Horse Racing Trainers - Top 3
In horse racing, trainers are important to keep the horse in top shape and assess the regularities and the short comings it has to face. A trainer’s pivotal role demands respect and it is helpful to take a look at the top trainers of the last decade weighed
in terms of success and the horses they trained.
Domination comes with experience and passion and when you combine the two you get Bobby Frankel.
He sadly passed away at the age of 68 after a battle with lymphoma on November 16, 2009. But he owned the last decade by winning the Trainer Eclipse Award for four years in a row (2000-2003).
His illness got the better of him at the end when he was not that active but he won those titles courtesy of horses such as, Empire Maker, Squirtle Squirt, Starine, and, the 2007 Breeder’s Cup Distaff winner, Ginger Punch, and, 2008 Hollywood Turf Cup winner,
Champs Elysees.
Bobby Frankel was a massive earner, in his last 9 years his barn won at least $10 million eight times but he was best known for his amazing success with turf runners.
After Bobby Frankel’s award winning streak, in came Todd Pletcher, who kept other trainers at bay from winning the Eclipse Award for four years straight (2004-2007).
Todd Pletcher’s spree also continued at winning stakes, his first one came at New York stakes and the winner was Jersey Girl, who brought home seven consecutive stakes, including three Grade Ones before sustaining an injury, which forced her to retire.
Being a Grade One winner (several times) he also had Breeders’ Cup success, his first coming in 2004, at Lone Star Park, in his native Texas.
Pletcher is the most prolific trainers out there now, in terms of success and prize money, he broke his own record for single season earning on October 7, 2006. A married man and a father of three Todd Pletcher always has a status “for the one to look out
for” while he continues to set records.
Trainer, Asmussen reached a personal milestone by hitting his 5,000th win of his training career on September 11, 2009. Let’s rewind and glance at some of his stakes winners and his first major horse.
Valid Expectations, owned by Ackerly Brothers Farm, brought him ample success and right after the 95-97 more than successful era for Asmussen, he hit his first Grade One win in 1999 with Dreams Galore.
He has also trained some of the finest race horses, such as Lady Tak, Appealing Zophie, Capeside Lady, Summerly, Cuvee, Soul Warrior, Hot Dixie Chick and Pyro.
Asmussen went through a rough patch when he was suspended for six months followed by a fine for positive drug tests from July 2006 through to February 2007.
Scott Blasi was in charge of his horses during his suspension and Asmussen still ended up being third in total winners for 2006 with 241, and, ninth in earning during $7.7 million. Asmussen explained, "I have real good help".
Tags: