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Michael A. Tomlinson

Statistics by Year:
 

Category Starters Starts Starts/Starter 1st 2nd 3rd Win % % 1st, 2nd or 3rd Earned Avg Earnings per Start Avg Earnings Per Starter
Dirt 26 61 2.35 10 7 11 16.39% 45.9% $674,970 $11,065 $25,960
Turf 7 8 1.14 1 1 0 12.5% 25% $50,654 $6,332 $7,236
All Weather 19 33 1.74 2 2 6 6.06% 30.3% $102,863 $3,117 $5,414
Total 36 102 2.83 13 10 17 12.75% 39.22% $828,487 $8,122 $23,014
  
Graded Stakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0% $0 $0 $0
Black-type Stakes 1 1 1 0 0 1 0% 100% $10,780 $10,780 $10,780
Two-year-olds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0% $0 $0 $0
Claiming 13 28 2.15 6 2 5 21.43% 46.43% $227,826 $8,137 $17,525
First-time starters 7 7 0 1 0 0% 14.29% $12,153 $1,736 $1,736
Name: Michael A. Tomlinson
Address:
109 Plantation Drive
Shelbyville, KY  40065
Phone: (502) 664-7801
Email: triplet_ranch@yahoo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Tomlinson-Stables/488309194624398?fref=ts
Trainer Bio

Mike Tomlinson lives in Shelbyville, KY and bases his training stable at Churchill Downs for the spring and fall meets and moves to Gulfstream Park in Miami for the winter. A multiple graded stakes-winning trainer is closing in on 450 wins since moving to Kentucky.

He has been training horses ever since he was a small boy, training horses for shows and breaking babies and prepping for sales. But it wasn't until he struck out at a baseball career in college that he turned to horses as a way to earn a living. "After I hurt my arm pitching, I transferred my competitiveness over to rodeos," he said with a grin. Tomlinson spent seven years as a calf roper and steer wrestler, using experience gained from growing up on his family's ranch in Oklahoma.

Now, as a thoroughbred horse trainer at Churchill Downs, he is seasoned and knowledgeable about all aspects of his trade.  Before coming to Kentucky, he trained at various tracks across the country, including Louisiana Downs, Aksarben Race Track in Nebraska, and at Remington Park in Oklahoma City and Oaklawn Park.

He came to Kentucky in 1993 as a trainer at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. and moved to Shelbyville in 1996.  "I wanted a more central location for the tracks, so I looked around and decided that Shelby County is where I wanted to live," he said. "Shelby County is pretty much the hub on the wheel. I'm 30 minutes from Churchill and I'm 45 minutes from Keeneland.

He likens the job of horse trainer to personal athletic trainer.  "I'm like a coach," he said. "By the time they come to me, they have already had their basic training. I set up their conditioning programs, and evaluate their talent, and it's my job to place them at the level of competition where they can compete successfully."

He recalled his only Kentucky Derby hopeful, Sir Cherokee.  "Just a week before the Derby, he had an injury," he said. "That was in 2003. He had won the Arkansas Derby before that." In reflecting on Sir Cherokee, Tomlinson said that training a horse of his caliber makes the job worthwhile.  Mike's current star is Barbados who won the 2015 Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. 

Mike's wife, Vicki works in horseman relations at Churchill Downs.

Credit: Lisa King, The Sentinel News

Locations Manager on location Email Phone Day Rate # of horses trained
Churchill Downs 25
What's your normal use of veterinary services to manage horses on a day-today basis:
  • Aggressive ($700+ month/horse)
  • Moderate ($300 - $600 month/horse)
  • Occasional (less than $300 month/horse)
Other than day rate, does your billing include charges for:
  • Veterinary
  • Blacksmith
  • Vanning
  • Travel
  • Other
How often do you communicate with Owners:
  • Daily
  • 2-3 times a week
  • Once a week
  • As needed
Comments:
Or as needed

Top 10 Winning Horses - Past 12 months

Horse Sex Current Earnings Best Win Race Class Best Win Stake
Harrodsburg Gelding $216,235 Winner
Pinfire Gelding $146,510 Winner
Cat's Cave Filly $123,482 Winner
Bette Davis Filly $99,066 Winner
Velvet Devil Filly $84,833 Winner
Goldentown Gelding $77,100 Winner
Tagliatelle Gelding $68,876 Winner
Bebedouro Gelding $65,546 Winner
Mombayla Filly $42,215 Winner
She's Arodeoqueen Filly $37,777 Winner
Horse Sex Earnings Best Race Class Best Stake
Kettleoneup Filly $659,297 Grade 2 winner Falls City H. G2
Sir Cherokee Colt $628,296 Grade 2 winner Arkansas Derby G2
Barbados Colt $322,491 Grade 3 winner Hutcheson S. G3
Jordan's Henny Filly $301,796 Grade 3 winner Hurricane Bertie S. G3
Midnight Cello Gelding $133,510 Grade 3 winner Hanshin Cup S. G3
Candip Gelding $333,335 Listed winner Fabulous Strike H.
Greengrassofyoming Gelding $309,726 Listed winner Remington Green S.
Casino Evil Colt $247,376 Listed winner Round Table S.
Glorious Grace Filly $64,332 Listed winner West Virginia Senate President's Cup H.
Look Deep Filly $69,000 Listed winner Cozy Lace S.
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References Name # Horses Trained Best Horse Trained

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