The Bottom Line
Pros
- Interesting behind-the-scenes look at the lives of America's top trainers
- The trainers were very candid and honest, and most spoke out against drug use
- Useful statistical summary of each trainer's career is included at the end of each chapter
- Written by the daughter of a Hall of Fame trainer, who clearly understands the business
Cons
- May not be of use to racing fans who don't follow the "human interest stories"
Description
- Steve Asmussen originally wanted to be a jockey like his brother Cash, but switched to training when he grew too large
- Richard Dutrow Jr. was born into a racing family, learning under his father Dick Dutrow in Maryland
- Bobby Frankel, with no racing background, got a job as a hotwalker for 3 months then decided to take out a trainer's license
- Neil Howard is the private trainer for William Farish's Lane's End Farm, and shows how it is different from public training
- Allen Jerkens became "giant killer" because he isn't scared to take a shot against a favorite rather than "duck".
- Carl Nafzger started off as a rodeo bull-rider before moving into training as an assistant for John Nerud and Tartan Farm
- Todd Pletcher with a degree in animal science, began as an assistant to his father J.J. in Texas, and then to D. Wayne Lukas
- Nick Zito stables at Saratoga away from the crowds at Belmont and to take advantage of the deep Oklahoma training track.
Guide Review - The Training Game by Karen M. Johnson
Thoroughbred racing is well-known for its interesting human and equine characters. In her new book, Karen M. Johnson, daughter of Hall of Fame trainer P.G. Johnson, examines the lives and careers of eight of American racing's most accomplished active trainers. At the time of writing, the trainers she interviewed for the book have combined to win 13 Triple Crown races, 17 Breeders' Cup races, 36 divisional championships, and more than $861 million in purse earnings in North America.The eight men Johnson chose for the book, listed above, are all successful Thoroughbred racehorse trainers, but that is where the similarities end. They came from all parts of the country, from different walks of life, and got into the sport in different ways. And like every other trainer in the world, they all had to start small and work their way up.
In separate, detailed chapters, resulting from very thorough interviews, each trainer offers his unique, invaluable insights on a specific, integral aspect of their stable operation. These masters of the craft will surprise and intrigue racing aficionados as they candidly reveal their systems and techniques. Each chapter ends with a statistical summary of the subject trainer's career, listing the win percentage and ROI for the trainer angles found in the DRF past performances, Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown statistics, career summary through February 8, 2009, as well as records set and other notable achievements such as Hall of Fame induction year.
Karen M. Johnson has done a masterful job telling the story about eight of racing's most successful trainers, from the point of view of a life-long horsewoman who personally observed a master in action, her father.
