Glyshaw closes out training career Saturday at Turf

Turfway Park news feature by track publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady photo of Tim Glyshaw)

FLORENCE, Ky. (Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024) – Tim Glyshaw will conclude a chapter in his career on Saturday night at Turfway Park, saddling his final horse as a trainer before assuming the role of Executive Director of the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on Feb. 1.

With 552 wins and more than $15.7 million in purse earnings, Glyshaw’s trainer stats narrate one tale, yet it’s the narrative behind these numbers that he takes the most pride in. More than two decades as a trainer and 3,927 starts, he’s has maintained a clean record with no medication violations. 

“The wins speak for themselves, but I can proudly say we always did right by our horses having no medication violations in 20 years,” Glyshaw said. “I love coming to the barn every day just to be with my horses and be around my staff. I couldn’t have gone this far in my career without great horses that were sent to me by loyal owners and cared for by a dedicated staff.”

Glyshaw’s horses have taken him across the globe to some of racing’s biggest events including Royal Ascot where his fellow Indiana-bredBucchero finished fifth in the Grade I King’s Stand Stakes (now known as the King Charles II) against some of the world’s best turf sprinters. Owned byIronhorse Racing Stable, Bucchero eventually closed his career with 11 victories from 31 starts and now is a successful stallion standing in New York.

Overall, Glyshaw won four graded stakes events – two with Bucchero and two with Wayne Spalding and Faron McCubbins’ Bullards Alley.

“Bullard was such a special horse who went from a maiden claimer to a Grade I winner,” Glyshaw said. “Wayne (Spalding) was one of my first owners but became a loyal friend. We lost him way too soon and I can’t thank him enough for all his support he’s given me throughout my career both as a trainer and a friend.”

Another major client that supported Glyshaw through his training career was David and Loren Osborne. The husband/wife duo owned many of his top trainees including Indiana champion Unreachable Star and stakes winner Grand Traverse, who earned more than $500,000 across his nine-year career.

“The Osborne family embodies horse racing,” Glyshaw said. “David has helped this industry in so many ways with his position as the Speaker of the House in Frankfort. Loren and her mother, Carol, are two phenomenal horsewomen who helped breed and raise many of our top runners like Grand Traverse, who was a tremendous racehorse around the country. The Osbornes also campaigned Unreachable Star who won 17 races, mostly in Indiana, and became a future champion in the Hoosier State.”

One other memorable horse for Glyshaw was Ready’s Rocket, who won a record 11 races at Churchill Downs from 2008-’12.

“He was such a gutsy horse and had a ton of heart,” Glyshaw said. “You can’t train heart into a horse. Ready had that and more. He took us on an amazing run winning 11 races at Churchill Downs.

Glyshaw’s career in racing started on a whim with an internship at Taylor Made Farm. After completing the program, he eventually took a job as the assistant trainer to the late Bob Holthus and on July 1, 2004, Glyshaw made his first start as a trainer when Ann’s Emblem finished third in a $10,000 claiming event at Churchill Downs. She’d go on to give Glyshaw his first victory two months later at Turfway Park.

“Horse racing is such a special sport and spending two decades as a trainer is something I’ll always cherish,” Glyshaw said. “Before my internship at Taylor Made, I had a job as a teacher. But, every day when I walked into school, I always wondered what life would be like if I could get a job in horse racing. I took a chance and even though I’m stepping away from training, the sport continues to reward me in ways I never thought possible. My new job is going to allow me to continue to work doing what I love – being around horses and protecting those who help take care of them.”

Glyshaw had two horses entered Saturday at Turfway Park – Leo’s Roar in Race 2 and Lieutenant Kitty in Race 9.