Unforgettable Racing Moments on NYRA in 2024
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning Trainer Chad Brown
Chad Brown, a 46-year-old conditioner, had a stellar 2024 campaign. Sierra Leone provided him with his first win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, adding a new mark to his ledger. Sierra Leone’s rallying score brought Brown’s Breeders’ Cup win tally to 19. In a year that saw him earn a continent-leading 47 graded stakes-wins, including 15 Grade 1 wins (8 on dirt and 7 on turf), his achievements are remarkable. His Grade 1 winners include Sierra Leone [Classic, Blue Grass], Gina Romantica [First Lady], Chancer McPatrick [Champagne, Hopeful], Carl Spackler [Turf Mile, FanDuel Fourstardave H.], Domestic Product [H. Allen Jerkens], Raging Sea [Personal Ensign], Ways and Means [Test presented by Ticketmaster], Whitebeam [Diana], Randomized [Ogden Phipps presented by Ford], Chili Flag [Just a Game], Program Trading [Turf Classic], and Beaute Cachee [Jenny Wiley]. Brown’s $30,779,095 in total purse earnings leads the continent, and he is on his way to his ninth year-end training title with 146 wins. His NYRA success this year includes capturing his eighth training title at the Belmont spring/summer meet (32 wins), his seventh overall and fourth consecutive Spa training title (45 wins – one shy of his 2018 record of 46), and his 13th consecutive Belmont at the Big A fall title (31 wins).
For Brown, training Sierra Leone was a significant challenge. The horse came in with high expectations, had a lot of talent and was a high-priced purchase. However, he didn’t always cooperate, especially in the Kentucky Derby when he was lugging in. But Brown is proud of the horse and how he responded to his and his team’s efforts. By the end of the year, Sierra Leone was running in a straight line, strong and at his best. Brown believes that Sierra Leone’s success was a team effort, with the horse responding and cooperating and having the physical and mental constitution to make it through the grueling Derby trail. Brown is optimistic about Sierra Leone’s future and is considering running him in the Saudi Cup or Dubai World Cup.
Saratoga Meet Success
The Saratoga meet was incredible for Brown. Winning six Grade 1s with Whitebeam [Diana], Domestic Product [H. Allen Jerkens], Raging Sea [Personal Ensign], Ways and Means [Test presented by Ticketmaster], Chancer McPatrick [Hopeful], and a first-ever Fourstardave with fan-favorite Carl Spackler was a magical experience. Brown attributes this success to many factors, including the all-important weather. They had very few races rained off, which was very helpful. His team executed as always, and the horses stepped up. Brown is proud of his team for being able to get the most out of a very diverse group of horses. He feels that they reasserted themselves as a very unique, versatile training team.
For Brown, winning at Saratoga means a lot. Not only is it the highest quality and most competitive racing in the country, but it is also where he is from and where most of his friends and family are. Sharing his success with them makes for a very memorable summer.
Under-the-Radar Success Stories
Brown highlights several under-the-radar success stories. McKulick is a horse that had much of her success in New York, with her biggest win probably coming in the Belmont Oaks. She is named after his first employee, Mary McKulick. Selling her for $6 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale was a storybook ending. Brown also mentions clients like Sean Flanagan who had their first graded wins at Saratoga. Flanagan had his first graded win with Grayosh [G2 Lake Placid] and then his first Grade 1 win with Chancer McPatrick. These successes are very emotional and personally gratifying for Brown.
Grade 1 wins by horses like Ways and Means and Domestic Product, two homebreds for Klaravich Stables, were also very meaningful. Seth Klarman and Brown are very active at the auctions together, and for him to have two Grade 1-winners at Saratoga that were homebreds out of a crop of three mares they bred that year was unique and different.
Team and Future Plans
Brown’s team consists of over 200 team members, and over 50 percent of them have been with the team for more than eight years. There is a wide range of talents within the team, and everyone plays an important role. Brown loves working with his team and they share in their successes and take responsibility for their failures together.
In terms of future plans, Brown is considering running Sierra Leone in the Saudi Cup or Dubai World Cup. He just got the horse back in a little less than two weeks ago and gave him a little paddock time in Kentucky. He is going to try to make the Saudi race if possible.
Young Horses to Watch in 2025
Senza Parole was breathtaking in her debut. She showed signs of very rare talent in the morning and backed it up in the afternoon. Brown believes that she is super special and had the best training and debut of a 2-year-old dirt filly he has ever had. Unfortunately, she missed the Frizette and the Breeders’ Cup with a chip that needed to be taken out, but she is ready to come back very soon. If she stays sound, she could make headlines.
Brown also has several returning horses, including Ways and Means, Sierra Leone, Randomized, Program Trading, and Raging Sea. Pretty Ana is coming back as well. There will be a lot of new faces and inevitably some 2-year-olds that haven’t run yet will pop up.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.