Chad C. Brown (born December 18, 1978) is an American racehorse trainer. Brown is widely regarded as one of the elite trainers in the world,[2] having won four consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in the United States 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.[3] In 2019, he also achieved the highest position in the World Training Standings according to the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC) Global Rankings,[4] becoming the first and only American trainer to be recognized as the World's Number One Trainer. Brown has secured two Preakness Stakes victories with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022,[5] and narrowly missing a Kentucky Derby victory in 2024 with Sierra Leone.[6] Early in his career, many sought to pigeonhole him as a "turf trainer" who specialized in fillies and mares.[7] However, Brown's success has become so diversified that he has demonstrated the ability to win at any distance, with any sex, and on any surface.[7] Brown has trained 19 Breeders' Cup winners,[8] including Sierra Leone, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic Champion, further showcasing his dominance across the sport. Over his career, he has also trained thirteen Eclipse Award winners, including, Big Blue Kitten, Lady Eli, Flintshire, Goodnight Olive, and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar.[9]
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Background
editBrown was born and raised in Mechanicville, a small city in upstate New York. His passion for horses began at an early age, sparked by family visits to the nearby Saratoga race track.[10] 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.[11]
While pursuing a degree in animal science at Cornell University, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian,[12] 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.[2][13]
Training career
editBrown's career as a trainer was significantly influenced by his five-year mentorship with Hall of Fame trainer Robert Frankel,[14] beginning in 2002. Their relationship became a pivotal part of Brown's career.[15] While Brown worked 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.[11] During this period, Brown gained invaluable experience working with some of the top racehorses in the world, including Medaglia d'Oro,[16]Empire Maker,[16]Aldebaran, Ghostzapper,[16] Intercontinental,[15] and Ginger Punch.[16] Brown credits Frankel's training methods, particularly his focus on each horse's unique strengths, as the foundation of his future success.[17] Brown even 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."[18]
In 2007, Brown gained national attention at the Breeders' Cup, when he stepped in for Bobby Frankel, who had returned to California to care for his ailing Australian Shepard named Happy.[17] Brown saddled Ginger Punch to victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.[19] marking a significant moment in his career. Shortly after, Brown established his own stable with a modest 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[15] with his second starter, Dual Jewels.[20] Dual Jewels was subsequently claimed, reducing the stable to nine horses. Brown spent the winter meet at Oaklawn Park and later moved to Keeneland, where he achieved his second win.[13] 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.[21]
By January 2008, just three months after launching his own stable, Brown expressed his ambition to follow in his mentor's footsteps, aiming to build a large, high-quality stable. "I want to be the next Bobby Frankel," Brown stated.[15] Brown's goals was to ensure his training horses received the best care possible, adhering to what he called "Bobby's System," a method of meticulous care inspired by Frankel's legacy."[15] That year, Brown competed in his first Saratoga Race Course meet,[22] finishing the meet with 6 wins from 18 starters, including the debut of the two-year-old filly Maram.[13] Maram went on to win the Miss Grillo Stakes (Grade 3) at Belmont Park, marking Brown's first graded stakes victory.[23] Then Maram went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park, giving Brown his first Breeder's Cup win at odds 11:1[24] with a purse of over $1,000,000.[24] This victory was especially poignant as it coincided with the burial of Brown's grandfather, Elmer Maynard, in Mechanicville, New York.[25]
2009: Brown won his first New York Racing Association, (NYRA), training title at the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet securing it with nine wins.[26] Silver Timber, owned by longtime client Micheal Dubb,[27] won two graded stakes, the Woodford Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and the Jaipur Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.[28]
2010: Brown saddled 17 winners at Saratoga Race Course finishing third in the standings.[29] Silver Timber added three graded stakes victories to Brown's record: the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G3), Shakertown Stakes (G3), and Woodford Stakes (G3).[28] Brown also claimed his fourth graded stakes win of the year with the European horse Tottie (GB) in the Suwannee (G3).[30]
2011: Brown won his first career Grade I race with the French-bred mare Zagora in the Diana Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.[29][21] Just two weeks later, he secured his second Grade I victory with Stacelita (FR), in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park.[29] Stacelita (FR) was previously based out of Europe and Brown had recently taken over her training. Stacelita (FR) went on to win the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf under his guidance. These successes earned Stacelita (FR) the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.[12]
2012: Zagora (FR), 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.[31] Brown tied for the Belmont Racetrack fall training title and his second NYRA training title with 21 wins.[32]
2013: Brown ranked third among North American trainers by earning $13,395,419 in purse money.[21] Highlights included Big Blue Kitten's victories in the United Nations Handicap, the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Race Course and 90 minutes later Brown took down the Arlington Million with Real Solution for Ken and Sarah Ramsey,[23] and also won the Belmont Racetrack fall training title with 26 wins.[32]
2014: Brown's success continued with three Breeders' Cup victories: Lady Eli in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Dayatthespa in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Bobby's Kitten in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.[33] Brown was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer,[34] with his stable earning $15,383,930 in purse money.[21] Dayatthespa was also named the Eclipse Award Champion Turf Female.[9]
2015: At the Breeders' Cup, Brown earned wins with both Stephanie's Kitten in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Wavell Avenue in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.[1] Big Blue Kitten also achieved several victories including setting a course record in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes,[35] finishing second in the Arlington Million, and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Big Blue Kitten's consistency would earn him the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Male.[36]
2016: Brown took over the training of Juddmonte Farm's Flintshire, previously campaigned internationally by André Fabre. Flintshire won the Manhattan Stakes (G1) in his first start under Brown's guidance, helping Brown secure the trainer title for the Belmont spring/summer meet.[37] On August 24, Brown earned his 1,000th career win with Mr. Maybe at Saratoga Race Course.[38] He ended the Saratoga meet with the trainers title and a record of 40 wins,[39] capped by a victory in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) with Practical Joke, marking his first graded stakes win on the dirt at Saratoga.[40] Brown led all American trainers in earnings[21] and graded stakes wins, earning him the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[41]
2017: Brown won his first Triple Crown race with Cloud Computing in the Preakness Stakes.[42] Cloud Computing, a lightly raced colt making only his forth career start,[7] pulled off an upset victory at odds 13:1.[7] Later that year, he secured another major triumph when Good Magic captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.[43] earning the Eclipse Award for Champion Two Year Old Colt.[9] Additionally, Lady Eli who recovered from a severe case of laminitis under Brown's care,[44] won the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.[9] Brown continued to excel, ranking number one in the trainers standings and receiving his second Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer[9] after his trainees won 16 Grade I races and earned $26,202,164 million in purse money leading North America in money won for the second year in a row.[45]
2018: Brown had an exceptional year, leading North America with 20 Grade 1 victories and securing 47 graded wins overall. His stable earned $27,546,057 in purse earnings,[21] the second-highest ever recorded by a trainer in a single year. He also broke his own record at Saratoga Race Course, with 46 wins in a single meet.[46][39] At the Breeders' Cup, Newspaperofrecord remained unbeaten this season by winning the Juvenile Fillies Turf[47] and Sistercharlie triumphed in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.[48] This victory marked Brown's fourth win in that specific race, the most by any trainer. Sistercharlie's outstanding performance throughout the year earned her the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.[9] These remarkable achievements earned Brown his third consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[9]
2019: Brown set a North American record with $31,112,144 in earnings, the highest ever for a trainer in a single year.[49] 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 (G1), the Manhattan Stakes (G!), and the Arlington Million (G1), solidifying Bricks and Mortar's status as the winner of the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.[9] Brown also trained Uni, who won the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.[9] Brown's outstanding performance throughout the year earned him his fourth consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[9] Brown was also ranked #1 in the TRC Global Rankings,[4] becoming the first American trainer to achieve the distinction of being the World's Number One Trainer.
2020: On June 11, Brown reached a significant milestone by securing his 100th Grade 1 win with Guarana in the Madison Stakes and that same afternoon Rushing Fall win in the Jenny Wiley Stakes added his 101st Grade 1 win. Brown became the fastest and youngest trainer to achieve 100 Grade 1 wins since the grading system began in 1973, a feat described as a "Meteoric Rise" by Paulick Report.[50] Rushing Fall also won the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Rushing Fall's success throughout the year contributed to her being named the Eclipse Award winner for Champion Turf Female.[9] Brown's stable earned $16,596,956 in earnings and he finished fourth in the North America Trainer Standings.[21]
2021: Brown achieved another milestone in his training career by recording his 2,000th career win with Digital Software at Saratoga Race Course on August 7.[51] Over the course of the year, Brown accumulated seven Grade 1 wins and a total of 33 graded stakes victories. Notable Grade 1 achievements included the Turf Classic Stakes and the Manhattan Stakes with Domestic Spending, as well as the Acorn Stakes with Search Results.
Brown also won his sixth consecutive training title at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, securing 32 victories, including two Grade 1 wins on Belmont Stakes Day.[52] Additionally, Brown was a finalist in the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and finished third in the Trainer's North America standings, with his stable earning $22,213,740 in purse money.[21]
2022: Brown won the 147th Preakness Stakes with Early Voting, marking his second victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He also secured a win in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes with Zandon, who subsequently finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, Brown won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with Goodnight Olive, increasing his total Breeders' Cup wins to 16. Goodnight Olive was also named the Eclipse Award U.S. Champion Female Sprint Horse.
Brown showed a lot a of diversity in his wins from dirt spinners to route grass horses, both male and female which helped him earn his eighth consecutive year-end NYRA training title[53] and was ranked number one in the North America Training rankings, leading the United States in earnings with a total of $31,057,362,[21] 244 wins, and 51 Graded Stakes victories—18 more than the second-place trainer—achieving this with 98 fewer starts than his closest competitor.
2023: Brown trained nine individual Grade 1 winners and secured two Breeders’ Cup victories: the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Hard to Justify and the Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with Goodnight Olive, marking her second consecutive win in this race. These victories brought Brown's total Breeders’ Cup wins to 18. Blazing Sevens also finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) the second leg of the Triple Crown. Additionally, Brown was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and led his horses to earnings totaling $25,715,901, finishing third in the North America Trainer Rankings.[21]
2024: Brown's horse, Sierra Leone, was part of most dramatic three-way photo finish in Kentucky Derby history. After a several minute delay, sorting out the closest three-horse photo since 1947,[54] Sierra Leone ultimately placed second.[55] Sierra Leone came back to win the Breeders Cup Classic, a seven million dollar race. Brown also achieved a record ninth win in the Diana Stakes with Whitebeam, who secured her second consecutive victory in this event.[56] Additionally, Brown won the training title at Saratoga Race Course meet with 45 wins, 23 more wins than the second-place trainer. Six of these victories were in Grade I races. This gives Brown his seventh Saratoga Training Titles and his 32nd training title at a New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) meet.[57] As of November 2nd, Brown is ranked first in the North America Trainer Rankings, with earnings of $29,256.950 for the year, bringing his career earnings to $300,435,362 million[21]
Records held
editYear-end rankings, earnings and wins
edit| North American Rankings, Earnings and Wins[1] | |||||||
| Year | # of Starts | Ranked by Earnings | Actual Earnings | Ranked by Wins | Actual Wins | Win% | WPS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 766 | 1 | $29,406,950 ongoing | 8 | 199 ongoing | 24% | 55% |
| 2023 | 909 | 4 | $25,715,901 | 4 | 207 | 23% | 54% |
| 2022 | 920 | 1 | $31,057,362 | 4 | 244 | 27% | 52% |
| 2021 | 839 | 3 | $22,213,740 | 11 | 196 | 23% | 58% |
| 2020 | 746 | 4 | $16,578,956 | 9 | 174 | 23% | 60% |
| 2019 | 823 | 1 | $31,112,144 | 6 | 220 | 27% | 62% |
| 2018 | 839 | 1 | $27,546,057 | 5 | 224 | 27% | 61% |
| 2017 | 820 | 1 | $26,202,164 | 7 | 213 | 26% | 61% |
| 2016 | 763 | 1 | $23,134,394 | 9 | 182 | 24% | 57% |
| 2015 | 768 | 2 | $20,235,459 | 6 | 204 | 27% | 57% |
| 2014 | 581 | 2 | $15,383,930 | 15 | 147 | 25% | 57% |
| 2013 | 543 | 3 | $13,375,419 | 15 | 148 | 27% | 61% |
| 2012 | 494 | 5 | $11,060,710 | 17 | 138 | 28% | 63% |
| 2011 | 410 | 15 | $5,243,488 | 50 | 95 | 23% | 56% |
| 2010 | 307 | 32 | $3,046,710 | 67 | 22% | 56% | |
| 2009 | 221 | 112 | $1,733,240 | 50 | 23% | 55% | |
| 2008 | 155 | 146 | $1,570,986 | 31 | 20% | 50% | |
| 2007 | 4 | 4,908 | $13,960 | 1 | 25% | 50% | |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Chad Brown Statistics". Equibase. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Chad C. Brown". TJC Media Ventures.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob (23 January 2020). "Brown Earns Fourth Straight Outstanding Trainer Award". Blood-Horse LLC. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Chad Brown takes over as the world's number one trainer". TRC. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Early Voting wins 2022 Preakness Stakes".
- ^ Press Office, Maryland Jocky Club (14 May 2024). "Trainer Chad Brown Looking Ahead To Preakness After 'Difficult' Nose Loss In Kentucky Derby". Blenheim Publishing. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ehalt, Bob (21 May 2017). "Preakness master plan proves Chad Brown is a huge force on dirt too". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
- ^ "Chad Brown: Breeders' Cup Trainer Profile". Betfair Interactive US LLC.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Eclipse Awards History". NTRA.com.
- ^ "Inside Track: Hometown Hero". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Trainer Bios". Keeneland Association, Inc.
- ^ a b "Brown's Beauties". drf.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Chad C. Brown". America's Best Racing. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Yates, Robert (18 January 2008). "Brown new to lead role, but needs no training". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
- ^ a b c d "Brown gets insight from Frankel's methods". brisnet.com. 8 June 2012.
- ^ a b Pedulla, Tom (24 May 2020). "Bobby Frankel: A Natural Horseman". TJC Media Ventures.
- ^ Whynoap, Stephen (20 May 2017). "Chad Brown dedicates Preakness to late mentor Bobby Frankel". The Associated Press.
- ^ Shulman, Lenny. "Brown Hopes For Awesome Encore". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Horse Profile, Dual Jewels". Equibase Company LLC.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Leaders by year".
- ^ "Horse Profile".
- ^ a b "Chad Brown Bio". www.keeneland.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Maram". breederscup.com.
- ^ Marr, Esther. "Maram Wins Juv Fillies Turf Nail-Biter". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ "Chad Brown wins first NYRA training title". Blenheim Publishing, LLC.
- ^ Law, Tom (23 July 2022). "Brown runs 1-2 in the Lake George".
- ^ a b "Horse Profile".
- ^ a b c Russo, Nicole (22 July 2021). "Home, sweet home: Local trainer Chad Brown enjoys a great summer, makes first Travers start".
- ^ "Horse profile – Tottie".
- ^ "Zagora Named Champion Female Turf Horse". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Chad Brown". The New York Racing Association.
- ^ "Trainer Bios". Keeneland Association, Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Shulman, Lenny. "Brown Looks to Build on BC Success". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ Mitchell, Ron (26 September 2015). "'Kitten' sets record in Hirsch". ESPN Enterprises, Inc.
- ^ Gantz, Tracy. "Big Blue Kitten Stands Tallest as Turf Male". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ "José Ortiz, Chad Brown Win Titles at Belmont". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ Grening, David. "Mr Maybe wins John's Call Stakes, gives Brown 1,000th win". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b BloodHorse Staff (1 September 2018). "Chad Brown Sets Saratoga Wins Record for Single Meet". Blood-Horse LLC.
- ^ "Chad Brown ends "dream" meet with Hopeful win". timesunion.com. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Breakthrough Eclipse for Outstanding Trainer Brown". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bond, Dave. "2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Results & Race Replay - Good Magic". OffTrackBetting.com.
- ^ Shulman, Lenny (1 December 2015). "Lady Eli Tack-Walking in Florida". Blood-Horse LLC.
- ^ Wilkin, Tim (26 January 2018). "Chad Brown wins Eclipse Award as top trainer". Times Union. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Lapell, Sara (5 September 2018). "A Record-Breaking Season Comes to a Close at the Track".
- ^ "2018 Breeder's Cup". breederscup.com.
- ^ "2018 Breeders' Cup". breederscup.com.
- ^ "2019 By The Numbers: North American Horse Racing's First $30-Million Earners". Paulick Report. 1 January 2020.
- ^ Paulick, Ray (23 July 2020). "Chad Brown's First 100 Grade 1 Wins: Individual Management, Imagination Fuel Meteoric Rise". Blenheim Publishing, LLC.
- ^ Wilkin, Tim (6 August 2021). "Trainer Chad Brown reaches wins milestone race at Saratoga". The Hearst Corporation.
- ^ McCalmont, Keith (31 December 2021). "Brown, Ortiz register year-end NYRA titles". Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Harris, Beth (4 May 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose in the closest 3-horse photo finish since 1947". Yahoo.
- ^ Reilly, Kellie (4 May 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby in three-way photo finish".
- ^ "Whitebeam Repeats in Diana, Brown wins 154th Grade I". 13 July 2024.
- ^ Eddy, Mary (2 September 2024). "Chad Brown, Brad Ortiz Jr. Take Respective Trainer, Jockey Titles At Saratoga". paulickreport.com.