Trainer Dan Ward has worked for two Hall of Fame trainers. A third is just around the corner after Ward said he's been tapped by Southern California-based Bob Baffert to oversee the Hall of Fame trainer's new division at Churchill Downs.
"It's a good opportunity to work with good horses," Ward, 67, said in his barn office April 20 at Oaklawn. "I feel like after trying this for three years, the only way I'm going to get to work with horses like that is to do an assistant's job. As far as assistants go, it's a very good job."
Ward said he was initially contacted about the position this winter and will officially begin work for Baffert following the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 2 at Churchill Downs. The plan now, Ward said, is to return to Oaklawn Park and oversee a division of horses for Baffert at the 2026-27 meeting. Baffert has had extraordinary success at Oaklawn—43 of 105 in his career— but he's never kept a large string in Hot Springs.
"We're supposedly going to have 34 (horses) over there, at Churchill, and he said he's got people that are contacting him, new people, and if they see he's going to be serious about staying there, maybe we'll get some more business," Ward said. "We've got the whole barn, 34 stalls."
Ward carried approximately 25 horses this season at Oaklawn and said the decision to stop training was made easier because all his employees were hired by Baffert.
"The timing is perfect for this move, for the people that are already up there," Ward said. "The barn is beautiful. They've got eight horses coming Wednesday, eight Thursday, eight Friday. They have some people coming for the Derby, a couple of grooms and a rider, but after that they go back to Santa Anita."
A San Diego native, Ward spent 22 years under Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel and 17 years under Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer before striking out on his own in the summer of 2023 at Monmouth Park.
Ward has 80 career training victories, including 27 at Oaklawn, and has achieved his greatest success with the millionaire Majestic Oops. Ward won four stakes races with Majestic Oops, including the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares March 7 at Oaklawn. Majestic Oops returned to finish third in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 11 at Oaklawn.
Ward said Majestic Oops, a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner, has been sent to trainer Phil D'Amato, who is based in Southern California. Ward said horses owned by his biggest client, Brad's Equine Adventure, will go to trainer Wayne Potts. Brad's Equine Adventure (Marc Altschuld) is based at Monmouth Park after the Oaklawn meeting ends.
Ward said his final scheduled Oaklawn starter will be Gold Strategy in the $150,000 Natural State Breeders' Stakes April 30. Gold Strategy is co-owned by Brad's Equine Adventure.
"I'm looking at the barn and my signs in the office that are hanging up and it's kind of sad," Ward said. "But it's a good opportunity. Got to take it."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
