She has been an amateur rider, an assistant trainer, the boss of her own barn, and a groundbreaker. Brittany Russell may soon add classic-winning trainer to her résumé as well.
Each of the Triple Crown classics started as a race that was grounded in the history of its distinct location, a celebration of the sporting tradition of its region. Their union into one accomplishment came with its share of fits and starts, an evolution that was both influenced by and influential to decisions that made them the Triple Crown.
When Tonya Chaney first began volunteering with Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, she was not looking for a horse of her own. Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization located in West Virginia. At the time, Tonya was putting two children through college and thought volunteering at a rescue would be the perfect way to get her “horse fix” without the commitment of adoption. But sometimes, the right horse, or luck, has a way of changing the plan.
Horse racing carries major momentum going into the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park, even with the announcement that Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Golden Te
To Derby or not to Derby. It’s an interesting predicament facing trainers who have horses “on the cusp” of the leaderboard earning points to be a Kentucky Derby contender. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was famous for his, “You can't win it if you're not in it” philosophy.
