Page 112 - SpeedhorseMarch2021

THE BACKSIDE
DEE KEENER
A Trainer’s Perspective
by John Moorehouse
HOME BASE:
Inola, Oklahoma
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:
“Thirty-two as a trainer. I got out of college
at Northeastern State University, got an elementary education degree. I got my license I think when I was 19 or 20.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
Has captured five APHA trainer titles. Prepped former Indian National Finals Rodeo World Champion in calf roping.
FAVORITE HOBBY:
“This is about all I do. I’ve got a son who’s still in high school. He wrestles and plays football, and we go watch him a lot. I used to rodeo and team rope, all through college, and used to go to the pro rodeos. I don’t have time to rope anymore.”
Dee Keener lives and breathes horses— seven days a week, 365 days a year. For all his success in the sport,
Keener actually was frightened of horses as a young child.
“Yeah, when I was younger, I didn’t really like them too well,” Keener said. “My folks have been in horses for years. When I was
“A lot of good people. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have plenty of help.”
12 or 13, I started galloping horses until I was probably 16 or 17. I broke and galloped horses. I just got over it.”
And he has established an outstanding record of success as a trainer. Through
the middle of February in 2021, Keener had amassed 418 wins and over $5.8 million in mixed breed races, as well as 284 wins
and more than $3.6 million in Quarter Horse earnings.
He’s not the only member of the family deeply involved in the horse world. Keener’s father also trained, mostly in Quarter Horses. His great-grandfather was a steer roper. And Keener’s wife, Wendy Ingersoll Keener, currently chairs the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.
“We have several horses and my wife, she breeds a lot of mares. We have several of our own,” said Keener, who lives on a 12,000- acre ranch for horse and cattle about 25 miles outside of Tulsa. “We’re all about cattle and horses, pretty much.”
Before the 2021 season really started ramping up, Keener made some time to discuss his career, his training philosophy, and much more in the latest installment of our Backside feature.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE BREAKING INTO THE SPORT AS A TRAINER 30 YEARS AGO?
“I started out in Thoroughbreds. My dad had always trained Quarter Horses, but I got hooked up with a guy from California who used to send me Thoroughbreds down here in Oklahoma for a while. I even won a couple of trainer titles at Will Rogers Downs as a Thoroughbred trainer.”
YOU’VE HAD MOST OF YOUR SUCCESS WORKING WITH PAINT HORSES. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT PAINTS?
“A long time ago I had a guy that I trained for who had good Paints. I got to winning with Paints and people started sending me more Paints. I like Quarter Horses and Paints, but I always liked Paints. I’ve also got an owner who’s had some of the best Appaloosas.”
WITH SUCH A BIG OPERATION, WHAT’S THE TRICK TO KEEPING THINGS ORGANIZED?
“A lot of good people that help us. A lot of good people. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have plenty of help.”
110 SPEEDHORSE March 2021
Dee with his son Radley and wife Wendy.