Catalano reaches 3,000th career victory
Ellis Park news release by publicist Kevin Kerstein/Coady Media photos
HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, July 21, 2024) – Veteran trainer Wayne Catalano celebrated a major career milestone Sunday when Roger McNamara’s Alilnalot clinched his 3,000th-career victory in Race 4 at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
“I’ve been waiting on this one a long time,” Catalano said. “I got to have my family here today and it means the world to me.”
Horses under Catalano’s care have made more than 15,000 starts since he started his training career in 1983. Prior to winning 3,000 races, Catalano was an extremely accomplished jockey, winning 1,792 races.
Catalano’s had a deep roster of top horses throughout his career including Breeders’ Cup winners Dreaming of Ana, She Be Wild, Stephanie’s Kitten and Aloha West.
A native of New Orleans, Catalano got his start working as a hot walker for Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg as a teenager. When he turned 18, he became a jockey and won his first race on May 20, 1974 at Churchill Downs aboard Hellfire, a Van Berg trainee. Following chronic knee injuries, Catalano stepped aside from riding in 1983 and trained his first winner, Dreamin’ of You, later that year at Arlington Park.
Throughout his 41 years of training, Catalano’s horses have earned more than $76 million in purses while tallying 49 graded stakes scores.
