Trainer Rick Dutrow has been waiting for this day for over a decade, a day when he could walk into the barn of a New York racetrack and get back to work.
This morning, Dutrow walked into Barn 28 on the Belmont Park backstretch.
There was no assistant, grooms or hotwalkers there to greet him, only tack that’s been in storage for 10 years and needed cleaning, which precisely what he was doing when we spoke to him by phone today.
Dutrow sounded upbeat and relieved that the day had come. “I just need some help to get started,” he said.
And help will come when horses occupy the empty stalls in Barn 28.
Dutrow has heard from some of his former clients who are anxious to get started. Former clients such as Sandy Goldfarb, who gave Dutrow his first leg up in New York, Jimmy Riccio, Vincent Scuderi, just to name a few.
The Jay Em Ess Stable of Samantha Siegel, and Michael Dubb, a member of the New York Racing Association Board of Directors, are two successful, high-profile owners interested in renewing their relationship with the 2008 Kentucky Derby-winning, 2005 Horse of the Year-developing horseman.
“It will take time, but we’re back and looking forward to the future,” said Dutrow.
5 Responses
This is a fantastic update. I swear if I ever came upon the money to own a horse, I would go to the backstretch myself and BEG Rick Dutrow to train for me.
BTW – what was the actual reason Vic Stauffer was fired from Oaklawn? It couldn’t possibly be for that tweet could it? I mean, who is the adult at OP that read that tweet and lost their shit? That is taking sensitive snowflake to a brand new level. I think I’m done ever betting another penny at Oaklawn.
Doc, a trusted source informs me that it was the tweet “and other issues” that were responsible for the firing. I can only say this is not the first time that Vic has run afoul of his employers. And that’s too bad. He is one of the best race callers in the country, IMO. Thanks…
Au contraire. I had a lot to say here about the hiring and was very critical of the race caller at that time. I posted on Twitter several week ago that I believe Ms Paquette is much improved, and I stand by that.
Parx set her up to fail by throwing her to the wolves too early. IMO, she is making progress every day. Tough job!
If there’s a desk in Ricks barn, he should have the draws removed or locked and bolted closed. Criminal what was done to this man, yet he was the only person to have served time. Glad to see him back on the job and wish him only success.
I’m sure he’ll be pleased to hear this, will pass that along next time I speak with him. Thanks McD…