Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for December 2007

George Teague Jr.

Trainer George Teague Jr. grew up in Melfa, Deleware, the progeny of Standardbred trainer, George Teague, who had a training track in Keller. George Jr and his sister Brenda, now own and operate one of the largest racing and training stables in North America.

Teague, 43, says he never views race as a factor, and perhaps that philosophy helped him become the first African-American trainer to win the $1 million Meadowlands Pace in its 31-year history.

"I wasn't raised to think it was a handicap, and I never used it as one. I've done all right with that mentality," Teague said in an USA Today inteview.

George Teague, Jr.

In 2007 Teague harnessed Southwind Lynx to two $1 million triumphs in six weeks in the Meadowlands Pace and in the Art Rooney at Yonkers Raceway.

"It can't get better than this," said Teague.

Teague conditioned two previous Pace entrants. Western Ace and Total Truth came home eighth and ninth, respectively, in 2006. Lew Williams is the only other African-American trainer to start a horse in the prestigious Meadowlands Pace. Courageous Lady finished sixth for him in 1978.

"Just to participate in these races, with the prestige of it all, is second to none," said Teague.

Their father, George Sr., and mother, Annie, also trained Standardbreds, first in Melfa, Va., and then in Harrington, Del. Though Teague says his parents never discussed racism, there was a strong feeling that they could accomplish only so much.

"It wasn't like it is today," he said. "Opportunities were not as plentiful."

Teague emphasized that race no longer plays a role in harness racing.

"This is one business, I can honestly tell you, I don't see color in it," he said. "If you put in the work, you can succeed."

In his commitment to the daily grind, Teague slowly but surely established his credentials as someone with the ability to take inexpensive horses and make them winners. His big break came when he purchased Rainbow Blue for $10,500 in 2002 and she emerged as one of the great fillies.

Rainbow Blue went on to win all but two of her 32 starts and earn $1,428,934. She was the 2004 Horse of the Year, Pacer of the Year and 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year.

Teague's stable, which counts former heavyweight champion George Foreman among its clients, topped $3.1 million in earnings in 2006. Total Truth, the Pacer of the Year and the 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year, led the way. Teague also has a top 2-year-old in Duneside Perch, who took the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes, and he and sister Brenda won the Hambletonian Oaks with Danae. He's watched his relatively small operation balloon to 80 horses.

"When you do well," he said, "everybody wants to call you and wants to be part of it."

Southwind Lynx, a $42,000 purchase at a Lexington, Ky., sale in 2004, represented a challenge because he developed a lung infection that sidelined him for four weeks before the Meadowlands Pace eliminations July 7. He advanced to the final by finishing fourth in his elimination but closed strong up the rail for Tim Tetrick in the Final in 1:49.1. The 3-year-old son of Real Artist has won half of his six starts this year and has one second-place finish.

"When you do well," he said, "everybody wants to call you and wants to be part of it."

There was a time when Teague, a second-generation horseman, had no choice but to buy cheap. But that was before slots swelled the purses at tracks in his home state of Delaware, and that was before Rainbow Blue.

"Slots, that's what got me in a different level of the game," Teague said. "People who were in when there was not that much money--and then left--have come back on board."

One of those who came back into the game is J. Patrick Callahan, who with his wife, Marianne, Teague and Teague's sister and co-trainer Brenda own Total Truth.

Rainbow Blue's success, Teague said, also brought a "different kind of clientele." Among them is former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, who bought five yearlings for Teague to train in 2006. He also bought into another Teague trainee, a mare named Future Destiny.

However, despite his success, Teague still doesn't like to spend too much money on a horse even though he could.

"I figure if I spend $100,000 on a horse, I have to earn $150,000 with him before I make any money," he explained.

George Teague Jr.'s Career Statistics through December 3, 2007
Year Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds     Earnings
2007 357     105      56      44      $4,632,243
2006   347     101      43      49      $3,121,318
2005 298      74      46      35      $1,444,118
2004 286      64      34      33      $1,621,578
2003 156      26       20      29      $311,417
2002    16       2         2        2      $58,908
2001   59      10        8       6      $276,937
2000 157      30      26      20      $400,456
1999   192      34      35      33      $346,742
1998   256      34       48      34      $291,572
1997   242      54       35      40      $423,597
1996 192      38       25      17      $171,879
1995 183      18       35      20      $67,199
1994   252      35       38      33      $113,534
1993 218      47      26      24      $113,812
1992 142      25       18      16      $25,223
1991     62       7        11      10      $25,223
Total            704                       $13,481,190