Through the Long Stretch: The Craft of Relationships and Racehorses 

By Mackenzie Pfeiffer

Barn, track, repeat. 

This is the ebb and flow of a morning in the barn with Michael Trombetta. With over 80 horses in training, no detail is left to chance. Wearing his Kentucky Derby 132 jacket, the legacy of great horses and great horsemen he has worked with is never far from his mind. Each has left a lasting impact. 

When I first reached out to Trombetta, he picked up on the second ring. He followed my greeting with “You must be looking for hot tips!” It’s that balance – professionalism wrapped in lightheartedness, discipline paired with perspective – that shines through in his day-to-day operations. 

Spending a morning shadowing him at Fair Hill, the rhythm was steady, but never hurried. The barn buzzed with quiet confidence, the kind that comes from decades of honest work and trust in the process. Horses jogged past in single file, grooms moved with practiced efficiency, and Trombetta watched it all with a calm, thoughtful eye. 

For nearly four decades, he’s been a constant presence in the Mid-Atlantic. From commuting to Charles Town with $2,000 claimers, to his breakout with Sweetnorthernsaint in 2006, to the multiple stakes winners who fill his stable today, Trombetta’s career has been built on patience, consistency, and care for the horse.

His story is one not only of big wins and prominent owners, but also of the quieter moments – the hard lessons learned in lean years, the gentle steadiness of current stable star Future Is Now, and the relationships that endure beyond the racetrack. 

On this particular morning, between sets, Trombetta sat down to reflect on the long road to success, a few of the horses who shaped his career, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Mackenzie Pfeiffer (MP): Looking at your program and career, what do you think you’ve done exceptionally well, or what do you see as foundational to your success? 
 
Michael Trombetta (MT): I was fortunate with the opportunities that came along, but really, it was a long, slow crawl to build any kind of momentum. I obtained my trainer’s license in 1986, when I was 18, but it took another 15 years before I experienced any real support or success. 
 
In the meantime, I worked for my brother’s contracting business to make a living while slowly growing my stable. That meant I wasn’t entirely dependent on the horses’ earnings to survive. I wanted to do well with them, of course, but the pressure was different. 
 
Looking back, that gave me the chance to become a better horseman. I learned to recognize what the horse needed, when they were thriving, and when to make adjustments. It’s difficult when you rely solely on horses for your income – you can be forced into decisions you might not otherwise make. Looking back, that time allowed me to learn the craft. 
 
MP: You’re a Maryland-bred but not necessarily from a training family. How did this career take shape for you? 
 
MT: I actually started on the backside at Timonium when I was 13. After high school, when I took out my trainer’s license, my dad gave me a few cheap claiming horses to work with. I begged for stalls – it took probably a year and a half before I could get any. I’d commute back and forth myself with $2,000-$4,000 claimers. 
 
When I look at what I get to work with now, I see it as a privilege. The game has treated me well. 
 
Here, I’ll show you – this is my life (pulls up Equibase graphic of his career statistics). You can see - there was no traction until 2005. Then in 2006, a horse named Sweetnorthernsaint changed everything. He changed absolutely everything for me. He was the Derby favorite and second in the Preakness. You couldn’t pay for that kind of advertising. We’d always worked hard, but that horse changed my trajectory. 
 
At the time, I was still working for my brother. When we earned enough points for the Derby, he gave me a few weeks off to focus on racing. After the Preakness, I struggled with what to do. I had a steady salary, a vehicle, health insurance, and a young family. But eventually, it hit me. I had to try. I could always go back if it didn’t work. 
 
As you can see from the graph, that 30-horse stable in 2006 quickly grew – 50, then 60, 70, 80, 90. We’ve kept that size for about a dozen years now. 
 
MP: Wow. It certainly has rewarded you. Where did your love of racing stem from? 
 
MT: Our parents taught us that if you wanted anything, you had to work for it. I was the youngest of three kids. My brother and I would go to work with my dad, in construction, then shoot over to Pimlico for the last three races – free admission at that point in the day. 
 
It would be packed. We’d place our bets and then drive around to the backside with binoculars so we could watch and beat the traffic. That’s where it started. 
 
MP: So you’re a pretty good handicapper? 
 
MT: (laughs) Probably. I really did enjoy it. I’ll never forget. My dad would bet those last three races, and we’d listen to the AM radio on the way home for the results. We didn’t have Keith (Feustle) turning charts around as quickly as he does now. 
 
I still love big days at the track. Driving down Union Avenue in Saratoga at 4:30 a.m. on Travers Day – hundreds of people lined up, waiting for their picnic benches. It’s crazy. 
 
MP: It feels like Christmas morning! I love to see it too. 
 
MT: It’s crazy. Do you want to stay for another set or two? 
 
MP: Oh, yes. Are you kidding? I’m waiting to see my girl Ultimate Love go out! 
 
MT: All right then, she’s on the next set. 
 
MP: You’ve had quite a year, especially over the summer. How has it been going? 
 
MT: The first couple months were a little slow. The fruits of our labor all come out in the summer and fall. I handpicked a few for Saratoga, and we had a great meet – 22 starts, 17 top-three finishes, six wins. It was a very good meet. Then, Colonial, it was over the top. Really extraordinary. 
 
MP: You split time between Fair Hill and Laurel for most of the year. How do you manage where each horse is best suited? 
 
MT: Around this time of year, if I’ve got a legitimate dirt horse, I will look to give him a little break in the summer so he’s ready to go September through March. With all the turf racing, it can be tough to get them in. Having fresh dirt horses when turf season wraps up is a good balance. The same way my turf horses get a break at some point over the winter. 
 
As for where they are stabled, they are all very individual. It comes down to how they thrive. Some need to see the grandstand and experience the racetrack so they aren’t lost in the afternoon. I have a few who are too tough to gallop on the track; they get aggressive and train themselves too much. I’ll let them gallop in the fields here at Fair Hill most days, and they are completely different. It’s a nice change of pace for them here. 
 
MP: Let’s dive into your turf horses a bit more. The Selima is a storied race, and one you haven’t won before. Is Ultimate Love the one to do it for you? 
 
MT: We’re giving it a try. Hopefully, she’s the one. Honestly, I didn’t know she’d get here this quickly. Usually, you get your first race under you, then maybe need another race or two before an allowance win. She got here quickly. 
 
I wish I had another week, but I don’t. I thought about the New York or Kentucky options, but this just seemed to fit. (Jorge) Ruiz worked her while I was in Kentucky and said she felt really good. 
 
MP: How did you go about preparing her as a two-year-old? 
 
MT: She had always worked fine on the bridle. One day, I brought her back to the gate with company that had a little run, and the other horse outworked her pretty handily. I was really put off. I mean, it was okay, but I couldn’t believe she didn’t work better. I checked all the boxes to make sure she was okay. Jorge came back and said, “She worked all right, boss, but she feels a little turfy for me?” 
 
The next week I worked her on the synthetic. Total game-changer. I mean different. Just automatically, I knew he was probably right. That’s what you’ll find with most turf horses. They’ll tolerate the dirt for 3/8ths or a half mile, but they fall apart when it gets harder. 
 
She had been fine training all along, but when we tested her a little, she couldn’t keep up. It was alarming. I hoped I wasn’t wrong about her because I always pegged her as being one of the better ones. On synthetic, I saw another dimension. She showed another dimension that just wasn’t there before. 
 
MP: How do you think she has progressed after her first two starts? They were both impressive but very different! 
 
MT: Right. They were both good. I figured she might need a race, depending on how seasoned the horses were in her first race. She had shown and she looked like a typical two-turn horse, so I started her long. She did everything she was supposed to, and she was able to win. 
 
The second start was unique. There were two horses in there that had sprint speed stretching out, so I knew it would be lively. Ruiz was in Virginia, so I made a point to be there. I told (Horacio) Karamanos in the paddock, “Let this filly find her way, let her get her rhythm together. Those two will go; just wait as long as you need to wait. Let her get comfortable, keep an eye on where they’re going, and go after them when you feel you’re ready.” That’s exactly what he did, and she came with a serious run when the others were packing it up. She’s such an efficient mover. You’ll see when she’s out here. 
 
MP: How do you think the race looks on paper? 
 
MT: I’ve only glanced. I haven’t really dug into it yet. She’s versatile; she’ll run however they dictate. If they’re in a hurry, she’ll wait; if not, she’ll sit a bit closer. She’s not rank or difficult. She’s ahead of the game in seasoning for her age. 
 
MP: Ultimate Love is one of several from the family you have trained for Live Oak Plantation. Is there an advantage to knowing the family? 
 
MT: Absolutely. They do a fantastic job with their horses, and they’ve been great to me. Every year, they have a team of trainers and industry professionals come together to evaluate the young horses. Being able to see them as yearlings and track their progress is invaluable. 
 
MP: This seems like a great opportunity for both sides, almost like a continuing education experience. Live Oak Plantation is one of several owners with whom you have developed a longstanding relationship. How have you fostered and developed those over time? 
 
MT: Accessibility and transparency are key. We do the best job we can, always. 
 
Take the Meyerhoffs, for example. I was very friendly with Grover (Bud) Delp, and when he passed suddenly, I was deeply saddened. I reached out to Tom Meyerhoff to offer my help – no strings attached. Not long after, he came to visit me at the track, carrying a manila envelope. We had lunch at the track kitchen, and he asked if I would take over training their horses. I told him, “I’d be more than glad to give it my best.” Mr. Meyerhoff handed me the envelope – it had the pedigree and past performances for each of their horses. It was an unbelievable opportunity. 
 
A few years later, when Richard (Dickie) Small passed, Bob Meyerhoff called me, too. That was a dream come true. I’d always looked up to Bud and Dickie, even as a kid. The horses they trained! Spectacular Bid, Include, Concern, Broad Brush. I never imagined I’d get to work for the same family. I wish I’d met them earlier, but to be able to work for them in that capacity, for five or ten years, was a huge privilege. 
 
MP: The late R. Larry Johnson is another longtime owner and breeder. Future Is Now – I noticed her back on the work tab. How is she doing? 
 
MT: She’s doing great, had a work on Saturday. Want to meet her? 
 
MP: Yes! 
 
MT: (walking into stall) Here she is. She’s just a few bucks shy of a million dollars. 
 
MP: Oh my gosh, she’s so sweet – bigger than I realized. 
 
MT: She couldn’t be sweeter. This is what we saddle at the races – quiet, easy. You could hold her on a regular snap shank. Early on, it worried me. I thought something had to be wrong for her to be this quiet. 
 
I don’t know what to call her. She’s been a treasure. She really has. That’s the only way I can put it. I don’t know what it is about her. She just always shows up. She runs her race, and you can tell how much she tries. She’s a serious horse, and at the same time, so kind. 
 
She owns Saratoga. The only reason Pipsy beat her this year was because she got the jump. The track was like concrete that day, so fast 
 
MP: I am so glad I got to meet her. What does it mean to continue the success after Larry’s passing? 
 
MT: It’s been great, but bittersweet. I wish Larry could see it. He got to enjoy part of it, but not all. Carrying on for his daughters and family has been rewarding. They’re working on getting it to something a little bit more comfortable for them. They’re going to continue their breeding operation and have some to race. Hopefully, she (gestures to Future Is Now) will be a part of that. 
 
Larry’s daughters have two really good families to work with in the breeding operation. I think they have a full sibling to Mindframe this year. Larry was so diligent. When he knew Mindframe was going to be special, he made sure to get the mare back to Constitution. 
 
MP: You’ve certainly been around plenty of lasting legacies in the sport. If you could leave a lasting impression or legacy of your own, what would you hope it to be? 
 
MT: That’s a good question. I have three kids. One’s in the equine business program at Louisville, and he comes racing with me whenever he can. Maybe he’ll want to do something in the industry. 
 
D. Wayne Lukas was always very proud of the people who came from behind him and went on to succeed. I’d hope that whatever presence I’ve had in this business, it rubs off in a good way, whether it’s an assistant branching out on their own, my kids, or anyone who’s worked with me. You try to leave a mark of something good with someone else. 
 
I just hope that the people we’ve built relationships with feel their lives were made better by the work we’ve done together. This business is a tough boat to row, but it’s been good to us, and not everybody can say that.