Todd Pletcher
Trainer
Born in Dallas, Texas, Todd began working for his father, Jake Pletcher, as a hot walker at the age of 7 at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. At the time, his father Jake was training quarter horses and thoroughbreds throughout the Southwest.
During Todd’s summers off from junior and senior high school, he worked as a groom for his father at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, and at Ak-sar-Ben Racetrack in Omaha, Nebraska.
Between his junior and senior years in high school, Todd travelled to southern California, where he worked as a hot walker for Henry Moreno at Hollywood Park and Del Mar. Staying true to his horseman’s roots, he then went on to the University of Arizona, and enrolled in their Race Track Industry Program.
Between his sophomore and junior years in college, Todd worked as a groom for D. Wayne Lukas at Arlington Park in Chicago, IL. Todd spent the following summer with another Hall of Fame trainer, Charlie Whittingham, working as a groom at Hollywood Park. He graduated from college with a Bachelor of Animal Science in May, 1989. With a degree in-hand, Todd then traveled to New York to begin working for D. Wayne Lukas as a foreman.
Just two years later, in 1991, Todd was promoted to assistant trainer for D. Wayne Lukas, splitting his time between New York and Florida. Todd was Lukas’ East Coast assistant until the end of 1995. During this time, he was instrumental in the development of such famed horses as Thunder Gulch, Harlan, Serena’s Song, A Wild Ride, and Flanders.
Todd took out his trainer’s license in December of 1995, and saddled his first winner, Majestic Number, in February of 1996. His 20+ year career as a trainer is studded with victories. A man many recognize as one of the most successful thoroughbred trainers of all time, Todd holds seven Eclipse Awards, ten Leading North American Trainer titles (by money earned), and 70 individual track titles for leading trainer. He is one of the most decorated trainers of all time and these are just a few of his accolades!
Todd, his wife Tracy, and their three children (sons Payton and Kyle, and daughter, Hannah) currently split their time between their New York and Florida residences.