Page 135 - February 2017

Russell Harris Retires
Born and raised in South Alabama, Russell Harris’ love of horses took him across the country and introduced him to people from
around the world. Being a racehorse trainer wasn’t his first career choice but his passion.
Harris’ career as a trainer spanned more than four decades, and his earnings total stands at $17,331,481. He’s saddled multiple Champions and the winners of 1,489 races while banking many great stories and friends along the way. At the end of 2016, Harris retired from training and sent the majority of his stable to trainer John Stinebaugh.
Introduced to horse racing as an early teen through his dad’s involvement in match racing, Harris traveled the Gulf Coast watching his family’s horses race in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.
After graduating from high school, Harris attended Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida.
“I started doing art work and I enjoyed it, but I couldn’t get those horses out of my system,” Harris said. “The first thing you know, I come back home and I told my dad that I wanted to be a trainer.”
By this time, Harris’ father was sending horses to trainer Gene Chambless at official racetracks, and his first horse, Go Rebel Go, rewarded the family’s move with a fourth-place finish in the All American Futurity-G1 in 1965.
Harris’ dad gave his support to the career change and sent his son to California to learn the ropes.
“He said, ‘I want you to learn how to do it the correct way,’” Harris remembers.
Not long after, Harris worked his way up to become Chambless’ assistant, and within a couple of years, Chambless retired and Harris inherited his stable.
“I was just very fortunate that most of his owners let me have their horses,” Harris said. “It was just like a bird’s nest on the ground. Believe me, that first two or three years that I trained, I don’t know why any of them even let me have a horse. There was just no way that I was supposed to have those kind of horses. Through trial and error and a lot of work, it turned around and it really worked out well.”
“I started doing art work and I enjoyed it,
but I couldn’t get those horses out of my system.”
Early in his career, Harris’ owners included Bob Boniface, Bill Stratmore and Millie Vessels.
“I was just very fortunate,” Harris said. “I really had a bunch of nice horses and just got to meet some super, super people. I’ve been so fortunate and had such good owners.”
Harris counts Buddy and Patty Newsome and Garlyn Shelton in his list of owners who helped his career.
“All the people that you meet from all of the states and the owners,” Harris said. “If you get down to it, I don’t have but a handful of friends that aren’t involved at the racetrack. It’s a family.”
An artist, who turned to the racetrack to create his masterpieces, steps away from training. by Jennifer K. Hancock
Harris spent 18 years serving on the AQHA racing committee and began a new term in 2015. He served on the AQHA Racing Council 1991-2002 and 2004-2006 as well as serving as an AQHA Director 1996-2007. He says he still plans to be active in the sport by attending sales, the AQHA Convention, races and other events and said while his name won’t be listed as trainer in a race program, it might be printed as owner.
Harris turned 70 in December, and he’s quick to point out that “I don’t think that’s very old, I feel good and am doing good.” His retirement is more about spending time with family including Brook, his wife of 39 years, and living life without consulting race calendars and trial schedules.
“I get to do what I want to do,” he said. “Brook and I have property in Montana, and our daughter lives in Park City, Utah, with our grandson. We’ve got a lot of projects going on ourselves, and I just wanted to get out and see some things and be able to do some stuff.”
Harris said it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite horse or race.
“At the time that you do any of those things, it seems like it’s the best thing that you’ve ever done,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate from all the stuff that we did in California and winning the Rainbow, the Ruidoso, the Heritage Derby, the Remington Park Championship – twice – and just a lot of things like that so it’s hard to evaluate it into one or two races. It’s the same way with your favorite horse. Some of your favorite horses might not have been the ones that made the most money, but their personality connected with you.”
Harris names Jodys Glory, the 1979 Champion Aged Stallion, and Deposit Cash, winner of the 1997 Heritage Place Derby-G1 and
132 SPEEDHORSE, February 2017