Bruce Headley - 81 yrs old & Not slowing down
 

“I started out with nothing and grew up learning under great horsemen. But the only difference between me and other great trainers is that they train for other people and I’ve always trained for myself,” Headley said with typical bluntness at his dining table in his Arcadia home, old family photographs spread before him. Headley refers to one vital component of his success – that he has owned, either in whole or in part, a significant portion of the horses that have leaned their chests against the webbings in his barn.

“I’ve always invested my own money since I’ve started and owned the majority of my horses, which gives you the purse as well as everything you make when you sell them. No other trainer today has done what I’ve done.”


https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/a...hts-retirement

Love it Laura. thanks for posting it. I'm a new fan of BH !

Nice story Laura....thanks for posting

A singularly brilliant horseman and equally talented businessman. I spent the afternoon with him the day after the Big Cap and was fascinated by his insights as he has certain training ideas and methods that run counter to prevailing practices. He explained to me that he learned how to break young horses from a cowboy that literally came west in a stagecoach. One example, he does not believe in schooling horses in the paddock before races. Says that it only contributes to them getting nervous pre-race.

He's going to be spitting mad that Kona Gold has to wait another year for Hall of Fame.

Maybe I'm loonie, but I think I remember going to Santa Anita in the morning and seeing him work out Kona Gold.