Top 10 Best/Worst Trainers?

[westover]

I am talking horsman here, not racing stats. David Bell is a very good trainer and has had a quiet few years. All of the trainers i listed are good horseman. Everyone sooner or later goes through a slump. David use to have a lot of nice horses for Franks Farms. With Mr. Franks gone, things changed but one thing forsure his horsemanship didn't.

Micheal Matz is a terrific horseman, but i was around for the "Jet Run" days not just his racing days. He could never be over-rated as a horse person in my eyes.. just the opposite.

Now if i had to pick the most fun to be around it would be Brian Lynch!!!

[AscotStud]

Westover,

I hear what you're saying, Bell has had a rough go of it with the Melnyk and Firestone horses as well. I wasn't just commenting on being a horseman, but a trainer. The only experience I had with Matz was at Derby time, was paranoid about reporters and people going around the barn and his horse. I can't comment on his horsemanship, but I do believe all the praise he gets. IMO someone who gets the quality of horses those two get should be batting a little higher.

[Jessi P]

Its easy to train a good horse. It takes a trainer to get anything out of a bad one.

[westover]

I can see not being happy about reporters and people being around the barn at such a critical time in the horses career. They want them well rested and unbothered as much as possible. I would feel the same way.

Micheal Matz had success prior to Barbaro & yes things quietened down after Barbaro, i think in any barn it goes in cycles. He has some good quality stock and some not so.. it takes time. I do know last year he went to see a full brother ( i am almost 100% it was a colt)of Barbaro's & the colt is the spitting image of his older brother. It will be fun to see him when he is a little older. If i could fault Matz on anything it would be that he takes a long long time to bring a horse along as he doesn't want them getting hurt. But myself i wouldn't really consider that a fault, i am sure an anxious owner might disagree.
He has owners today who supported him in his show jumping days. He really is a fantastic horseman.

David Bell does not have the stock he once did that is part of his problem. Firestones gave a bunch of horses to Ian Black. Mike Fox originally went to Reade Baker & that lasted about 2 seconds.. and then they moved him to CC Hopmans last winter in Ocala & then brought him up in the spring to Ian Blacks barn. After Ian Black won the Queens Plate, i thot it showed a lot of class on his part when he thanked C.C. & acknowledge what a good job he had done on the horse.

David had some not so talented horses of the Firestones and that was it. A majority went to Ian. David is a great horseman as well & he, Keogh, Coatrieux are all honest as the day is long & truly love the horses.
David is definitly lacking quality stock. I for one hope that turns around for him. He has won just about everything a trainer can win over the years i think.

Although yes good horses do make it easier & bad ones can separate the men from the boys. If you don't have the stock its tough. I have long thot i would rather have a horse with heart, who is short on talent than the other way around!!

[AscotStud]

Westover, I agree with you about Bell. The thing is, when you have a Derby or Oaks horse you have to expect people will be everywhere, it is a zoo the week leading up to Derby. Almost everyone handles the reporters and crowds really well. Matz was a little paranoid, and it kind of became a running joke that week (kind of like Nigels guitar in Spinal Tap "don't touch it, don't even look at it" and many others). You kind of touched on what I meant, you can't bubble wrap your horses, he tried to, it still didn't work. His numbers have actually picked up since '06.

[westover]

LOL i remember watching a race channel one day in Toronto when Terry Liebel use to host it, and she said "look who i found" she was with a particular horse that now stands at stud in the U.S. I was sitting in the trainers living room. He was pissed that she was back there unannounced when no one was around. Most horse people i think are either superstitious or somewhat weird so to speak about their horses..lol Eccentric is the word i was looking for, a friend of mine always says " why is it people with money are eccentric & poor people are just weird" lol

[AscotStud]

I could understand if someone was in the barn and nobody was there. I would be pissed too. But right after training when the horses are out grazing during Oaks/Derby week it is pretty much media time. Pretty much everyone is cool during that time...except for a few, those ones turn into to many punchlines throughout the week.

[Sheikh]

Vincent O'Brien
Vincent O'Brien
Vincent O'Brien

[Foggytrip]

Ive met and dealt with a zillion trainers. In that time I have probably come accross 5 whom I felt really were outstanding. Two have been mentioned.

[westover]

And who where they? I am assuming your speaking of Amercian trainers.

[Foggytrip]

Yes, I cant say I do much in Canada at all. Id rather not post them in here I will send you a message.