Chad C. Brown (born December 18, 1978) is an American racehorse trainer. Brown is widely regarded as one of the elite trainers in the world,[2] having won four consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in the United States 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.[3] In 2019, he also achieved the highest position in the World Training Standings according to the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC) Global Rankings,[4] becoming the first and only American trainer to be recognized as the World's Number One Trainer. Brown has secured two Preakness Stakes victories with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022,[5] and narrowly missing a Kentucky Derby victory in 2024 with Sierra Leone.[6] Early in his career, many sought to pigeonhole him as a "turf trainer" who specialized in fillies and mares.[7] However, Brown's success has become so diversified that he has demonstrated the ability to win at any distance, with any sex, and on any surface.[8] Brown has trained 18 Breeders' Cup winners,[9] further showcasing his dominance across the sport. Over his career, he has also trained thirteen Eclipse Award winners, including, Big Blue Kitten, Lady Eli, Flintshire, Goodnight Olive, and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar.[10]
Brown was born and raised in Mechanicville, a small city in upstate New York. His passion for horses began at an early age, sparked by family visits to the nearby Saratoga race track.[11] During high school, Brown gained hands-on experience with Standardbreds at Saratoga Raceway, where he learned the intricacies of breaking and training horses. Despite his early work with Standardbreds, his ambition was always to work with Thoroughbreds.[12]
While pursuing a degree in animal science at Cornell University, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian, [13] Brown took a summer job with Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Starting as a hot-walker, he quickly advanced to a groom, before earning the role of foreman. After graduating, Brown realized that his true passion lay in training horses rather than veterinary medicine, leading him to pursue a career as a Thoroughbred trainer.[14] [15]
2002 - 2007: Mentorship with Bobby Frankel: Brown worked as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Robert Frankel,[16] and their relationship became a pivotal part of Brown's career. Deeply influenced by Frankel's methods. Brown spent five years with Frankel,[17] splitting his time between Southern California and Saratoga, while also overseeing Frankel's operations in Kentucky, (Keeneland and Churchill Downs), Monmouth Park and Gulfstream Park.[18]
Brown's Starts with Great Horses: During this period, Brown gained invaluable experience working with some of the top racehorses in the world, including Medaglia d'Oro,[19] a multiple Grade 1 winner and runner-up in the 2002 Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic, Empire Maker,[20] the 2003 Belmont Stakes winner, Aldebaran, the 2003 Champion Sprinter, and Ghostzapper,[21] the 2004 Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic winner. Brown also worked with Intercontinental,[22] winner of the 2005 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Eclipse Award Champion Turf Female and Ginger Punch.[23]
Frankel's approach to training, particularly his emphasis on understanding each horse's unique strengths left a lasting impact on Brown, and Brown credits this mentorship as the foundation of his future success in the racing industry.[24] Brown even dedicated Cloud Computing's Preakness Stakes win to Frankel, stating that, "I feel this is for him... without his mentorship I certainly wouldn't be here."[25]
2007: Brown gained national attention during the 2007 Breeders' Cup, when he stepped in for Bobby Frankel, who had returned to California to care for his ailing Australian Shepard named Happy.[26] Brown saddled Ginger Punch to victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.[27] marking a significant moment in his career.
After Breeders' Cup, Brown established his own stable with a modest string of ten horses - five owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and five by Gary and Mary West. He secured his first win as an independent trainer on November 23 at Churchill Downs in a $5,000 claiming race[28] with his second starter, Dual Jewels.[29] Dual Jewels was subsequently claimed, reducing the stable to nine horses. Brown spent the winter meet at Oaklawn Park and later moved to Keeneland, where he achieved his second win. During that time, his stable had a total of four starts, resulting in one win and one third-place finish, earning a total of $13,960.
January 2008: Three months after going out on his own, Brown gave an interview in which he expressed his aspirations to emulate his mentor, Bobby Frankel. "I want to be the next Bobby Frankel," Brown stated.[30] At the time, Brown was training claiming horses, but he had bigger ambitions—aiming to build a stable similar in size to Frankel's, with 100 to 120 quality horses. He emphasized that these horses would receive the best care possible, from premium bedding, the highest quality feed, a lot of personal attention, and tender loving care. Brown referred to this approach as "Bobby's System," a method of meticulous care and management inspired by Frankel's legacy.[31]
2008: Despite initially being denied stall space, Brown competed in his first Saratoga Race Course meet. His first entrant, Star Player, won the first race on July 23, opening day.[32] Brown finished the meet with 6 wins from 18 starters, including the debut of the two-year-old filly Maram. Maram went on to win the Miss Grillo Stakes (Grade 3) at Belmont Park, marking Brown's first graded stakes victory.[33] Then Maram won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park, giving Brown his first Breeder's Cup win at odds 11–1[34] with a purse of over $1,000,000.[35] This victory was especially poignant as it coincided with the burial of Brown's grandfather, Elmer Maynard, in Mechanicville, New York.[36]
2009: Brown won his first New York Racing Association, (NYRA), training title at the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet securing it with nine wins.[37] Silver Timber, owned by longtime client Micheal Dubb,[38] won two graded stakes, the Woodford Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and the Jaipur Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.[39]
2010: Brown saddled 17 winners at Saratoga Race Course finishing third in the standings.[40] Silver Timber added three graded stakes victories to Brown's record: the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G3), Shakertown Stakes (G3), and Woodford Stakes (G3).[41] Brown also claimed his fourth graded stakes win of the year with the European horse Tottie (GB) in the Suwannee (G3).[42]
2011: Brown won his first career Grade I race with the French-bred mare Zagora in the Diana Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.[43] Just two weeks later, he secured his second Grade I victory with Stacelita (FR), in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park.[44] Stacelita (FR) was previously based out of Europe and Brown had recently taken over her training. Stacelita (FR) went on to win the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf under his guidance. These successes earned Stacelita (FR) the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.
2012: Zagora (FR), won several major stakes, including the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She would become the second Eclipse Award winner trained by Brown when named Champion Turf Female.[45] Brown tied for the Belmont Racetrack fall training title and his second NYRA training title with 21 wins.[46]
2013: Brown ranked third among North American trainers by earning $13,395,419 in purse money.[47] Highlights included Big Blue Kitten's victories in the United Nations Handicap, the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Race Course and 90 minutes later Brown took down the Arlington Million with Real Solution for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and also won the Belmont Racetrack fall training title with 26 wins.[48]
2014: Brown's success continued with three Breeders' Cup victories: Lady Eli in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Dayatthespa in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Bobby's Kitten in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.[49] Brown was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer,[50] with his stable earning $15,383,930 in purse money.[47] Dayatthespa was also named the Eclipse Award Champion Turf Female.[10]
2015: At the Breeders' Cup, Brown earned wins with both Stephanie's Kitten in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and Wavell Avenue in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Big Blue Kitten also achieved several victories including setting a course record in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes,[51] finishing second in the Arlington Million, and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Big Blue Kitten's consistency would earn him the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Male.[52]
2016: Brown took over the training of Juddmonte Farm's Flintshire, previously campaigned internationally by André Fabre. Flintshire won the Manhattan Stakes (G1) in his first start under Brown's guidance, helping Brown secure the trainer title for the Belmont spring/summer meet.[53] On August 24, Brown earned his 1,000th career win with Mr. Maybe at Saratoga Race Course.[54] He ended the Saratoga meet with the trainers title and a record of 40 wins,[55] capped by a victory in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) with Practical Joke, marking his first graded stakes win on the dirt at Saratoga.[56] Brown led all American trainers in earnings[47] and graded stakes wins, earning him the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[57]
2017: Brown won his first Triple Crown race with Cloud Computing in the Preakness Stakes.[58] Cloud Computing, a lightly raced colt making only his forth career start,[59] pulled off an upset victory at odds 13-1.[60] Later that year, he secured another major triumph when Good Magic captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.[61] earning the Eclipse Award for Champion Two Year Old Colt.[10] Additionally, Lady Eli who recovered from a severe case of laminitis under Brown's care,[62] won the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female. Brown continued to excel, ranking number one in the trainers standings and receiving his second Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer[10] after his trainees won 16 Grade I races and earned $26,202,164 million in purse money leading North America in money won for the second year in a row.[63]
2018: Brown had an exceptional year, leading North America with 20 Grade 1 victories and securing 47 graded wins overall. His stable earned $27,546,057 in purse earnings,[47] the second-highest ever recorded by a trainer in a single year. He also broke his own record at Saratoga Race Course, with 41 wins in a single meet.[55] At the Breeders' Cup, Newspaperofrecord remained unbeaten this season by winning the Juvenile Fillies Turf[64] and Sistercharlie triumphed in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.[65] This victory marked Brown's fourth win in that specific race, the most by any trainer. Sistercharlie's outstanding performance throughout the year earned her the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.[10] These remarkable achievements earned Brown his third consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[10]
2019: Brown set a North American record with $31,112,144 in earnings, the highest ever for a trainer in a single year.[66] His achievements included three more Breeders' Cup victories, bringing his career total to fifteen, placing him third all-time among trainers. Significant wins in 2019 included Bricks and Mortar's victories in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), the Manhattan Stakes (G!), and the Arlington Million (G1), solidifying Bricks and Mortar's status as the winner of the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.[10] Brown also trained Uni, who won the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.[10] Brown's outstanding performance throughout the year earned him his fourth consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.[10] Brown was also ranked #1 in the TRC Global Rankings,[4] becoming the first American trainer to achieve the distinction of being the World's Number One Trainer.
2020: On June 11, Brown reached a significant milestone by securing his 100th Grade 1 win with Guarana in the Madison Stakes and that same afternoon Rushing Fall win in the Jenny Wiley Stakes added his 101st Grade 1 win. Brown became the fastest and youngest trainer to achieve 100 Grade 1 wins since the grading system began in 1973, a feat described as a "Meteoric Rise" by Paulick Report.[67] Rushing Fall also won the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Rushing Fall's success throughout the year contributed to her being named the Eclipse Award winner for Champion Turf Female.[10] Brown's stable earned $16,596,956 in earnings and he finished fourth in the North America Trainer Standings.[47]
2021: Brown achieved another milestone in his training career by recording his 2,000th career win with Digital Software at Saratoga Race Course on August 7.[68] Over the course of the year, Brown accumulated seven Grade 1 wins and a total of 33 graded stakes victories. Notable Grade 1 achievements included the Turf Classic Stakes and the Manhattan Stakes with Domestic Spending, as well as the Acorn Stakes with Search Results.
Brown also won his sixth consecutive training title at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, securing 32 victories, including two Grade 1 wins on Belmont Stakes Day.[69] Additionally, Brown was a finalist in the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and finished third in the Trainer’s North America standings, with his stable earning $22,213,740 in purse money.[47]
2022: Brown won the 147th Preakness Stakes with Early Voting, marking his second victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He also secured a win in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes with Zandon, who subsequently finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, Brown won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with Goodnight Olive, increasing his total Breeders' Cup wins to 16. Goodnight Olive was also named the Eclipse Award U.S. Champion Female Sprint Horse.
Brown showed a lot a of diversity in his wins from dirt spinners to route grass horses, both male and female which helped him earn his eighth consecutive year-end NYRA training title[70] and was ranked number one in the North America Training rankings, leading the United States in earnings with a total of $31,057,362.[47], 244 wins, and 51 Graded Stakes victories—18 more than the second-place trainer—achieving this with 98 fewer starts than his closest competitor.
2023: Brown trained nine individual Grade 1 winners and secured two Breeders’ Cup victories: the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Hard to Justify and the Breeder’s Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with Goodnight Olive, marking her second consecutive win in this race. These victories brought Brown’s total Breeders’ Cup wins to 18. Blazing Sevens also finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) the second leg of the Triple Crown. Additionally, Brown was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and led his horses to earnings totaling $25,715,901, finishing third in the North America Trainer Rankings.[47]
2024: Brown's horse, Sierra Leone, was part of most most dramatic three-way photo finish in Kentucky Derby history. After a several minute delay, sorting out the closest three-horse photo since 1947,[71] Sierra Leona ultimately placed second.[72] Brown also achieved a record ninth win in the Diana Stakes with Whitebeam, marking her second consecutive victory in this event.[73] As of August 6, Brown is ranked second in the North America Trainer Rankings, with earnings totaling $16,532,043 for the year. His career earnings have reached $291,815,455.[47]
| North American Ranking | |||
| Year | By Earnings | By Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4,908[74] | ||
| 2008 | 146[75] | ||
| 2009 | 112[76] | ||
| 2010 | 33 | ||
| 2011 | 16 | 50 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 17 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 15 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 15 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 9 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 8 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 | |