Elliott Walden

Elliott Walden
Vice President/Racing Manager WinStar Farm

When Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), WinStar Farm chairman and co-owner Bill Casner credited the farm's team for its success. One of the key members of that team is Elliott Walden, a former trainer who is now WinStar's vice president and racing manager.

Walden is a third generation horseman from a family entrenched in Thoroughbred breeding and racing. He is the son of the late Ben Walden, Sr., who formerly operated Vinery. Before taking out his first training license in 1985, Walden assisted trainers Leroy Jolley, Dennis Ebert, John Godsen. Hawk Attack's victory in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington in 1995 was Walden's first grade I winner.

Walden was represented by his first classic win when he trained Prestonwood Farm's Victory Gallop to win the 1998 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). As a 4-year-old, Victory Gallop went on to win both the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. II) and was named Eclipse champion older horse. Walden ranked third on the trainer's list that year $7.2 million.

During his career, Walden won the Churchill Downs spring meet training title three times and was leading trainer at Keeneland twice. In July 2005, Walden changed roles within the organization, going from private trainer to racing manager. In December of 2005, Walden was named vice president of WinStar Farm where he is responsible for management oversight, both on and off the farm.