Andrew Leggio, Jr.

Birthdate: January 15, 1934

Birthplace: Rockford, Ill.

Residence: Metairie, La.

Family: late wife, Joyce (deceased; married 55 years); three children

Andy Leggio was a teenager living in New Orleans when he was introduced to racing by his father. Leggio soon found work with racehorses and learned to ride in hopes of becoming a jockey. He rode in about 25 races before being drafted and when he returned from four years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he had outgrown his jockey stature but continued working as an exercise rider.

Leggio switched to being a trainer in 1970 and carved out a niche for himself at tracks in Louisiana, where he prefers to race year-round. His first nationally prominent horse was Happy Ticket, who won a Grade 1 race at Saratoga Race Course in 2005, the day before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region and heavily damaged Leggio’s home in the suburbs of New Orleans. Proving Happy Ticket was no fluke, Leggio hit the big time again with St. John’s River, whose accomplishments include a runner-up effort in the 2011 Kentucky Oaks.

Leggio also has trained a number of regionally prominent horses that have been standouts in Texas and Louisiana.