Wachtel Stable

Owner(s): Adam Wachtel
Born: July 9, 1962, Suffern, N.Y.
Residence: Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
Family: wife Susan; stepchildren Lauren and Matthew; daughter Emma
Education: Earned B.B.A. in business administration in 1984 and J.D. in 1988 from Emory University
Professional Background: Breeds and syndicates racehorses under the name of Wachtel Stable
Racing Background: As the son of prominent New York owner Ed Wachtel who came into the business in 1973, he literally grew up at the racetrack. “I’ve been going to the races since I was 10 years old,” he said. “Even though I went to law school, I don’t practice. I’ve always loved this, and it is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I bought my first horse Ms. Stalwart when I was in college and we still have her. She was one of our best broodmares."
Racing Operation: In 1980 he became partners with his father and then took over the breeding end of the operation … Keeps 30 horses in training with trainers Bill Mott, Richard Schosberg, John DeStefano, Dale Romans and Joe Devereux ... “I’ve brought a lot of people into the business who never owned a piece of a horse before,” he said ... He discovered future graded stakes winner and two-time Breeders’ Cup starter Attila’s Storm running in Southern California when he was a 2-year-old and tried to buy him after his second race. “I buy all of my horses based upon numbers in the Ragozin Sheets,” he said. “I loved him.” In January of 2005, the owner agreed to sell and Adam shipped the horse to New York to race for an ownership that also includes Brous Stable, Barry K. Schwartz and Double S Stable … Attila’s Storm, trained by Schosberg, is Wachtel’s only Breeders’ Cup starter. He was fourth in the 2005 Sprint and fifth in 2006 ... “He’s given us a lot of thrills,” Wachtel said of Attila’s Storm. “Not only is he the most talented horse I’ve been around, he has the most heart. He never runs a bad race. He’s a warrior. Some high-profile speed horses have tried to run with him early, but they have paid the price and finished up the track.”... Due to the large crowd at Belmont Park for the 2005 Breeders’ Cup, Wachtel was waiting in line to make a bet when the Sprint went off. After he was shut out from wagering, Wachtel watched the race from the television monitor as Attila’s Storm, a 45-1 shot, completed a $35,358 superfecta ... Attila’s Storm, sent off at 42-1 in the 2006 Sprint, wound up only a length behind runner-up Friendly Island ... Wachtel and Nils Brous also own multiple stakes winner Desert Wheat, whose 2007 wins include a victory in the Shiskabob at Louisiana Downs ... Wachtel also was part owner of Thetactics Ofdance, winner of the Cozy Blues at Belmont Park and Turf Distaff at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Bill Mott in 2006 ... He owns two stallions who are based in New York ... Smokin Mel, who won the 1997 Gotham and was third in the Wood Memorial, stands at Keane Stud in New York, where he also has 20 broodmares ... Wachtel, a strong supporter of the New York breeding program, recently moved his other stallion, One Nice Cat, to New York.