I felt like it was a disadvantage when I was first coming up to see other people working within the industry that could intimidate you because they have been born into it. I feel it was fitting that I was able to take over from him. He was a guy that walked into the gate, like I did, and didn’t really know anybody and worked his way up. He was much the same way and wasn’t born into the game. I feel that it was a bit of destiny that I worked with Bobby. I’m happy you asked that, as I don’t get asked that very often. How do you feel – for want of a better phrase – as an outsider in the industry? You came into racing without any nepotism or help, aside from your career as Bobby Frankel’s assistant. They are dedicated to their jobs and families – they conduct themselves so impressively for their age and levels of success. They are just a pleasure to work with.įor any young men that have that level of success, notoriety, and wealth, it is easy not to have those attributes and change, but I don’t see that. They have remarkable memories and recall from the horses that they have ridden. They treat everyone with respect, whether they are co-workers of mine or owners. These are young guys that have tremendous talent and class. They are impressive young men, shining examples of what you would want your sons to be. I cannot say enough great things about these two guys.

Tell me about your relationship with them? You are synonymous with the brilliant Ortiz brothers. If the only objective is to only allow non-bleeding horses in the gene pool moving forward, and not allowing those that do to race, then it has the potential to be financially painful to those guys that purchased a horse, who would not know this issue until it races. I’m a data person and need to see information before I make decisions. If it is proven in a few years that there is less bleeding without the Lasix, then I am happy, and it improves the breed that way, but there is also a scenario where more horses are bleeding and not racing, which could cause owners to stop buying. I do see a fair amount of horses here that do bleed – even at a young age – so I think that it’s a broader conversation that needs to be backed up by data. I am not training a bunch of sick or lame ones that might be more prone to bleeding. I have pretty sound horses because I am able to put a stop on them. We have already won Grade 1 races since they took them away, in stakes races, and we are going to win plenty more. I am not even sure that can harm them.Īm I kicking and screaming, saying “don’t take away my Lasix”? No. I believe that it benefits the horses much more than it harms them. I do believe that it is a bit bred into our breed. We do have a fair amount of horses that bleed over here, particularly in the dirt races, which can be very stressful on the horses, especially if it is deep sand. I will find a way to stop, go, bring them back and get the most out of them. You can give me 50 claiming horses and I won’t have to inject them up.

I don’t want to hear that you can only do that with good horses. Again, Frankel taught me that, and it has worked really well for us. You are always worried about everything from financials to expanding the business, but you can’t worry about that, you have to do what is best for the horse and then everything will fall into place. I started with ten horses, and it’s not easy to stop. Some of us can’t.” Well, I didn’t always have that. Someone might be reading this and say, “Oh well, when you have that many horses and all the best horses, of course you can give them a break. They shouldn’t be looked at in a bad way, at all. They are an absolute necessity and a huge asset to the industry. Without them, I would not be sat here talking with you. I’m not against vets – we have a wonderful vet practice that works with us, and several equine hospitals that we use for diagnostics. It is not going to affect someone like me because I don’t really do any vet work. You have always been a ‘water, hay, oats’ trainer – how welcome is the introduction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020?

In the second part of this Q&A interview with the TRC’s George Dudley, the world’s #1 trainer talks about medication, motivation, family, his best horses, the Ortiz brothers - and his fondest memories in racing (so far). Chad Brown counts Lady Eli (Irad Ortiz, left) winning the G1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga in 2017 after nearly dying because of laminitis as one of his career highlights.

Irad ortiz age