Seven-time Eclipse Award-winning Outstanding Trainer Todd Pletcher celebrates his 50th birthday today, June 26, 2017. In recognition of Pletcher’s ‘big five-oh’, here is a timeline of major achievements in the life of one of North America’s most successful conditioners.
1967 – born June 26, in Dallas, TX
1985 – graduated James Madison High School in San Antonio, TX
1989 – graduated the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, begins working for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas
1995 – began training on his own in December
1996 – trained his first winner, Majestic Number, at Gulfstream Park on January 26
1997 – won his first New York stakes race with Jersey Girl in the Astoria
1998 – won his first graded stakes race with Rare Rock in the Gulfstream Park BC Sprint Championship Handicap (G3), won his first grade one stake with Jersey Girl in the Acorn (G1), won first NYRA meeting at Saratoga
1999 – won his first Belmont title in the Spring/Summer meeting
2002 – trained his first Champion with Left Bank, Top Older Male; registered 1,000th career victory
2004 – won his first Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup race with Ashado, first Eclipse Award as Top Trainer, won first title as leading training in North America by earnings, trained Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in Ashado and Top Sprinter with Speightstown, won his first of 14 consecutive Gulfstream Park training titles for the Championship meeting
2005 – won first Blue Grass with Bandini and Travers with Flower Alley, trained Champion Older Female Ashado, won Eclipse Award as Top Trainer
2006 – won first Haskell with Bluegrass Cat, set record of 100 stakes wins for a year and 57 graded stakes victories topping his former boss Lukas, trained Champion Older Female with Fleet Indian and Three-Year-Old Filly in Wait A While, won Eclipse Award as Top Trainer
2007 – won first Belmont Stakes with the filly Rags to Riches, trained three Champions in Rags to Riches, Lawyer Ron, and English Channel, won Eclipse Award as Top Trainer
2008 - registered 2,000th career victory on January 14
2010 – won first Kentucky Derby with Super Saver, trained Champion Two-Year-Old Uncle Mo, won Eclipse Award as Top Trainer
2012 - registered 3,000th career victory on February 12
2013 – won Belmont Stakes with Palace Malice, won Eclipse Award as Top Trainer
2014 - registered 1,000th career stakes victory on September 1, won Eclipse Award as Top Trainer
2016 – registered 4,000th career victory on March 18
2017 – won Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming and Belmont Stakes with Tapwrit
Happy Birthday, Todd!
