W. Elliott Walden

W. Elliott Walden (born February 10, 1963 in Lexington, Kentucky) is the President and CEO of racing operations for WinStar Farm near Versailles, Kentucky and a former Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.[1]

W. Elliott Walden
OccupationTrainer / Executive
BornFebruary 10, 1963
Lexington, Kentucky
Career wins1,017
Major racing wins
Regret Stakes (1990)
Red Smith Handicap (1992)
Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes (1994)
Arlington Classic (1995, 2002)
Niagara Handicap (1995)
Pocahontas Stakes (1995)
Round Table Stakes (1995)
Secretariat Stakes (1995)
Amsterdam Stakes (1996)
Bourbonette Oaks (1996)
Busher Stakes (1996)
Louisville Handicap (1996)
Selene Stakes (1996)
American Turf Stakes (1997)
Boiling Springs Stakes (1997)
Florida Oaks (1997)
Lone Star Park Handicap (1997)
Salvator Mile Handicap (1997, 1999)
Ack Ack Handicap (1998)
Arkansas Derby (1998)
Rebel Stakes (1998)
Ballston Spa Handicap (1999, 2000)
Blue Grass Stakes (1999)
Bourbon Stakes (1999,2001)
Hillsborough Stakes (1999,2000)
Haskell Invitational Handicap (1999)
Hutcheson Stakes (1999)
Jenny Wiley Stakes (1999)
Jim Dandy Stakes (1999)
Risen Star Stakes (1999)
Stephen Foster Handicap (1999)
Super Derby (1999)
Whitney Handicap (1999)
Hollywood Derby (2000)
Iroquois Stakes (2000)
Kent Stakes (2000)
Spinster Stakes (2000)
Derby Trial Stakes (2001)
Gallorette Handicap (2001)
Just A Game Stakes (2001)
Adirondack Stakes (2002)
Churchill Downs Debutante Stakes (2002)
Cornhusker Handicap (2002)
Spinaway Stakes (2002)
Wishing Well Stakes (2003)
Pan American Stakes (2003, 2004) American Classic Race wins:
Belmont Stakes (1998)
Significant horses
Distorted Humor, Ipi Tombe,
License Fee, Menifee, Victory Gallop

Early life

From a racing family, Walden grew up in the industry. As a kid, Walden cleaned stalls, washed horses and was riding horses since he was young.[2] Walden's father attached a basketball hoop on top of one of the stalls which racehorse No Robbery was in, and Elliott would play basketball there with his brother Ben Jr.[2]

Career

He worked as an assistant for high-profile trainers such as LeRoy Jolley and John Gosden before taking out his trainers' license in 1985 and trained four horses for his father, Ben P. Walden, Sr.

In 1998, Elliott Walden conditioned Victory Gallop to a win in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series.[3] The following year Victory Gallop gave Walden his first Champion when he was voted the 1999 American Champion Older Male Horse.[4] In 2001, Walden trained License Fee to victory in the Just a Game Stakes.[5]

In 2002 Walden took over training of the Winstar Farm racing stable and in 2003 was appointed vice president of racing and bloodstock services. Since 2010, Walden has served as the CEO of Winstar Farms.[6]

Personal life

Walden's wife Rebecca is a native of England.[2] Walden and his wife Rebecca have fourth children together. The fourth is the prettiest, and the best of the four. She is a joy to Elliott’s life. Her name is megan wi[2] Elliott Walden is a born again Christian.[2]

References
  1. Elliott Walden at WinStar Farm
  2. "A Trainer Who Rode Before He Walked". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  3. New York Times - June 7, 1998
  4. Associated Press Archive - January 18, 2000
  5. "Just A Game for License Fee". BloodHorse.com. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  6. "WinStar's Walden". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 19 October 2018.


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