Beckman, former Brown assistant, opens public stable

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Whit Beckman, a former longtime assistant to Chad Brown, has opened a public stable at Churchill Downs, where he grew up professionally, aspiring to make an impact in racing.

Beckman, 39, began his racing career in 2003, a few years after graduating high school in Louisville, by working as a stablehand for trainer Walt Bindner at Churchill. He eventually worked his way up the ranks in New York and elsewhere, spending 6 1/2 years working for Todd Pletcher prior to becoming a top lieutenant for Brown, the four-time champion trainer, in April 2016.

Beckman said he currently has “two or three clients” and will soon have five or six horses in Barn 33.

“I probably won’t actually have my first starter until the Keeneland meet next month,” he said.

Beckman had overseen a string of about 20 Brown horses at Churchill, then Ellis Park, until late July, when Brown recalled those horses back to the East Coast. Since April 2020, Brown had intended to maintain a year-round presence in Kentucky in non-winter months, but that plan was hindered partly by the forced exodus of horses from Churchill during the summer renovation of the turf course.

Meanwhile, another top Brown assistant has quietly enjoyed an outstanding summer in Kentucky and elsewhere. Cherie DeVaux, who went out on her own in 2018 following a lengthy tenure under Brown, not only went 4 for 14 at Ellis but also 4 for 11 at Saratoga, including a combined four-race win streak during the final days of both meets.

“I am incredibly proud of our showings at both Ellis Park and Saratoga,” DeVaux posted on her Twitter account.