Beulah Park: Woodard gets winner 1,000

Trainer Joe Woodard reached a personal milestone of 1,000 wins Tuesday when Just Call'er ($3.40) won the eighth race at Beulah Park. The 43-year-old Woodard has been training for the past 18 years.

Woodard was not aware he was close to 1,000 wins until earlier in the day.

“I am not one to brag and don't really think about individual honors but trying to win every race for my owners.”

Woodard is the private trainer for owner Billy Hays and has won 941 races for Hays and his family.

“He always wants things done the right way and so is an easy guy to train for” Woodard said.

Woodard took only a minute to celebrate the win.

“A guy texted me and said congratulations, I texted back, ‘Thanks but have to get back to work to win another 1,000.’ ”

Woodard is headquartered at Skylight training center near Louisville and races mainly in the Midwest.