spending most of that time as CEO of CBS Radio.  He was inducted into the Class of 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in New York.  In addition to horse racing, Dan has covered women’s basketball spending two seasons at the CBS Sports Network.  He currently serves as Chairman at VSIN (Vegas Stats and Information Network), a Las Vegas based company dedicating to providing proprietary information to sports gamblers.  Most recently, he signed on as a Venture Partner at Seventy Six Capital, a Philadelphia company that invests in various sports ventures. Dan also serves on the board of directors at The Broadcasters Foundation of America, a charity that serves those in the radio and television industries who find themselves in acute need.
 
A native of Louisville, Dan graduated from Eastern Kentucky University and also holds a Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from that institution.
 

 

Ashley Mailloux

Analyst

Ashley Mailloux first fell in love with horse racing as a toddler while attending the races with her parents at Fort Erie Race Track. She soon found herself travelling to different tracks across North America and so far, has crossed more than forty racetracks off her list. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Ashley attended Transylvania University and completed a degree in Mathematics, and in May 2018, she graduated with a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Dayton. During that time, she assisted several trainers who shipped in to both Churchill and Keeneland and was featured as a guest handicapper for several handicapping events. Over the last year and a half, she’s worked for the Stronach Group, covering events such as the Preakness Stakes and the Pegasus World Cup. She’s also worked for the Meadowlands, conducting interviews on major stakes days and joined TVG for the 2019 Maryland Million. Ashley joined the Horse Racing Radio Network team in 2019 and covered the Queen’s Plate and the 2019 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

Mark Otto

Vice President of Sales

Mark is a seasoned sales, marketing, and branding professional with over 25 years of experience as a creative problem solving and performance driven executive.  Mark has held marketing and sales executive positions with several companies such as Midwest Marketing Solutions, Inc , Creeden & Associates , Scotts-Miracle-Gro and Red Brand Fence a division of Liberty Steel, the manufacturers of the VMesh Fence. 

Mark has extensive experience in the Thoroughbred Industry working many years closely with many of the largest farms ,owners , trainers and breeders in North America and throughout the world.  He has served on several industry boards and has been a long time supporter of TAA , PDJF and Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement as well as many other charities and associations.  

Mark attended Michigan State University where he studied Marketing & Agriculture Management.   

Mark has two children a son Keith who is a junior in college and daughter Grace who is a junior in High School

 

Shawn Seay

Producer

Shawn was born in Lexington and raised up and down the East Coast. His first experience in radio was hosting an overnight show on the University of Georgia’s student run station. He was producer of the Dave Elswick Show, was an integral part of bringing ESPN Radio into Lexington and helped to start up the Lexington Legends radio network. In 2005, after a stint in the US Coast Guard, Shawn returned to the radio business and has been involved in all aspects of stations in both Lexington, KY and Savannah, Ga. He currently lives in Lexington with his wife, author Mehitobel Wilson, and his beautiful daughter, Lillie.

Michelle Penna

Chief Operating Officer

Michelle has been an integral member of the HRRN team since its inception. Working behind the scenes to organize various aspects of the broadcasts, she has helped assure the success of the network. In 2011, Michelle stepped into the role of on-site producer and quickly established herself as one of the best in the business while travelling with the HRRN team to racetracks throughout the country. A native of North Adams, Massachusetts, Michelle moved to Lexington, KY in 1997 with her husband and HRRN President Mike Penna. She has worked in racing for more than a decade as a member of The Jockey Club.