from Horse Player Now

Chicago, IL — Night School, the racing industry’s free national online fan education program, tackles the topic of “Developing Young Horses” from a horseman’s and handicapper’s perspective tonight at 8:30 p.m. (EDT) at www.ustrotting.com.

The 90-minute live event features the nation’s leading harness trainer Ron Burke who has more than twice as many wins (542) as his nearest competitor (Rene Allard, 230) and nearly $9 million in earnings this year.

Tonight’s lesson will be an interactive, multi-media event featuring both a live chat and an audio-streaming simulcast with SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Also scheduled are renowned Thoroughbred trainers Mark Casse, Wayne Catalano and farm manager Woodberry Payne, all of whom will be making their first trips to the Night School class.

One of the top trainers at the Meadowlands for years, Burke won his second Jugette in 2012, finishing one-two with Darena Hanover and Bettor B Lucky. His harness star Sweet Lou became the fastest 2-year-old of all time in 2011, stopping the timer in 1:49.

Casse has been a leading trainer of juveniles at Woodbine and in the United States, and last year developed Canadian Horse of the Year Uncaptured through his 2-year-old season.

Catalano has trained three Breeders’ Cup champions, all juveniles. He won the Juvenile Fillies in 2006 with Dreaming of Anna and again in 2009 with She Be Wild, and in 2011, captured the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Stephanie’s Kitten.

Woodberry Payne’s family experience in horse racing dates back several generations. He is a well-known figure in mid-Atlantic steeplechase and flat racing circles, with a training center located on the grounds of President James Madison’s Montpelier estate in Virginia.

Fans can take part in the class free by visiting any one of the 40-plus websites that provides the Night School chats each week, or by listening in to SiriusXM. The audio portion of the program will be streamed free within the chat module as well.

Tuesday’s Night School will be the fifth such class to be simulcast with “At the Races with Steve Byk” on SiriusXM. Night School attendees will be able to pose questions to all of the guests in two manners, either by the live chat module or by joining the “At the Races with Steve Byk” live call-in show at 1.866.454.6848. Night School’s Jeremy Plonk will co-host the on-air show with Byk. Those wishing to listen in on the radio can find the program from 8:30-10 p.m. (EDT) on Sirius 93 or at Sports Zone 961 for Sirius Online users (XM Radio will have live baseball tonight).

For those who cannot attend live, the Night School archives always are available free, immediately following the session and beyond. The complete audio archive will be available on Wednesday.

Night School co-founder Joe Kristufek will moderate the chat portion of the lesson and interact with fans as they listen into the show and contribute questions.

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

The 90-minute classes are 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.

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.

Meanwhile, the Night School Tour traveling troupe of fan educators will be visiting Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., this Saturday for Virginia Derby Day. An all-day seminar of hands-on teaching will be conducted by Jeremy Plonk, Tim Brannan and Brian Nadeau as part of the track’s “Thrill on the Hill” experience.

This week’s preview video with Joe Kristufek and Brian Nadeau.

This week’s study materials, courtesy of Horse Player NOW.