When it comes to early-season juvenile races, trainer Wesley Ward is in a league of his own đ„ Whatâs his secret? He starts training his horses before theyâve ever had a saddle on their backs.
Wesley Ward has a unique way of training which takes place at his farm in Lexington, Kentucky, not far from his base at Keeneland.
Step-By-Step: Yearlings are not led from the paddock. Instead, they learn to follow a lead pony into the barn and wander into the stalls on their own. Two yearlings go in each stall to help them stay relaxed as they are saddled. Once riders are legged up, the yearlings learn to jog down the barn aisle together, and within two weeks, theyâre cantering as a group out in the paddock. About three months later, the youngsters are headed to Florida, ready to tackle the racetrack.
This year, Wesley Ward sends a talented lineup to the Breedersâ Cup đ€© Among the top contenders who have been with Wesley since they were yearlings, the barn veteran Nakatomi (Firing Line) wi...
Tags, Events, and Projects