The spotlight’s always on the Todd Pletchers of the world, and no surprise; they’re the ones who win the biggest races and scale the highest peaks.
But the day-to-day racing product at most of our tracks isn’t, for the most part, populated by Todd and his ilk. Instead, it’s filled with the likes of Carlyne Tapscott. She’s the Bowie-based trainer filmmaker Jeff Krulik features here, in today’s Midweek Movie.
Tapscott’s career as a trainer of record began in 2003, when she went winless in three starts. She won one of four starts the next year — with earnings of just over $20,000 — and then didn’t win another race until 2010. She won three last year — her best year to date — from 38 starts, and her horses earned over $82,000.
In this brief visit, we meet one of the members of her barn — Yolanda’s Dream — who didn’t do much to advance the cause (three thirds in 11 starts last year with earnings of $5420). And we learn of the star of the barn, Perfect Cross, who won twice last year and twice placed in stakes at Charles Town en route to earning over $67,000.
Still, says Tapscott, it’s not just about racing success. “I treat them all the same,” she tells Jeff. “They’re actually my children.”
(Featured image by Laurie Asseo.)
