Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

seven — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:42:41 GMT

just looking up history of the triple crown, my knowledge and memories only go back to mid 70's.but,reading up on ben jones, i find him too be awesome.traing methods and breeding today produce

a much more fragile and less durable horse.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

2 time valley player of the year — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:51:25 GMT

Here's history facts on Ben Jones traines 2 triple crown winners[hats off to Karen] in 15 years of training. Won the money title 11 years based on horses earnings. His 2 triple winners Whirlaway and Citation's records

Whirl raced 4 years 60 races 32 wins out of the money 4 times.

Citation 4 years of racing

32 wins out of 45 races 10 seconds 2 thirds once out of the money and of course one of the greatest seasons ever by a racehorse as a 3 year old 20 starts 19 wins 1 second by a length. Other horses he trained were Pensive, Coaltown Twilight Tear, Faultless[just look up their records].There is not a trainer today who can claim 2 triple crown winners and so many triple crown races.His training methods are superior to today's [hats off to Ironhorse].I know most of you never heard of Ben but the record speaks for itself and will never be matched and this is in just 15 years of training.I have no idea who was second ,etc but this man was the best and his horses were in superior shape then today's horses.What would a modern day Ben do with all the advancements in vet care , feed, training facilities, computers etc.This man had the ability to train horses to produce their max and longevity.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Eilis — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:09:48 GMT

Bob Baffert in the top 5 is a travesty, especially considering he's beating such greats as Lucien Lauren and Max Hirsch.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

No_Class — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:44:48 GMT

Absolutely in agreement with Beth.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Beth — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:53:49 GMT

Why is Lucien Laurin ranked 9th? Give me a break! He had 2 back to back Derby Winners and saddled our next to last Triple Crown Winner.

Never one to brag, he was a quiet and unassuming gentleman who cared about his horses.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Doesn't Matter — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:25:46 GMT

Jerry,

Not sure what that entire rant and ramble was about. I was merely making a point that another poster started regarding Baffert only being able to buy his way to a Derby win.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Tim — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:16:35 GMT

I have to go with Lukas he sent out a lot of favorites but he has four wins mostly with long shots.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

jerry — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 05:01:28 GMT

Doesn't Matter sounds like a man thats from California....slowly falling into the sea........waiting for all the California horses to go belly up again....the best chance Baffert had was when B.Mott gave him ''Da Nile''......cause he knew better than to take him east on dirt....remember Mr.Col.John.last year...no dirt no stew...10th place maybe for the Nile & Baffert......there is always Turfway Park though...& a poster...

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

jerry — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:38:31 GMT

Excuse me Mr.Doesn't Matter...seems Bob Baffert also picked out General Meeting with entry of Serean's Song for the Derby favorite choice on derby day.....(when you could still run two as one general owner)No where to be found on derby day ...do the math filly or a gelding since 1929..Funny Cide @ Ny Bred gelding..& how many fillies???????Lukas had one..Winning Colors 1988.... I live 20 minutes from Turfway Park....still remember Silver Charm & Serena's Song running their last races there broke down.....want a poster they were giving them away those days...Im starring at Bob Baffert & D.W.Lukas signatures on my wall...Only one is as impressive as the other.....write me a check & I will show you the way home....or meet me @Turfway Park in September for the feature race..$5K non winners of two......

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Billy in Louisville — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:26:13 GMT

Woody Stephens and Carl Nafzger, two of the game's best ambassadors.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Ironhorse — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:20:36 GMT

Ben Jones without question and his method of training had his horses ready to run up to 10 times in a year or more , do any of today's top horses run that much -no too pampered . Owners and trainers would learn a lot if they read about his training idea's.

Different era's of course can really not be truly compared as so many things have changed in 60 years. The doctors, facilities and medications are superior to the past.Makes me wonder why don't the horses today be in the same top condition as horses of decades ago?It seems logical that with all the betters i mentioned above the horses today should run more then those of the past and win like they did.Horses today just aren't as in good of shape as in the past.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

s lee — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:13:23 GMT

I LOVE these!

What about

Best Horse Not to Win the Triple Crown (but raced in at least 1 of the events)

looking forward to more!

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Jim P — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:45:24 GMT

You can give Neil Drysdale a win with A.P. Indy as far as I'm concerned. What horse that talented wakes up with a foot bruise on Derby Day? 2 cheers to Neil for not running him.

The above arguments for Wayne Lucas are impressive but Wayne would run a fast cow in the Derby. I'm a little tired of all the "no count" horses he runs in major stakes. Still, who doesn't like Wayne??!!

On the other hand, Charlie Whittingham only came to the Derby when he thought he had a chance to win it. Victories by Sunday Silence and Ferdinand remain legendary. Sunday ranked as the world's #1 horse that year.

5 straight Belmont wins moved Woody Stevens up my Derby list.

Horatio Luro may have burned too many good horses up and perhaps made some of his name of his assistants. Glad the Derby ran on Saturday, 'cause Hortio spent Sundays in bed with Saturday;'s sweetheart.

I moved Carl Nafsger up just because of his attitude toward horses. He believed horses at every level had class and that you needed to appreciate the class found in your claimer as much as your Grade 1 horse. Go Carl!

Zito? He should have trained Charismatic -- because he has it. Like Tim Tam, Charismatic lost the Triple Crown with a leg injury at the Belmont wire (strech anyhow)

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Doesn't Matter — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:20:52 GMT

Excuse me, Baffert's clients write checks to go to the Derby? Doesn't trainer's clients write checks for the same thing? Lost by a nose with Cavonnier and won with Real Quiet and Silver Charm--all horses that he picked out at the sales for very small sums of money.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

Whatever — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:37:56 GMT

Neil Drysdale. The guy is all class. The industry needs more like him.

re: Top Kentucky Derby Winning Trainers

william cacho — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:09:12 GMT

Mr.LUKAS,JOLLEY,and Woody Stevens all the time best,I would like to see Tood Plecther also win this unique race.

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Terry — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:01:30 GMT

I put Lukas down at the bottom for one reason: he started with tons and tons of 2-year-olds in his barn every year, still had quite a few 3-year-olds left by Derby time (we won't discuss the 2-year-old attrition), then ran lots of horses in the Derby to eventually come up with his winners.

My Top 6 are, in order: Ben Jones, Jim Fitzsimmons, Charley Whittingham, Woody Stevens, Lucien Laurin and Max Hirsch.

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Karen in Indiana — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:56:55 GMT

What about Ben Jones? He trained 2 Triple Crown winners.

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Chase — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:50:56 GMT

How is the trainer of both Secretariat and Riva Ridge ranked 9th on this list????

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

jerry — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:03:57 GMT

My money goes to Lukas...he won with a filly Winning Colors, a 75k claimer in Charismatic,Thunder Gulch that everyone had gave up on that paid a fortune on derby day & Grindstone was an under the radar type after the Arkansas derby that year that Lukas had cranked up Bailey positioned him well down the stretch to take the roses.Lukas went to the yearling sales & used his keen eye for horse flesh & his clients wrote the checks....Bafferts clients sometimes just write checks & go to the derby....Midshipmen it should be mention should have stayed with him & he might have gotten a earned victory.Instead of spending a wasted winter in Dubai as the juvenile champ....ALL HAIL D.W.LUKAS....

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Jay — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:18:10 GMT

I only recognized 4 maybe 5 trainers on the list but i've only been interested in horse racing since reading "seabiscuit an american legend" five years ago or so.

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Deb — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:58:36 GMT

Considering Baffert got War Emblem weeks before the Derby, I have trouble counting that as #3.

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:17:18 GMT

Pollas - stay tuned, we will be adding more lists. Feel free to suggest others.

re: Top Derby Winning Trainers

Pollas — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:03:37 GMT

Sometime you should make a list of great trainers who never won a Derby.