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Chad Brown (horse trainer)

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Chad Brown
Brown after winning the 2017 Preakness Stakes
OccupationTrainer
Born (1978-12-18) December 18, 1978 (age 46)
Mechanicville, New York
Career wins2,754+ (ongoing)[1]
Major racing wins
American Classics wins:
Preakness Stakes (2017, 2022)

Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Classic (2024)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
(2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023)
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
(2012, 2014, 2015, 2018)
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
(2015, 2022, 2023)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (2019)
Breeders' Cup Mile (2019)
Breeders' Cup Turf (2019)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2017)
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (2014)

Racing awards
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
(2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)
United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings
(2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)
New York Racing Association, (NYRA) Year-End Training Title
(2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Significant horses
Awesome Feather, Big Blue Kitten, Beach Patrol, Bobby's Kitten, Bricks and Mortar, Chancer McPatrick, Cloud Computing, Dayatthespa, Flintshire, Good Magic, Goodnight Olive, In Italian, Jack Christopher, Lady Eli, Maram, Newspaperofrecord, Practical Joke, Regal Glory,Search Results, Sierra Leone, Sistercharlie, Stacelita, Stephanie's Kitten, Zagora

Chad C. Brown (born December 18, 1978) is an American racehorse trainer. Brown's achievements include two Preakness Stakes victories and multiple Breeders’Cup wins.[2] In 2024 Brown’s Sierra Leone won the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Eclipse Award for American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse[3] He has won five Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[4] In 2019, he was the first America trainer to be ranked first in the World Training Standings according to the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC) Global Rankings.[5]

Initially labeled as a turf trainer because of his initial successes, particularly with training fillies and mares, he went on to produce winners with horses of all sexes at a variety of distances and surfaces.[6] As of 2024, Brown has trained 19 Breeders' Cup winners,[7] and fourteen Eclipse Award winners.[3]

Background

[edit]

Brown was born and raised in Mechanicville, New York. His passion for horses began at an early age, sparked by family visits to the nearby Saratoga race track.[8] During high school, Brown gained hands-on experience with Standardbreds at Saratoga Raceway, where he learned the intricacies of breaking and training horses. Despite his early work with Standardbreds, his ambition was always to work with Thoroughbreds.[9]

While pursuing a degree in animal science at Cornell University, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian,[10] Brown took a summer job with Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Starting as a hot-walker, he quickly advanced to a groom, before earning the role of foreman. After graduating, Brown realized that his true passion lay in training horses rather than veterinary medicine, leading him to pursue a career as a Thoroughbred trainer.[11][12]

Training career

[edit]

Brown's career as a trainer was significantly influenced by his five-year mentorship with Hall of Fame trainer Robert Frankel,[13] beginning in 2002.[14] While working as an assistant trainer under Frankel, Brown split his time between Southern California and Saratoga while also overseeing Frankel's operations in Kentucky, (Keeneland and Churchill Downs), Monmouth Park and Gulfstream Park.[9] During this period, Brown worked with top racehorses such as Medaglia d'Oro,[15]Empire Maker,[15]Aldebaran, Ghostzapper,[15] Intercontinental,[14] and Ginger Punch.[15] Brown credits Frankel's training methods, particularly his focus on each horse's unique strengths, as the foundation of his future success.[16] Brown dedicated Cloud Computing's Preakness Stakes win to Frankel, stating that, "I feel this is for him... without his mentorship I certainly wouldn't be here."[17]

In 2007, Brown gained national attention at the Breeders' Cup, when he stepped in for Frankel, who could not be at the races,[16] saddling Ginger Punch to victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.[18] Shortly after, Brown established his own stable with a small string of ten horses, including those owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Gary and Mary West. His first win as an independent trainer came at Churchill Downs in a $5,000 claiming race[14] with his second starter, Dual Jewels.[19] Brown spent the winter at Oaklawn Park and later moved to Keeneland, where he achieved his second win.[12] During that time, his stable had a total of four starts, resulting in one win and one third-place finish, earning a total of $13,960.[20]

By January 2008, just three months after launching his own stable, Brown expressed his ambition to be “the next Bobby Frankel.” Brown's goals included adhering to what he called "Bobby's System," “a method of meticulous care inspired by Frankel's legacy."[14] That year, Brown competed in his first Saratoga meet,[21] finishing the meet with 6 wins from 18 starters, including the debut of the two-year-old filly Maram,[12] who went on to win the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park, marking Brown's first graded stakes victory.[22] Maram went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park, giving Brown his first Breeder's Cup win.[23][24]

In 2009, Brown won his first New York Racing Association training title at the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet.[25] In 2010, Brown saddled 17 winners at Saratoga Race Course finishing third in the standings.[26] In 2011, Brown won his first career Grade I race with the French-bred mare Zagora in the Diana Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.[26][20] Just two weeks later, he secured his second Grade I victory with Stacelita, in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park.[26] Stacelita went on to win the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, resulting in the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse.[10]

The following year, 2012, Zagora won several major stakes, including the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She would become the second Eclipse Award winner trained by Brown when named Champion Turf Female.[27] Brown tied for the Belmont Racetrack fall training title and his second NYRA training title with 21 wins.[28] In 2013, Brown ranked third among North American trainers, earning $13,395,419 in purse money.[20] Highlights included Big Blue Kitten's victories in the United Nations Handicap, the Sword Dancer Invitational, and the Arlington Million with Real Solution for Ken and Sarah Ramsey,[22] and also won the Belmont Racetrack fall training title with 26 wins.[28] Brown had three Breeders' Cup victories in 2014,[29] and was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer,[30] with his stable earning $15,383,930 in purse money.[20] His Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner, Dayatthespa won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse.[3] At the 2015 Breeders' Cup, Brown had two wins[1] Big Blue Kitten also achieved several victories including setting a course record in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes,[31] and trained Big Blue Kitten, who won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse.[32]

Brown took over the training of Juddmonte Farm's Flintshire in 2016, who then won the Manhattan Stakes (G1) in his first start under Brown.[33] On August 24 at Saratoga, Brown earned his 1,000th career win with Mr. Maybe.[34] He ended the Saratoga meet with 40 wins and the leading trainer title.[35] His wins included the Hopeful Stakes (G1) with Practical Joke, his first graded stakes win on the dirt at Saratoga.[36] That year he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer for the first time.[37]

Brown won his first Triple Crown race in 2017 with Cloud Computing in the Preakness Stakes,[38] an upset victory at odds of 13:1.[6] Later that year, Good Magic captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.[39] and the Eclipse Award for Champion Two Year Old Colt.[3] Additionally, Lady Eli who recovered from a severe case of laminitis under Brown's care,[40] became the Champion Turf Female.[3] These successes and 16 other Grade I wins led to his second Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer[3][41] In 2018, Brown had 20 Grade 1 victories and 47 graded wins overall, earning $27,546,057,[20][42][35] At the Breeders' Cup, Newspaperofrecord won the Juvenile Fillies Turf[43] and Sistercharlie triumphed in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf,[44] Brown's fourth win in that specific race, the most by any trainer. Sistercharlie was named Champion Turf Female and Brown won his third consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[3]

Brown set a North American record in 2019 with $31,112,144 in earnings, the highest ever for a trainer in a single year.[45] His achievements included three more Breeders' Cup victories, bringing his career total to fifteen, placing him third all-time among trainers. Significant wins in 2019 included Bricks and Mortar's victories in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, the Manhattan Stakes, and the Arlington Million, leading to winning the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.[3] Brown also trained Uni, who was Champion Turf Female.[3] Brown himself scored his fourth consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[3] Brown was also ranked #1 in the TRC Global Rankings, becoming the first American trainer to achieve the distinction of being the World's Number One Trainer.[5] On June 11, 2020, Brown secured his 100th Grade 1 win with Guarana in the Madison Stakes, becoming the fastest and youngest trainer to achieve 100 Grade 1 wins since the grading system began in 1973, described as a "Meteoric Rise" by the Paulick Report.[46] Brown saw his 2,000th career win in 2021 with Digital Software at Saratoga on August 7.[47]

Brown won his second Preakness Stakes in 2022 with Early Voting. In the fall, Brown increased his total Breeders' Cup wins to 16.[20] He won his eighth consecutive year-end NYRA training title,[48] and was ranked number one in the North America Training rankings, leading the United States in earnings with a total of $31,057,362, with 244 wins, and 51 Graded Stakes victories. He had nine Grade I winners and two Breeders’ Cup victories in 2023.[20]

In 2024, Brown won his fifth Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in the United States as well as winning the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse with Sierra Leone.[3] Sierra Leone was part of a dramatic three-way photo finish in Kentucky Derby, finishing second,[49][50] and won the Breeders' Cup Classic. Brown also achieved a record ninth win in the Diana Stakes with Whitebeam.[51] Additionally, Brown again won the training title at Saratoga Race Course meet with 45 wins, six in Grade I races, his seventh Saratoga title and his 32nd at a New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) meet.[52] Brown had earnings of $30,866,710 for the year, bringing his career total to $306,154,922.[20]

Year-end rankings, earnings and wins

[edit]
North American Rankings, Earnings and Wins [1]
Year # of Starts Rank by Earnings Earnings Rank by Wins Wins Win% WPS%
2007 4 4,908 $13,960 1 25% 50%
2008 155 146 $1,570,986 31 20% 50%
2009 221 112 $1,733,240 50 23% 55%
2010 307 32 $3,046,710 67 22% 56%
2011 410 15 $5,243,488 50 95 23% 56%
2012 494 5 $11,060,710 17 138 28% 63%
2013 543 3 $13,375,419 15 148 27% 61%
2014 581 2 $15,383,930 15 147 25% 57%
2015 768 2 $20,235,459 6 204 27% 57%
2016 763 1 $23,134,394 9 182 24% 57%
2017 820 1 $26,202,164 7 213 26% 61%
2018 839 1 $27,546,057 5 224 27% 61%
2019 823 1 $31,112,144 6 220 27% 62%
2020 746 4 $16,578,956 9 174 23% 60%
2021 839 3 $22,213,740 11 196 23% 58%
2022 920 1 $31,057,362 4 244 27% 52%
2023 909 4 $25,715,901 4 207 23% 54%

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Chad Brown Statistics". Equibase. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Early Voting wins 2022 Preakness Stakes". CBS News. 21 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Eclipse Awards History". NTRA.com.
  4. ^ Ehalt, Bob (23 January 2020). "Brown Earns Fourth Straight Outstanding Trainer Award". Blood-Horse LLC. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Chad Brown takes over as the world's number one trainer". TRC. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b Ehalt, Bob (21 May 2017). "Preakness master plan proves Chad Brown is a huge force on dirt too". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
  7. ^ "Chad Brown: Breeders' Cup Trainer Profile". Betfair Interactive US LLC. November 2023.
  8. ^ "Inside Track: Hometown Hero". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Trainer Bios". Keeneland Association, Inc.
  10. ^ a b "Brown's Beauties". drf.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Chad C. Brown". TJC Media Ventures.
  12. ^ a b c "No. 2 With a Bullet". saratogaliving.com. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Chad C. Brown". America's Best Racing. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d Yates, Robert (18 January 2008). "Brown new to lead role, but needs no training". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
  15. ^ a b c d "Brown gets insight from Frankel's methods". Brisnet. brisnet.com. 8 June 2012.
  16. ^ a b Pedulla, Tom (24 May 2020). "Bobby Frankel: A Natural Horseman". TJC Media Ventures.
  17. ^ Whynoap, Stephen (20 May 2017). "Chad Brown dedicates Preakness to late mentor Bobby Frankel". The Associated Press.
  18. ^ Shulman, Lenny. "Brown Hopes For Awesome Encore". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  19. ^ "Horse Profile, Dual Jewels". Equibase Company LLC.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h "Leaders by year".
  21. ^ "Horse Profile".
  22. ^ a b "Chad Brown Bio". www.keeneland.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  23. ^ "Maram". breederscup.com.
  24. ^ Marr, Esther. "Maram Wins Juv Fillies Turf Nail-Biter". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  25. ^ "Chad Brown wins first NYRA training title". Blenheim Publishing, LLC. 3 December 2010.
  26. ^ a b c Russo, Nicole (22 July 2021). "Home, sweet home: Local trainer Chad Brown enjoys a great summer, makes first Travers start".
  27. ^ "Zagora Named Champion Female Turf Horse". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  28. ^ a b "Chad Brown". The New York Racing Association.
  29. ^ "Trainer Bios". Keeneland Association, Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  30. ^ Shulman, Lenny. "Brown Looks to Build on BC Success". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  31. ^ Mitchell, Ron (26 September 2015). "'Kitten' sets record in Hirsch". ESPN Enterprises, Inc.
  32. ^ Gantz, Tracy. "Big Blue Kitten Stands Tallest as Turf Male". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  33. ^ "José Ortiz, Chad Brown Win Titles at Belmont". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  34. ^ Grening, David. "Mr Maybe wins John's Call Stakes, gives Brown 1,000th win". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  35. ^ a b BloodHorse Staff (1 September 2018). "Chad Brown Sets Saratoga Wins Record for Single Meet". Blood-Horse LLC.
  36. ^ Singelais, Mark (6 September 2016). "Chad Brown ends "dream" meet with Hopeful win". timesunion.com. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  37. ^ Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Breakthrough Eclipse for Outstanding Trainer Brown". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  38. ^ Drape, Joe (20 May 2017). "Always Dreaming's Triple Crown Hopes End as Cloud Computing Takes the Preakness". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  39. ^ Bond, Dave. "2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Results & Race Replay - Good Magic". OffTrackBetting.com.
  40. ^ Shulman, Lenny (1 December 2015). "Lady Eli Tack-Walking in Florida". Blood-Horse LLC.
  41. ^ Wilkin, Tim (26 January 2018). "Chad Brown wins Eclipse Award as top trainer". Times Union. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  42. ^ Lapell, Sara (5 September 2018). "A Record-Breaking Season Comes to a Close at the Track".
  43. ^ "2018 Breeder's Cup". breederscup.com.
  44. ^ "2018 Breeders' Cup". breederscup.com.
  45. ^ "2019 By The Numbers: North American Horse Racing's First $30-Million Earners". Paulick Report. 1 January 2020.
  46. ^ Paulick, Ray (23 July 2020). "Chad Brown's First 100 Grade 1 Wins: Individual Management, Imagination Fuel Meteoric Rise". Blenheim Publishing, LLC.
  47. ^ Wilkin, Tim (6 August 2021). "Trainer Chad Brown reaches wins milestone race at Saratoga". Times Union. The Hearst Corporation.
  48. ^ Eddy, Mary (31 December 2022). "Brown earns eighth consecutive year-end training title at NYRA; Davis earns first year-end riding title". The New York Racing Association.
  49. ^ Harris, Beth (4 May 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose in the closest 3-horse photo finish since 1947". Yahoo.
  50. ^ Reilly, Kellie (4 May 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby in three-way photo finish".
  51. ^ "Whitebeam Repeats in Diana, Brown wins 154th Grade I". 13 July 2024.
  52. ^ Eddy, Mary (2 September 2024). "Chad Brown, Brad Ortiz Jr. Take Respective Trainer, Jockey Titles At Saratoga". paulickreport.com.
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