Roger Laurin
Encyclopedia
Roger Laurin is a trainer
of Thoroughbred
racehorses in the United States and Canada. He has trained Champions
Numbered Account
, the 1971 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, and Chief's Crown
, the 1984 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Breeders' Cup Juvenile
winner.
trainer Lucien Laurin
. Roger Laurin came into prominence in 1964 when he took charge of the race conditioning of a filly name Miss Cavandish
. Purchased by Harry S. Nichols for just $1,500 because she had a severe "toeing in" problem, under Roger Laurin Miss Cavandish became one of the top two fillies racing in the United States in 1964, finishing second in the balloting for 1964 American Champion 3-Year-Old Filly honors behind future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Tosmah
.
By 1966, Roger Laurin was training for major owners such as Harry Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable
and then for Penny Chenery's
Meadow Stable. In 1971 Roger Laurin was offered the job as head trainer for Ogden Phipps
, a major stable owner and part of the Phipps family
, one of America's most prominent racing families. At the time, Roger Laurin had conditioned future Hall of Fame inductee Riva Ridge
for racing up to the week before he broke his maiden in his two-year-old debut. It was on his recommendation that Penny Chenery hired his father to replace as the Meadow Stable trainer. In addition to his duties for Ogden Phipps, Roger Laurin had been training horses owned by James Moseley, a member of The Jockey Club
, and a co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors
of Suffolk Downs
racetrack in Boston, Massachusetts. For Moseley he most notably conditioned the filly Drumtop
who won numerous top stakes and who broke three track record
s in 1971. For Ogden Phipps, Laurin trained Numbered Account
to a 1971 Eclipse Award
as the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.
In the late 1970s, Roger Laurin was training for owners such as Reginald N. Webster
, a longtime stable owner for whom Lucien Laurin had won the Belmont Stakes
with Amberoid
, and for the American racing division of Canadian E. P. Taylor's
Windfields Farm
. In 1984 he conditioned Chief's Crown to an outstanding season of racing in which he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. After another good year in 1985 with Chief’s Crown finishing 3-2-3 in the U.S. Triple Crown
series then winning the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
and Travers Stakes
, Roger Laurin retired. He did maintain his trainer’s license while devoting much of his time to the breeding
of Thoroughbreds. In 1992, while racing on a very limited basis, he won the Victoriana Stakes
at Woodbine Racetrack
in Toronto
with a horse he bred and owned. In August 2006, he returned again to race at Saratoga Race Course
with two of his own horses.
Still maintaining some involvement with the race conditioning of Thoroughbreds, Roger Laurin had a stable under his care at Fort Erie Racetrack in August 2011.
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
of Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses in the United States and Canada. He has trained Champions
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
Numbered Account
Numbered Account (horse)
Numbered Account was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was voted the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1971. She was bred and raced by Ogden Phipps and trained by Roger Laurin....
, the 1971 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, and Chief's Crown
Chief's Crown
Chief's Crown was an American-bred Thoroughbred race horse who won the 1984 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse. He later became a successful sire.-Background:...
, the 1984 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
winner.
A family business
Roger Laurin grew up in the Thoroughbred racing business as the son of U.S. Racing Hall of FameNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer Lucien Laurin
Lucien Laurin
Lucien Laurin was a French-Canadian jockey and Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer.-Life and career:...
. Roger Laurin came into prominence in 1964 when he took charge of the race conditioning of a filly name Miss Cavandish
Miss Cavandish
Miss Cavandish was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. of the renowned King Ranch, she was sired by the 1958 Belmont Stakes winner, Cavan...
. Purchased by Harry S. Nichols for just $1,500 because she had a severe "toeing in" problem, under Roger Laurin Miss Cavandish became one of the top two fillies racing in the United States in 1964, finishing second in the balloting for 1964 American Champion 3-Year-Old Filly honors behind future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee, Tosmah
Tosmah
Tosmah was a champion Thoroughbred race horse bred in Kentucky by Eugene Mori.Her sire was the great Tim Tam, by Tom Fool out of Two Lea. Many consider Tim Tam's loss of Thoroughbred racing's American Triple Crown only a matter of fate...
.
By 1966, Roger Laurin was training for major owners such as Harry Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable
Cain Hoy Stable
Cain Hoy Stable was a Thoroughbred racing stable and horse breeding operation with training facilities in Columbia, South Carolina and Kissimmee, Florida. It was owned by Harry Guggenheim who also raced horses in Europe...
and then for Penny Chenery's
Penny Chenery
Helen Bates "Penny" Chenery Tweedy is an American sportswoman who bred and raced Secretariat, the 1973 winner of the Triple Crown...
Meadow Stable. In 1971 Roger Laurin was offered the job as head trainer for Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...
, a major stable owner and part of the Phipps family
Phipps family
The Henry Phipps family of the United States was founded by Henry Phipps, Jr., the son of an English shoemaker who emigrated in the early part of the 19th century to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before settling in Pittsburgh. When a child, Henry Phipps was a friend and neighbor to Andrew Carnegie...
, one of America's most prominent racing families. At the time, Roger Laurin had conditioned future Hall of Fame inductee Riva Ridge
Riva Ridge
Riva Ridge was a thoroughbred racehorse, the winner of the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. A son of First Landing out of Iberia , he was owned and bred by the Meadow Stable of Christopher Chenery. The horse's name came from Chenery's son-in-law, John Tweedy, who was a soldier in World War...
for racing up to the week before he broke his maiden in his two-year-old debut. It was on his recommendation that Penny Chenery hired his father to replace as the Meadow Stable trainer. In addition to his duties for Ogden Phipps, Roger Laurin had been training horses owned by James Moseley, a member of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
, and a co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Suffolk Downs
Suffolk Downs
Suffolk Downs, a thoroughbred race track in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States opened in 1935. Famous horses that have raced at this track include Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Funny Cide and Cigar. The MassCap is held there, as well at the annual Hot Dog Safari...
racetrack in Boston, Massachusetts. For Moseley he most notably conditioned the filly Drumtop
Drumtop
Drumtop was an American Thoroughbred horse racing mare purchased as a yearling for $47,000 who won close to half a million dollars in racing against both females and males and who in 1971 broke three track records:...
who won numerous top stakes and who broke three track record
Track record
Track record means informally the collective recollections of the performance of a person or an organization; similarly to fame or publicity.The term track record may also refer to:*Track Records, an English record label...
s in 1971. For Ogden Phipps, Laurin trained Numbered Account
Numbered Account (horse)
Numbered Account was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was voted the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1971. She was bred and raced by Ogden Phipps and trained by Roger Laurin....
to a 1971 Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
as the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.
In the late 1970s, Roger Laurin was training for owners such as Reginald N. Webster
Reginald N. Webster
Reginald N. Webster was an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner.Born in Dublin, Ireland, Reginald Webster's family emigrated to the United States when he was a small boy. Pursuing a career in business, he was president of precision parts manufacturer Standard-Thomson Corp. of...
, a longtime stable owner for whom Lucien Laurin had won the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
with Amberoid
Amberoid
Amberoid was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1966 American Classic, the Belmont Stakes....
, and for the American racing division of Canadian E. P. Taylor's
E. P. Taylor
Edward Plunket Taylor was a Canadian business tycoon and famous breeder of thoroughbred race horses. Known to his friends as "Eddie", he is universally recorded as "E. P...
Windfields Farm
Windfields Farm
Windfields Farm is a six square kilometre thoroughbred horse breeding farm founded by businessman E. P. Taylor in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The first stable and breeding operation of E. P. Taylor originated with a property near the city of Toronto known as Parkwood Stable when it was owned by...
. In 1984 he conditioned Chief's Crown to an outstanding season of racing in which he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. After another good year in 1985 with Chief’s Crown finishing 3-2-3 in the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series then winning the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
The Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap was a Thoroughbred horse race first run in September 1973 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade 1 race for horses 3 years old and up, it was raced over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track....
and Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
, Roger Laurin retired. He did maintain his trainer’s license while devoting much of his time to the breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
of Thoroughbreds. In 1992, while racing on a very limited basis, he won the Victoriana Stakes
Victoriana Stakes
The Victoriana Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early to mid August at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. An Ontario Sire Stakes, it is a restricted race for fillies and mares, age three and older...
at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
with a horse he bred and owned. In August 2006, he returned again to race at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
with two of his own horses.
Still maintaining some involvement with the race conditioning of Thoroughbreds, Roger Laurin had a stable under his care at Fort Erie Racetrack in August 2011.