Trainer Profile: Patrick “Paddy” Gallagher

Patrick “Paddy” Gallagher

Trainer Patrick “Paddy” Gallagher is known as one of the most likable on the Southern California circuit thanks to his easy demeanor, quick wit and wicked Irish sense of humor bordering on the inappropriate. He’s also known as one of the better trainers in the Golden State despite the fact that, so far in his career, he’s only conditioned one Kentucky Derby (GI) runner, Domestic Dispute, who finished 10th in 2003.

Gallager was initially a jockey in his native Ireland, but after winning just a single race, moved to the United States to pursue a training career, where he assisted legends like John Sullivan and Bill Shoemaker and worked with notable equine athletes such as The Bart, Forzando, Yashgan, Vernon Castle, Fire The Groom and Diazo.

After helping to manage Shoemaker’s shedrow following the former rider’s 1991 automobile accident that left him a quadriplegic until 1997, Gallagher went on his own and, since then, has saddled nearly 4,400 starters for 553 victories and more than $30 million in earnings. Some of his more notable runners include Grade I winner Magical Fantasy and multiple Grade II winners Flamboyant, Dice Flavor, Valbenny and Tucked Away.

This year, the affable Irishman will tighten the girth on maiden Trojan Nation, who will be the 10th runner looking for a first career victory in Run for the Roses. Though three maidens have won the Kentucky Derby in 141 previous runnings, none have done so since Brokers Tip in 1933. Nationalore was the most recent, finishing 10th in 1998.

Well-bred Trojan Nation, a son of Street Cry and the 1996 champion juvenile filly Storm Song (Summer Squall) earned his chance to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate by virtue of the 40 points he earned from his fast-closing second to Outwork in the Wood Memorial (GI). While the colt has his work cut out for him, he certainly has a pedigree ability to help make up for what he lacks in experience.

Click HERE for current odds to win the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

Margaret Ransom

California native and lifelong horsewoman Margaret Ransom is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program. She got her start in racing working in the publicity departments at Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park, as well as in the racing office at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. She then spent six years in Lexington, KY, at BRISnet.com, where she helped create and develop the company’s popular newsletters: Handicapper’s Edge and Bloodstock Journal.

After returning to California, she served six years as the Southern California news correspondent for BloodHorse, assisted in the publicity department at Santa Anita Park and was a contributor to many other racing publications, including HorsePlayer Magazine and Trainer Magazine. She then spent seven years at HRTV and HRTV.com in various roles as researcher, programming assistant, producer and social media and marketing manager.

She has also walked hots and groomed runners, worked the elite sales in Kentucky for top-class consignors and volunteers for several racehorse retirement organizations, including CARMA.

In 2016, Margaret was the recipient of the prestigious Stanley Bergstein Writing Award, sponsored by Team Valor, and was an Eclipse Award honorable mention for her story, “The Shocking Untold Story of Maria Borell,” which appeared on USRacing.com. The article and subsequent stories helped save 43 abandoned and neglected Thoroughbreds in Kentucky and also helped create a new animal welfare law known as the “Borell Law.”

Margaret’s very first Breeders’ Cup was at Hollywood Park in 1984 and she has attended more than half of the Breeders’ Cups since. She counts Holy Bull and Arrogate as her favorite horses of all time. She lives in Pasadena with her longtime beau, Tony, two Australian Shepherds and one Golden Retriever.