George R. Arnold, II

Birthdate: March 26, 1955

Birthplace: Paris, Ky.

Residence(s): Lexington, Ky. and Boca Raton, Fla.

Family: wife, Sarah

A third generation horseman whose late father was a longtime Thoroughbred trainer on the Ohio-Kentucky circuit, George R. “Rusty” Arnold II grew up with horses in the famed Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky.

Arnold attended the University of Kentucky before focusing full time on racing. After working as an exercise rider and assistant trainer, Arnold obtained his trainer’s license in 1975 and has churned out a steady stream of high-quality runners since, while basing his stable primarily at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, South Florida during the winter, and at Saratoga Race Course in the summer.

Arnold is respected for his low-key nature and allowing his horses to do the figurative “talking.” He is particularly adept at winning at Keeneland, where he ranks among the all-time leading trainers. His wife, Sarah, is an artist who assists him by riding alongside the racehorses during morning training while Rusty watches from trackside. His off time is generally spent playing golf.  

In 2016 Arnold pulled an upset in the Ashland Stakes with Weep No More, winning the race by a neck at 30.10-to-1 odds. The win put Weep No More in the Kentucky Oaks.

Arnold unveiled another star in 2018 when Concrete Rose won the Grade 2 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland. The Twirling Candy filly was even better at 3, winning multiple graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes.