Long a familiar sight early mornings at Santa Anita is trainer Henry Moreno on his pony, Blue. While overseeing his horses training, Moreno spreads his unique brand of cheer as he trades quips with, and occasionally tosses candy to, exercise riders, other trainers, and railbirds like me.
There aren't many Thoroughbred trainers in California who have been around as long as the iconic Moreno. The 80-year-old California native has been training for nearly 60 years.
Moreno in his rodeo days.Moreno grew up on his family's quarter horse ranch in southern California and began as a quarter horse trainer, switching to thoroughbreds in the early 1960s. Among the stakes horses he has trained were California-bred sprint star Red, dominating winner of the 1997 Cal Cup Sprint; Re Toss, upset winner of the Vanity Handicap in 1993; and top sprinter Sam Who. Moreno also conditioned Chilean import Tizna, winner of seven Santa Anita added-money events, and Sangue, winner of the 1983 Santa Maria Handicap and Yellow Ribbon Stakes.
Moreno with jockey John Longden in the late 1960's.
Master Sergeant Moreno in Korea.In this Trainer Snapshot video interview, Moreno talks about his early days on the ranch and the transition from training quarter horses to training thoroughbreds. He also offers some insights into the life of a longtime trainer -- and some compelling reasons why his is one of the best careers around!
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15 comments:
wonderful!
good luck to henry from your old neighbors.
the smeltz's
winter park, co
10/22/09
Henry is the epitome of class and a model horseman, and he did some wonderful things for me and my family. Thanks for this clip!
Thank you. Henry is an Inspiration to live life to its fullest.
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Obviously none of you have ever worked for him. If you had you would be singing a different tune.
He was an excellent trainer, one of the best in the business.
I met him this weekend - what a remarkable gentleman!!!
He is an amazing person, and it is kind of interesting that his father owned the American Saddlebred stallion Rey El Moreno!
Henry this is Brad Kleven is Arizona I hope you are doing well I would sure like to get another horse and have you find it and train it. it would be okay with me if we found another Sangue give me an email back bkleven@instantcareaz.com
I have not been able to get a number or an email on you, it must be all those good lookin women looking for you, Brad Kleven
Henry Moreno is the best, what an outstanding person he is. I met Henry when I was just a kid that was over 40 years ago and while
working with him at that young age he help me become the good man, husband and father I am today. Thank for all your time and wisdom over the years, I think about you often. Dennis Jackson
The uncle is/was Eddie Moreno. The Saddlebred stud was owned by his grandfather, Pedro Moreno.
I politely want to state that unless Henry is wrong, Jesus, known as Jay Moreno, owned Rey El Moreno He was Henry's father Jay paraded him with great success Rey El Moreno was known to have a kind and gentle disposition Of course, Henry was very young during the stallion's lifetime Henry told me that he died tragically in a flood Rey El Moreno sired among others, the famous, and breathtakingly beautiful, Cream Of Wheat also known as Revel's Cream Of Wheat He was never registered (American Saddlebred) because one of the mares in his pedigree, while a Saddle Horse, was unregistered
Several of Henry's uncles trained race horses with Eddie Moreno possibly being the best known I am not sure of that Henry's father picked Rey El Moreno out of a pen of two year olds by Solano He was unamed at the time
Does anyone know how Henry is ?
He gave me a job 2 days after getting out of navy .that's the man he was. Don Roberts.
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