Flying Start Grad Lindsay Schultz off to a Flying Start

Lindsay Schultz checked a lot of boxes. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program, moved on to the prestigious Godolphin Flying Start program, managed Glen Hill Farm in Florida and worked as an assistant to Tom Proctor and Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Yet, she admits to being nervous and not knowing what to expect when she decided last fall to go out on her own as a trainer. Maybe she shouldn't have been.

Less than a year after opening her stable, Schultz, 34, is making a name for herself at Monmouth Park, where she has six winners from 22 starters for a winning rate of 22%. Overall in her brief career, she is 11 for 61, good for 18%.

“This is definitely beyond my expectations,” she said. “I have exceeded my goals.”

Schultz rode hunter-jumpers while growing up in Connecticut and enrolled in the racing program at the University of Louisville. It was not, however, until she entered the Godolphin program that she decided she wanted to be a trainer.

“I knew I wanted to be in the industry, but didn't know exactly what,” she said. “When I went into the Flying Start program I got to see every aspect of the industry and decided I wanted to focus on the racing part. Once I started working for Tom Proctor as his assistant, I thought maybe I could do this myself and do a good job.”

Along the way, she caught the attention of Marshall Gramm, who runs the Ten Strike Racing Partnership. Schultz and bloodstock advisor Liz Crow are close friends and Crow has had a long and fruitful business relationship with Ten Strike. Gramm has helped a number of young trainers kick off their careers and, in Schultz, he saw someone he was happy to take a chance on.

“I was talking to her around this time last year and it was clear she was at a stage where she was about to go out on her own,” Gramm said. “We had discussions about it last summer and I told her that if she was going to do it she should come to Oaklawn Park and that I could use her there. I told her that it would be a good place to start and I thought I could really help here there. It's a track I want to win at.”

“That I had the backing of Ten Strike and Marshall was huge,” Schultz said. “It's a good feeling to have someone who is so intelligent put his faith in me and helped me get started. It really meant a lot. The opportunity that he gave me was the biggest reason why I thought it was a good time to try this.”

Gramm didn't exactly hand her the keys to a 50-horse stable filled with stakes horses. Schultz told him she thought she could get by if Ten Strike gave her six to seven horses and she was fine with taking on claimers. Her first winner came with a $10,000 claimer at Oaklawn, Capture the Glory (Scat Daddy). Another winner at Oaklawn came with Tiger Moon (Upstart). Schultz talked Gramm into claiming him for $10,000 out of a maiden claiming race. She bumped him up to a $40,000 maiden claimer for his next start and he won at 29-1. (Gramm, an astute and enthusiastic horseplayer said he did not have a bet that day on Tiger Moon).

What Gramm did give her was the chance to prove that she could make the most of an opportunity.

It was Gramm who suggested that Schultz head to Monmouth after the Oaklawn meet ended.

“She has really blossomed at Monmouth,” Gramm said. “The competition is little bit easier there. We realized we could take some horses who were average horses at Oaklawn who would be be successful at Monmouth. She's really hit her stride there and it's exciting to watch. She works really hard and knows her stuff. I've been very pleased and impressed and I am excited to be part of her burgeoning career.”

Schultz has 14 horses at Monmouth, seven of them for Ten Strike. The stable includes five 2-year-olds, none of whom have started yet this year.

While happy to have accomplished so much so early in her career, Schultz makes no secrets of her aspirations to take things to the next level.

“I'd like to get up to maybe 40 horses to be able to have two strings,” she said. “It would be nice to be able to utilize two different circuits. I'd like to keep improving the quality. Obviously, to get to there you need the horses and you need the owners. All I'm trying to do is to do a good job, go to the sales and go to big race meets, meet people, talk to people. I am not a big self-promoter, but I hope if I keep doing a good job and keep looking for new opportunities they will come my way.”

Can it happen? Gramm believes that it can.

“Lindsay is going to need to find some other owners willing to take a chance on her and she's going to need to get some good 2-year-olds in her barn,” Gramm said. “Claiming is a way to get noticed and get your first set of owners, but, ultimately, you need to show you can develop some nice horses and win some stakes races. That's what gets you more and more noticed. Each year is a baby step. She's gone from five horses to 14 and has some 2-year-olds in her barn. That's a great place to be after a year. Hopefully, she can keep the momentum going and pick up some more owners. She has such a great background and I'm excited for her considering where she's at at such an early stage in her career.”

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Godolphin Flying Start Class Of 2024 Begins In Ireland

The 2022-2024 Godolphin Flying Start trainees started their course work at Kildangan Stud in Ireland on Aug. 15. Hailing from five different countries, the trainees are as follows:

  • Annabel Adams, New Zealand
  • Liam Cunningham, New Zealand
  • Sarah Kelly, Ireland
  • Orlaith Nangle, Ireland
  • David O'Farrell, Ireland
  • Megan O'Leary, Ireland
  • Anne O'Rourke, UK
  • Susannah Jeffery, UK
  • Jamie Smith, UK
  • Edmond Ryan, Ireland
  • Alexander Sausville, USA
  • Ben Triandafillou, Australia

“We welcomed our 20th Godolphin Flying Start class to Kildangan Stud this week with great satisfaction, having continued with the programme through the challenges of Covid-19,” said Godolphin Flying Start Executive Director Clodagh Kavanagh. “It is a milestone year, and it is heartening to see the commitment and talent of these young adults entering the thoroughbred business. We look forward to collaborating with industry professionals to give the trainees opportunities to learn, complete externships, and gain employment in the future so that we may achieve our vision of being the source of influential leaders of the industry.”

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Owens, Forney Retire from TOC; Egan Named Executive Director

Jack Owens, the longest-serving board member of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, and executive director Mary Forney, will retire from the organization effective July 1. Jordyn Egan will assume the executive director role effective July 20.

An owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds for more than 30 years, Owens races predominately in Northern California. His legal acumen has been invaluable to the TOC Board over the years, and he has worked tirelessly to advance and protect the interests of owners at the legislative and regulatory levels and in negotiations with other members of the industry.

Following Owens' decision not to seek reelection to the board in 2022, TOC membership elected owner Johnny Taboada as one of its three Northern California representatives. The new board takes office July 1.

After 18 years with TOC and over 40 years in the horse racing industry, Forney retires from her role as executive director. In addition to her time with the TOC, Mary worked for Santa Anita Park, the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and held various roles during her career in the industry.

“The board joins me in congratulating and thanking both Jack and Mary for their many years of service to TOC and this industry,” said TOC Chairman Gary Fenton. “We know Jack is looking forward to spending more time with his racing and breeding operation, and we hope to see Mary at the races with her family, including her new grandson. California racing is forever grateful to them.”

Egan, born and raised in Fallbrook, Ca., graduated from the Race Track Industry Program and completed the Godolphin Flying Start management training program. Since 2013 she has served as Director of Special Projects for the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.

“It is an honor to be chosen for this position,” said Egan. “I was an intern for TOC in 2006 and had the privilege of working for Mary at that time. I look forward to joining TOC and working closely with the team to effectively represent and grow the pool of Thoroughbred owners in the state of California.”

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Godolphin Flying Start Class of 2020-22 Graduates

Following a rollercoaster two-year period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Godolphin Flying Start graduation ceremony took place in the Cape Cross centre at Kildangan Stud in Ireland June 24. The Godolphin Flying Start program is accredited by the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School as a Graduate Certificate in Management. Among those addressing the graduating class and assembled guests, Helen Brophy, Director of Smurfit Executive Development at UCD and Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin Ireland and Trustee of Godolphin Flying Start.

“On behalf of the global Godolphin team, I congratulate this graduating class and wish them success and encouragement for their futures in the thoroughbred industry,” said Osborne.

The 2022 graduates comprised trainees from five countries, including Angus Robertson (Australia), Samantha Bussanich (USA), Devon Dougherty (USA), Erin McLaughlin (USA), Tommy Lyon Smith (UK), Brigitte Murphy (Ireland), Donncha McCarthy (Ireland), David Skelly (Ireland), Marine Moussa (France) and Solene Hudbert (France).

The diploma for the top trainee was presented to George Broughton (UK), who achieved the highest grade among the 2022 graduating group, attaining a Distinction award.

Angus Robertson and Samantha Bussanich spoke on behalf of the class, reflecting on the experience of the two years with their fellow classmates.

“We have had the most unorthodox experience in the 19-year history of the program, yet it is one that we would not exchange. At a time when people's lives were sent into turmoil through lockdowns, social distancing, and furlough, we were 11 fortunate individuals who still managed to travel, gain incredible practical and theoretical experience, and develop personally and professionally. This was due to the resilience of the Thoroughbred industry, the fortitude of the Godolphin Flying Start management team, and the generosity of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.”

The next opportunity to apply for Godolphin Flying Start is December 2022. For more information, visit www.godolphinflyingstart.com.

 

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