Carla Gaines
Carla Gaines (born c. 1952) is a California-based American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Since earning her trainer's license in 1989, Gaines's horses have won nearly $39 million in earnings over the course of her career. In 2015 she made history as the 16th woman trainer to take a horse to the Kentucky Derby, where she ran Bolo to a twelfth-place finish.
Biography
[edit]Gaines was born and raised in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Gaines had a passion for horses since she was a child, riding on her grandfather's farm and later competing in hunter-jumper classes.[1][2] She attended the University of Alabama where she received an undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology, and later pursued a master's degree in counseling at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.[3] As a youth, she competed horses and got into racing after working as an exercise rider.[4] Prior to becoming a race trainer, Gaines worked with counselling troubled youth.[5] Gaines turned to horses after her early forays into counselling negatively affected her mental health.[6][7]
In the mid-1980s she moved to Northern California to pursue a new dream as a racing trainer. In 1989 received her trainer’s license. After several years of working on the Northern California racing circuit, Gaines relocated permanently to Southern California in 1996.[5][8]
"We used to use a stick which was far more severe for decades. It left welts. I rode horses all my life. I think the stick is necessary."[9] Carla Gaines speaking about prospective whip rules in racing and her approach to riding.
As of 2025, Gaines's horses have earned over $39 million in race winnings over the course of her career across nearly 5,000 starts, with $1.35 million earned in 2024 alone.[8] Gaines is based at Santa Anita and resides in Pasadena, California.[10]
Prominent horses
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In 2007, Gaines' trainee Nashoba’s Key would go to win over $1m in winnings in just ten races before being euthanized after an accident.[11][12] Nashoba's Key was named the 2009 California Horse of the Year and later inducted into the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame in 2023.[13]
In 2009, Gaines had the biggest win of her career when Dancing in Silks won the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park.[14] Dancing in Silks owner advocated to enter the horse in the race against Gaines' advice.[15] A longshot at the start of the race, Dancing in Silks won a purse of $1,080,000 for his victory in the race.[16] Dancing in Silks was later named the 2009 California Horse of the Year, sharing the honor with California Flag.[17][18]
In 2010-2011, Gaines campaigned Malibu Pier to multiple stakes wins and a place in the La Brea Handicap.[19]
In 2015, Gaines brought Bolo to the Kentucky Derby, making history as the sixteenth female trainer to campaign a horse in the race.[20][5][21] Bolo would end up finishing twelfth in the Derby. Four years later in 2019, Bolo won the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Santa Anita Park.[22][23]
In 2024, her trainee mare Closing Remarks was named the 2023 Champion California-bred Turf Horse and Champion California-bred Older Female by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.[24] Closing Remarks was retired from racing in March 2024.[25]
In 2024, Gaines's trainee Hot Girl Walk won the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes in Del Mar, California.[26]
Controversies
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Gaines has served several suspensions for violating racing regulations with regards to controlled substances. In 2013, Gaines was fined $2,500 and suspended for 30 days after two of her horses were found to test positive for testosterone the previous year.[27][28] The suspension gained notoriety at the time as Gaines still visited the track despite being officially disqualified for attending.[29]
In 2019, her trainee Charge A Bunch was killed instantly after colliding with another horse during training.[30] The accident became highly publicized due to the death of two other horses involved, which were trained by Bob Baffert, as well as due to the Del Mar track's reputation for safety.[31]
In 2023, Gaines was fined $1,000 and suspended for seven days after horses in her care tested positive for the banned tranquilizer acepromazine.[32] She was additionally issued two penalty points.[33]
In 2024, she was fined and received 1.5 Penalty Points for a medication violation which found the presence of Flunixin, a controlled substance in Big Summer after the horse's win in Del Mar.[34]
References
[edit]- ^ Inabinett, Mark (2015-04-28). "Kentucky Derby 2015: Alabama native Carla Gaines seeks historic win in 141st Run for the Roses". al. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Lintner, Jonathan. "Video | Female trainer bidding for Derby win". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Clay, John (November 12, 2015). "John Clay: Carla Gaines, trainer of Derby contender Bolo, left psychology for the racetrack". Lexington Herald-Leader.
- ^ "Female Trainers Find Room to Work, Prosper on the Backstretch". www.dmtc.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ a b c Register, Josh Abner | Orange County (2015-04-30). "Carla Gaines aims to become first woman trainer to win Kentucky Derby". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Carla Gaines from Bad Blood to Thoroughbreds". The Independent.
- ^ "Carla Gaines bids to be first woman trainer to win Pacific Classic". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ a b "Carla Gaines". www.americasbestracing.net. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Whip rules — North American Article Index". Trainer Magazine. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Wilson |, Art (2008-12-26). "For trainer Gaines, it's the best of times and the worst of times". Daily News. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Gantz, Tracy (May 28, 2008). "Nashoba's Key Dies in Freak Accident". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Wilson |, Art (2008-05-29). "Accident leads to euthanizing of mare Nashoba's Key". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Anita, Victor Ryan/Santa (2023-03-12). "'Consummate, Tenacious Racehorse': Gaines Reflects On Nashoba's Key Induction Into CTBA Hall Of Fame". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Dancing in Silks - Hall of Champions". breederscup.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ CTBA. "Carla Gaines | CTBA". Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Dancing in Silks upsets Sprint in 4-way photo". ESPN.com. 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Dancing in Silks retired-again". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Hollywood's Kerlan an important test for Dancing in Silks". www.drf.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Spendthrift homebred Malibu Pier second in G1 La Brea". Spendthrift - A Kentucky Thoroughbred Stallion Farm. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Saxon, Jonathan. "This female trainer could make history if horse Hidden Stash wins the Kentucky Derby". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Kentucky Derby notes: Lovely Maria wins Kentucky Oaks". Los Angeles Times. 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ www.bloodhorse.com https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/233912/bolo-pulls-off-shoemaker-mile-shocker-at-30-1. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "'Godspeed Old Friend': Grade 1 Winner Bolo Retired From Racing". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "The Chosen Vron Voted California's 2023 Horse Of The Year". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ P (2024-03-08). "Harris Homebred Millionaire Closing Remarks Retires - Harris Farms". Harris Farms. Archived from the original on 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Hot Girl Walk Greedy in Generous Portion". Past The Wire. 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ Zieralski, Ed (2012-09-12). "Carla Gaines' fillies tested over for testosterone". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Horse Trainer Suspended for Testosterone Levels in Horses". Del Mar-Carmel Valley, CA Patch. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Suspended trainer OK to visit Del Mar". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2013-08-11. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "More horses die as racing continues". HS Insider. 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Third horse dies during training at Del Mar Racetrack". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "Peter Miller, Carla Gaines Will Each Serve Seven-Day Suspension For Acepromazine Positives". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ "HIWU Weekly Update: Trainer Suspended 4.5 Years, Fined $37,500 For Three Banned Substance Positives". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ^ TDN, The (2024-12-18). "Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Dec. 12-18". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. Retrieved 2025-02-04.