Trainer Bio
Mr. Henry Collazo is a life-long horseman, dedicated to the well-being of the athletes placed in his care and the favorable thoroughbred ownership experience of his clients. Since 2001, Henry has owned and operated a very successful public racing stable at Calder Race Course in Florida. He consistently ranks among the leading trainers at the south Florida meets. Prior to becoming a licensed trainer in 1979, Henry worked his way up the industry ranks gaining valuable experience as a hot-walker, groom and assistant trainer. In those early years, Henry cared for such notable champions as Southjet, winner of the Secretariat Stakes (G1) and the Rothmans International Stakes (G1), and Carey’s Gold, winner of two of the Florida Stallion Stakes. Henry was an assistant to world-class trainer Stephen A. DiMauro, Sr. and worked for industry-leading owners such as Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable. Henry trained at all the top tracks on the eastern circuit including Monmouth, Parx , Maryland, Saratoga, and Belmont . In addition to his extensive training experience, Henry previously owned a breeding farm in Ocala, FL and managed several profitable pinhooking ventures. He also began to study veterinarian medicine at University of Tennessee and worked for several seasons as a veterinarian assistant before realizing that his passion was for training. An area of specialization for Henry is helping his clients find exciting new racing prospects at the two-year-old sales. Independent studies have shown that Henry’s sale selections generate superior results as measured by racing earnings relative to purchase prices. Henry is also adept at assisting clients interested in claiming established runners. Often Henry is able to match clients with similar racing interests, putting together partnerships that help owners get involved in more horses and enjoy more racing opportunities while at the same time reducing their risk and controlling their expenses. Among Henry's marquee victories, he won The 2013 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park and The 2012 Needles Stakes at Calder Race Course with Mucho Mas Macho. In recent years Henry also won the Blazing Sword Stakes and the Carterista Handicap with Love the Game, as well as the Calder Derby and the Our Dear Peggy Stakes with Tannersville. Perhaps the most important measure of success, the majority of the athletes in Henry’s stable accumulate racing earnings that exceed their cost. Henry’s training philosophy is to always put the best interests of the horses first. He believes that ultimately this principle will also best serve the horse’s owners. Henry employs a very hands-on approach to training and maintains a reasonable size stable to ensure that he can give personal attention to every horse. Henry’s stable has very little employee turnover, allowing the members of his team to gain a deep understanding of the needs and opportunities of every horse. Henry, and his wife and children, live in a neighboring community to Calder allowing quick access to serve his horses and his clients.
