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Carl Nafzger
Top Associated Horses: Lady Carlock,
Elusive Sparkle,
Polished,
Dobra,
Getalong,
Sweetest Song
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2010 Record: (4-2-1-0)
2010 Earnings: $29,050
2010 Win %: 50% In-The-Money %: 75%
Born: Aug. 29, 1941, Plainview, Texas
Residence: Calls his ranch in Olton, Texas, home
Family: wife Wanda, whom he met while traveling on the rodeo circuit
Professional Background: Grew up on a farm in Olton, Texas, and from his early years was fascinated by the bulls his father raised ... That led him to the rodeo where he spent several years as a very successful bull rider on the national rodeo circuit, ranking No. 3 in the world in 1963 ... He went to the national rodeo finals three straight years, 1963-65 ... Authored the book, "Traits of a Winner: The Formula for Developing Thoroughbred Racehorses." ... Inducted in the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2007 ... Inducted into Racing's National Hall of Fame in 2008
Racing Background: Took out his trainer's license in 1968, the year he married Wanda in Cheyenne, Wyoming ... Wanda grew up in a sheep ranch in South Dakota and was working as special eduction teacher when she met Nafzger as he came through South Dakota on the rodeo circuit ... In 1970, the Nafzgers, along with his father and brothers pooled their resources and bought two yearlings at Keeneland's September sale ... In those days, they did all the work themselves. Wanda groomed them, while Carl exercised and shod them
Racing Career: Won the 1990 Eclipse Award as the nation's leading trainer ... Has trained three Eclipse Award winners: 1990 3-year-old male Unbridled, 1998 3-year-old filly Banshee Breeze and 2006 2-year-old male Street Sense ... Won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic with Unbridled, which led to the Big Sport of Turfdom Award, given by the Turf Publicists of America. He was again recipient of the award in 2007 ... Won 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and 2007 Kentucky Derby with Street Sense, who became the first horse to win both races in the 23-year history of the Breeders' Cup. The homebred son of Street Cry went on to win the Jim Dandy and the Travers at the Saratoga meet ... Nafzger also won the 2007 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga with Lady Joanne, a hopeful for this year's Distaff ... Both 2007 Breeders' Cup starters, Street Sense and Lady Joanne, finished fourth in their respective races ... Nafzger saddled his first stakes winner in 1971 when Speedy Karen won the Fiesta Derby Handicap at Santa Fe Downs ... Credits legendary horseman John Nerud for giving him the push he needed for a successful career ... He said Nerud did three things for him: "He put good horses in my barn, he gave me the confidence to stick to my own theories and he kept owners off my back until I could prove that I could train horses." ... Other top horses trained by Nafzger include Fairway Phantom, Coolawin, Home At Last, Unshaded, Westerly Breeze, My Boston Gal, Vicar, Solvig, Til Forbid, Jeano, Star Choice, Binalong, Lead Story, Eurosilver, Mayo on the Side, Last Song, Two Punch Gal, Belterra and Alannan ... Nafzger turned over the day-to-day operation of his stable to longtime assistant Ian Wilkes in January 2006 ... Wilkes and his wife Tracy, both natives of Australia, have been with Nafzger since Ian was the exercise rider for Unbridled. Tracy currently is the exercise rider for Street Sense ... Nafzger hasn't retired, just cut back on his involvement, sticking with two long-time owners, James Tafel, owner of Street Sense, and Bentley Smith, son-in-law of the late owner of Unbridled, Frances Genter ... Through Dec. 31, 2007, the Nafzger stable was ranked 23rd in earnings with $4,378,855. His runners had won 18 of 77 starts.
NOTE: Bio stats include North American and selected international races. Click here to view selected international race list. Biographies on jockeys, trainers and owners are from the Breeders' Cup World Championships events from 2001 through 2009, and are intended as informational resources. Biographies will be updated if an individual is again a participant in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Biographies are available for most horses appearing in the top 100 money earnings list, and/or for those who are frequently making headlines in the news starting with the 2006 Triple Crown season.
