Arnold enjoying career year

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Rusty Arnold says he doesn’t have much to run this fall at Keeneland, which is somewhat ironic. Arnold is closely identified with his hometown track, and he’s enjoying his best year yet in a remarkable training career dating to his late teens.

“I do like Keeneland,” quipped Arnold, 64, “but I also like the money they were giving away last month at Kentucky Downs and Churchill Downs.”

Indeed, with every check his horses earn through the end of the year, Arnold will set a personal record for stable earnings. His total stood just a few bucks shy of $3.6 million when the Keeneland fall meet began Friday, having already surpassed his 2017 high of nearly $2.8 million. A good chunk of that amount was earned at Kentucky Downs and Churchill, where purses have reached all-time highs.

His 2-year-olds are “a little behind schedule,” said Arnold, and therefore he doesn’t expect to have as many starters at this meet as usual.

“It’ll probably be one of my lighter meets, although I might be good enough in a couple stakes,” he said, referring to the Woodford on Saturday with Leinster and the Oct. 11 Franklin County with Morticia. “For whatever reason, most of the 2-year-olds haven’t gotten there yet. They’ve had a shin, a splint, or an ankle and just aren’t far enough along.”

The 3-year-old turf filly Concrete Rose, the stable star, also is out, having been diagnosed in August with a hairline fracture that did not require surgery. She is expected back in his care when Arnold makes his annual trek to Florida for the winter in early December. Concrete Rose, a winner in 6 of 7 career starts, has accounted for four of Arnold’s nine stakes wins in 2019.

Arnold was based in New York for about 20 years before returning home in 2007, mostly in anticipation of the purses growing to lucrative levels.

“I was hoping this would happen, and it finally has,” he said. “This has been a great year to have a good year.”

Despite his horses having earned more than $70 million in a career dating to 1975, Arnold has never won a Breeders’ Cup race or a Triple Crown event. He likens himself to a highly accomplished professional golfer who has never won a major.

“I’ve been a grinder,” he said. “I’d like to win one of the big ones, and anybody that tells you they wouldn’t is lying. Either way, though, I think I’m going to be fine.”