Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for July 2007

Robert McIntosh

Bob McIntosh has trained the winners of nearly 2,500 races and over $59 million in earnings during his career, which has spanned more than four decades.

McIntosh has succeeded in many facets of the harness racing business—as a trainer, breeder, and feed developer. In fact, when it comes to racing, there’s almost nothing McIntosh hasn’t done—and hasn’t done well.

Bob McIntosh

McIntosh was born and raised into a harness racing family in Wheatley, Ontario, as his father “Jack” (John) McIntosh was a successful horseman, and also owned dairy cows and beef cattle. Bob is the youngest of three McIntosh brothers—brother Doug is also a successful trainer, and sister Mary Ann has dabbled in the business as well.

In 1971 McIntosh dropped out of the school to work as a caretaker in brother Doug’s stable—which then included about 20 horses. He first began racing at Wolverine Raceway and then in 1973 went to Hazel Park in his early 20s. By 1975, he left Doug’s barn and went back to work for his father.

“I just wanted to spend time with my father,” McIntosh recalled.

Though his family had always concentrated on breaking and developing their own horses, McIntosh was interested in trying his hand at the claiming end of the game. He became very successful at taking old claimers, patching them up, and getting them to race successfully.

When Jack McIntosh passed away on July 25, 1980 of a heart attack at age 63, his son was devastated, but he never wavered from the business that he was now immersed in. Throughout that decade McIntosh’s success continued to elevate, and he soon attracted some of the top owners in the business, including Chicago businessman George Segal and others.

Among his top charges were Money Fund, Enroute, Delinquent Account, Village Jackpot, Lustra’s Big Guy and Omaha Girl, to name just a few.

Over the years McIntosh has been paired with other such memorable pacers and trotters as 1992 Horse of the Year Artsplace, and 1993 Horse of the Year Staying Together, as well as Odds Against, Camluck, and 1992 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year So Fresh. Later came Water Tower, Intrepid Seelster, Cash Hall, Western Shooter, Shore By Five and Armbro Officer, Armbro Scorpion, Cash Hall and Berndt Hanover.

Bob McIntosh's Career Statistics through July 1, 2007
Year    Starts   Wins   2nds  3rds     Earnings     UTRS
2007      212       58       32      21      $846,750         .390
2006      690      128      105      87       $3,155,797      .312
2005      606      143      101      64      $3,854,959      .364
2004      773      145      115      95      $2,895,140      .311
2003      631      156      87       96      $3,681,931      .375
2002      794      202      132   107      $4,720,771      .392
2001      751      180      112      95      $4,988,140      .365
2000      803      152       96      88      $3,321,002      .292
1999      804      163      106      98      $4,449,306      .328
1998      601      120       96      71      $4,921,999      .328
1997      621      123      102      79      $2,490,028      .332
1996      524      109       93      62      $2,459,044      .346
1995      669      148      108      90      $3,459,715      .356
1994      821      208      127      111    $4,206,945      .384
1993      664      175      116      75      $4,411,648      .398
1992      516      155      84       64      $3,500,580      .432
1991      248      74        34       31      $1,636,372      .416
Total              2,439                         $ 59,000,127