Page 124 - Speedhorse April 2021

THE BACKSIDE
TREY ELLIS
A Trainer’s Perspective
by John Moorehouse
HOME BASE:
“Our home is based in Sunset, Louisiana. We have a 43-acre farm.”
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:
“I’ve been training on my own since 2010. I started my first horse in September 2010 at Fair Grounds.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
“It’s hard to point out any specific win, as every big race we have won has had different meanings with a lot of different friends and fam- ily. I have won many different stakes, futurities, derbies. Our biggest achievement so far is running third in the All American Futurity and second in the All American Derby, [both] in 2018.”
FAVORITE HOBBY:
“My hobbies other than horses are hunting, fishing, and spending time with my family.”
“Every horse is different. Every horse has to be trained different on a daily basis. I love the challenge of fixing a horse.”
Mr Tee Cos winning the Alabama Futurity at Delta Downs
I SAW ANOTHER INTERVIEW THAT TALKED ABOUT YOU BARREL RAC- ING AS A KID, AND YOUR DAD AND GRANDDAD RIDING MATCH RACES. WHAT LED YOU TO DECIDE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION TO BE A TRAINER?
“I grew up in a small town where everybody was a farmer and had race horses. We had a bush track not even half a mile from my house. After school every day I galloped horses to make money.”
YOU STARTED OUT WORKING WITH YOUR COUSIN, RAY ROBBINS. WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
“Ray lived next door and back then he was the only one from our hometown who left and made something of himself at the big tracks, so I guess you could say that’s something I always dreamed of doing also. When I graduated
high school, I decided to follow my dream
as a trainer and moved with Ray to work for
him. The opportunity came from Arnold and Brandon Trahan in 2010 to train their horses, so I decided to go on my own and start train- ing. Luckily, we had success right off the bat and business picked up quick from there, and here we are.”
ANY OTHER MENTORS WHO HELPED YOU OUT IN THOSE EARLY YEARS? IF SO, WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN FROM THEM?
“My biggest mentor to this day is Gene Cox, whether it’s about horses or life. He is my biggest owner and best friend, and the partnership we have together is great.”
I READ WHERE YOU HAD 50 HORSES IN YOUR TRAINING STABLE LAST YEAR. WHAT’S THE SECRET TO KEEPING ALL THAT ORGANIZED?
“We have about 70 horses right now in training and the key to having success is
“This year I’ve decided to start running as a board member for every association I possibly can. I think our industry needs more insight from younger people.”
122 SPEEDHORSE April 2021
Nicole Cormier/Coady Photography