from Horse Player Now

Chicago, IL — Linda Toscano, 2012 Trainer of the Year and winner of last year’s Hambletonian with Market Share, joins a group of elite trainers on Night School, the racing industry’s free national online fan education program, this Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. (EDT) on www.ustrotting.com.

The 22nd session of the 40-week season offers an in-depth, 50-minute video featuring Toscano and Thoroughbred classic-winning trainers Dale Romans and Nick Zito, along with up-and-comer Michell Nihel. Following the video, a handicapper’s Q&A on “trainer angles,” hosted by Night School co-founders Jeremy Plonk and Joe Kristufek, will follow.

It’s all part of a jam-packed week for the Night School program, which also includes three Night School Tour live events on-track this weekend. The Tour will be split Saturday at both Mountaineer Park for West Virginia Derby Day and at Meadowlands Racetrack for Hambletonian Day. Then, on Sunday, the Tour shifts to Presque Isle Downs.

Night Schoolers also will be treated to a “Big Event” live racing chat this Saturday for full-card coverage and analysis of Hambo Day at the Meadowlands, including free live streaming video via www.Meadowlandsracetrack.com. The Hambletonian live chat begins at 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

Tuesday’s 90-minute live Night School chat and video presentation, along with this week’s study materials, will help fans and horseplayers get inside the mind of the game’s top trainers. Romans has been a past Night School guest, and last year won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top conditioner. He won the 2011 Preakness with Shackleford and continues to train some of the sport’s top competitors. Zito is a two-time Kentucky Derby winner with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go For Gin in 1994, and has won all three legs of the Triple Crown. A former assistant to Todd Pletcher, Nihel is best known for her work with Grade I winner Prince Will I Am. Toscano became the first female trainer to win the Hambletonian when Market Share earned the crown last summer.

Fans can take part in the class free by visiting any one of the 40-plus websites that provides the Night School lessons each week. For those who cannot attend live, the Night School archives always are available free, immediately following the session and beyond. Videos used in all lessons also can be seen at www.youtube.com/horseplayernow.

Presenting title sponsors for Night School are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Inc., and the United States Trotting Association.

Night School is offered every Tuesday for 40 consecutive weeks through Dec. 3. Topics change weekly, and fans are eligible for prizes and rewards for registering. Registration is optional and free. There is never a charge for taking part in Night School. The weekly program is offered in three media: live chat via the Cover It Live blogging/chat forum, audio/radio streaming and full video lesson plans. The media of delivery is based on the subject matter and alternates throughout the season.

This week’s Night School will be followed at 10 p.m. (EDT) by the “After Night School Special,” featuring live racing from Mountaineer Park. The segment will cover the evening’s final race in real time with free, live-streaming video. Fans wishing to take part in the Mountaineer action simply need to remain in the Night School chat after class. Free past performances are available, courtesy of BRIS.

For an updated Night School Tour schedule, click on this link.

This week’s study materials are available here.

Jeremy Plonk and Joe Kristufek preview this week’s lesson on video.

Pod 3 lesson schedule is available here.