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Genaro Garcia Leading Indiana Grand Trainer For Fourth Consecutive Year

It's been another exceptional year for trainer Genaro Garcia. He earned his fourth straight leading trainer title and his stable, Southwest Racing Stable, earned its second straight leading owner title teaming up with Steve Lewis for the 2020 racing season at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind.

A native of Mexico, horses from Garcia's barn won 43 races and in excess of $900,000 to top the trainer standings. He now has 312 career wins at Indiana Grand to rank fifth among the track's all-time leading trainers.

“This is excellent and I'm so excited,” said Garcia. “I'm really happy for the wins and want to say thank you to everyone on the backside and to Indiana Grand and all my owners for their support. It makes me feel so good. I know this is a job, but I love this business so much and love what I do.”

Although the main proponent of Garcia's barn are older claiming rank horses, 2-year-olds is where his passion falls, and he had a great season with Indiana bred Lookin at Justice, who won the $75,000 Indiana Futurity to close out the meet. The horse is one of many he co-owns with Lewis.

“Two-year olds, that's my passion and my goal,” said Garcia. “We bought the second farm because it has indoor space for us to break babies. I think anyone in this business has these hopes.”

Garcia will divide his massive stable up for the winter, sending a dozen to Oaklawn and most to Turfway Park while keeping the babies near his home base in Greenwood, Ind. Although the meet at Indiana Grand comes to a conclusion, it's not the end of the year for Garcia and Lewis.

Lewis, a businessman from Chicago who is the president of Lewis Floor & Home, has been involved in horse racing for the past 25 years. His racing entities were mainly centered at the Chicagoland tracks and he began to get into the breeding end of the business in Illinois before deciding to make a change to Indiana. He has been breeding in Indiana with Leigh Anne Hopper of R Star Stallions in Anderson, Ind., and asked for a suggestion for trainers. One of the names was Garcia, and it wasn't long before Lewis and Garcia formed a partnership.

“I gave one inexpensive horse to Genaro to train and from there, we basically developed a very good partnership,” said Lewis. “He's the guy that does all the work and it's been an unbelievable meet that exceeded all my expectations. I've been in partnerships in the past, but Genaro is willing to equally invest with me and I'm impressed with the way he keeps a barn and the way the horses are cared for and the quality of help he has. He does things right and I truly appreciate that.”

Lewis noted that they had a couple of setbacks during the season but were able to regroup and move forward. They knew they were in a good spot to potentially get the leading owner award heading into the final two weeks of the meet, and although a few horses didn't make it to the winner's circle, they had one surprise Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Lookin at Justice.

“I have a passion for horse racing and I've often said this is a roller coaster without a seatbelt,” added Lewis. “The last week we had three in that were favorites and they all got beat. The last thing I expected was for Lookin at Justice to run the way he did in the stakes (Indiana Futurity). Genaro has liked him from the start.”

The leading owner title with Garcia's Southwest Racing Stable and Lewis marks the first for him. It completes a solid season that included multiple wins from horses such as Boyfriend Material, French Vanilla, El Bohemio and Naughty Alfred, just to name a few.

“I am very fortunate to have such good owners, especially Bruce Murphy and Steve Lewis,” added Garcia. “They have given me a lot of support and I've very happy for Mr. Steve (Lewis) to earn his first title.”

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Apprentice Joshua Morales Wins Juan Saez Award At Indiana Grand

One year ago, apprentice jockey Joshua Morales was still in his native Puerto Rico, a recent graduate of the jockey school at Camarero Race Track near San Juan. Now, he has his first jockey title as he was named the recipient of the seventh annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey. The award is named in honor of 2014 leading apprentice Juan Saez of Panama, who passed away in a racing incident that year.

“I am very happy and proud,” said Morales through his agent Francisco Torres. “I am thankful for the opportunity all the horsemen gave me this year. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be standing here right now.”

Morales began his professional riding career in Puerto Rico in January before moving to the United States and riding at Turfway Park. From there, he rode at Belterra for a few months before making the move to Indiana Grand in mid-September. Since his arrival, he has accumulated 21 wins and $375,000 in purses, moving him into a tie for 12^th place in the jockey standings in 2020.

Morales got involved in racing through the encouragement of his two uncles, Wilfredo and Jose Rohena, who ride at Finger Lakes. He spent two years in jockey school learning the racing industry from the ground up, a commitment that brought him to the United States. His move to Indiana has also paired him with jock's agent Torres, who earned in excess of 3,100 career wins and multiple graded stakes victories during his 32-year career. Earlier in the season, Morales noted the connection with Torres has been extremely helpful as he continues to fine-tune his skills as a jockey.

Morales was joined by his partner, Chareen, and his two young sons, Owen, age four, and Harlan, 18 months, for the winner's circle presentation at Indiana Grand. He and Torres plan to head to Kentucky at the conclusion of the racing season in Indiana and will ride at Churchill Downs and Turfway Park until racing resumes in Indiana in 2021.

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Nine New Members Added To Kentucky Equine Education Project Board

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), Kentucky's equine economic advocate, announced additions to its Board of Directors.

Nine new individuals were added to the KEEP Board of Directors: Shannon Cobb, Michelle Fischer, Vince Gabbert, Jeff Hall, Katie LaMonica, Jamie MacLeod, James Miller, Bret Shultz and Donnie Snellings.

Cobb is the COO/CFO of The Red Mile. Fischer is the President of Darting Star, LLC. Gabbert is Vice President and COO of Keeneland. Hall is the General Manger of Ellis Park. LaMonica is the Manager of Marketing at Darley Stud Management. MacLeod is a professor at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center. Miller is co-owner of Saddlebred farm Hillcroft. Shultz is Director of Racing at Standardbred racing facility Oak Grove. Snellings is the Sales and Yearling Manager at Denali Stud and is the current President of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club.

New officers for the KEEP Board of Directors will be elected at the Board's January meeting.

Elisabeth Jensen, KEEP's executive vice president who oversees the daily operations of the organization, commented, “Given the hurdles the horse industry faces in the coming year, KEEP may be more necessary now than at any other point in its history. The Kentucky Supreme Court's ruling that jeopardizes historical horse racing and its contribution to the success of Kentucky's horse industry presents an immense challenge as we will work to convince the legislature to address the issue. The addition of these board members and the work they have already engaged in on behalf of KEEP and the horse industry is a critical part of the battle ahead.”

The chairman of KEEP's Board of Directors, Doug Cauthen, added, “KEEP has always maintained a Board of Directors that truly represents a cross-section of Kentucky's all breed horse industry and provides all stakeholders with a seat at the table. These new board members further that diverse industry representation and will strengthen KEEP as it faces new challenges and fights to preserve historical horse racing.”

In December, the KEEP Board of Directors will host an industry-wide webinar to discuss the year ahead for KEEP, the advocacy issues the organization will take on, and the strategies and approaches the organization will undertake to emerge successful. More details will be included in a future announcement.

The Kentucky Equine Education Project is a not-for-profit grassroots organization created in 2004 to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky's signature multi-breed horse industry. KEEP is committed to ensuring Kentucky remains the horse capital of the world, including educating Kentuckians and elected officials of the importance of the horse industry to the state. KEEP was the driving force in the establishment of the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund, which has paid out more than $177 million to Kentucky breeders since its inception in 2006, and pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing, which has been responsible for more than $50 million to purses and more than $24 million to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

KEEP works to strengthen the horse economy in Kentucky through our statewide network of citizen advocates. To learn more about how you can become a member or support our work, please visit www.horseswork.com.

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‘You’re Always Busy With The Horses’: The Road To 3,000 Wins For Mark Casse Had Many Stops

In the aftermath of the text he received from one of Thoroughbred racing's most prominent owners, the dual Hall of Fame trainer, the one with plenty to look forward to, took a look back in time.

Can talk now if you like. Nothing much happening here except a tropical storm.

It's a typical text – inviting, sprinkled with a tinge of dry humor – from Mark Casse, who continues to be one of Thoroughbred racing's top conditioners.

Seated comfortably in his training centre office in Ocala, Fla., the man on a cusp of a major career milestone is enjoying a rare unfettered morning, one that has allowed him a few more moments to think of what it means to have 3,000 Canadian and U.S. lifetime wins to his name.

“I didn't really realize I was so close,” started Casse. “[Owner] Gary Barber sent me a message [last] Wednesday night and told me I was only three away. I didn't know that.”

The exchange with Barber, a longtime supporter of Casse's, prompted reminiscences of how it all began for the native of Indianapolis, the countless highlights along the way, and win No. 3,000, courtesy of Souper Watson on Thursday at Gulfstream Park West.

Taking out his trainer's license in Massachusetts at the age of 17, Casse saddled his first winner at Keeneland with Joe's Coming, his first starter, in April of 1979. A success story on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, he's won the Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer in Canada a record 12 times and was inducted into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame in 2016. This year, he was inducted in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. He won two-thirds of the American Triple Crown in 2019 when War of Will won the Preakness and Sir Winston prevailed in the Belmont.

He's campaigned Eclipse Award winners Classic Empire, Shamrock Rose, Tepin, and World Approval, as well as Canadian Horse of the Year honourees Catch a Glimpse, Lexie Lou, Sealy Hill, Uncaptured, and Wonder Gadot. He has recorded a total of seven scores in the Canadian Triple Crown series (the Prince of Wales four times, the Queen's Plate twice, and the Breeders' Stakes once), won five Breeders' Cup races (the Mile twice, as well as the Filly and Mare Sprint, Juvenile, and Juvenile Fillies Turf), and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot with Tepin. His leading trainer titles have come at Woodbine (11 times), Turfway (four times), Keeneland (three times), and Churchill Downs (twice).

A trip in a horse van with his father, the late Norman Casse, to see Secretariat win the 1973 Kentucky Derby hooked him on racing. His father had a successful breeding operation in Indiana before moving his family to Ocala, where he established Cardinal Hill Farm. The elder Casse retired as chairman of the board of the Ocala Breeders' Sales in 2006 after more than 40 years involvement in the industry.

“I was thinking about it [his own career] on that Wednesday night,” said Casse. “How it all started, a lot of it thinking about my dad. He was the driving force. He always helped me along the way. There are just so many people who have helped me.”

He mentions his wife, Tina, as a major contributor to his numerous successes.

“I would say in the last 20 years, Tina would be No. 1 for that. I wouldn't be winning 3,000 races without her. She handles all of the financial parts and business parts, which allows me to go and concentrate on the horses. She also inspires me to continue to try and be successful. I wouldn't have wanted to do it without her. The ups and downs, the losses – when you're having a bad day, or you're not as pleasant or as happy as you should be – your entire family feels that. We don't have the vacations. Even if you slip away for a few days, it never ends. You're always busy with the horses.”

Casse also acknowledges the impact owners, and his racing team, have had on his career.

“Even if we don't go over all the owners – the Gary Barbers and the John Oxleys – there are so many people I am grateful to. I could tell you lots of owners and people who have played a huge part in reaching this number. In the first 20 years of my career, I would say the most influential person would be my dad, and in second 20 years it would be in Tina. There's also [assistant trainer] David Adams, [Casse's son and fellow trainer] Norm, and [head of Casse's Florida operation] Mitch Downs, he's been with me 40 years, Robbie Hofher, Cindy Black… there are a lot of people where not everyone sees their names. You eliminate any of these people out of the equation and I wouldn't be looking at 3,000 wins.”

How does Casse feel about the pursuit of 4,000 wins?

For now, he'll focus on the short term.

“I remember thinking when we won our 1,000th race [on August 9, 2008, with Laragh, at Woodbine] that we wouldn't get to 2,000. Then, when we did that [on May 14, 2016, with Reimburse, at Gulfstream], I thought, 'Well, it won't be 3,000.' But I was wrong. I don't know about 4,000. I'm not sure if I have the energy to get there. When you get to 3,000, you realize how many times you have to lose to get that number.”

Thankfully, the hard-luck losses have been offset by an abundance of accomplishments, accolades and awards.

Yet despite those lofty numbers, there is no ego to match.

What there is, however, is a passionate pursuit of winning.

“With all assets, there are liabilities. I've always said that. It's interesting – going back a long time ago when we won our first Sovereign Award – I thought about the New York Yankees and them winning the World Series year after year. I thought, 'What drives them once you win it to do it again?' The answer to that is you don't want to lose it. Once you've won it, you don't want to lose it.

“That's what keeps you going. Everything we do as an operation is to get to the winner's circle.”

It's a familiar spot, whether it happens to be at Woodbine, Churchill, Gulfstream Park, or elsewhere, for a conditioner still very much in his prime.

Long days, tough beats, and the odd tropical storm are hardly enough to dampen Casse's love of racing.

“Believe me, I'm not complaining about any of this life. It's the life I chose. The good news is that we always have something to look forward to. Some days, when I get up and we don't have horses running, on some occasions that's a good day if it means that the day is a little more peaceful. But when I wake up and we have a lot of horses running, it excites me for the day.”

He now has 3,000 reasons and counting to feel that way.

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