Contessa finding a second home in racing at Canterbury
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Gary Contessa always had a desire to be on the management side of the racing business. After four decades of training horses, he’s getting a chance to live on other side of the fence.
Contessa, 68, is working at Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. He doesn’t have a specific title, though the Canterbury website lists him as working in horsemen’s relations. He says he’s enjoying it as much as he did winning 2,424 races over a 40-year career that began in 1985.
“I love winning races, but I love the management side of racing. I feel that side can be done so much better,” Contessa said. “When I discovered Canterbury, this place is run amazingly. I love everything about it. It’s 100 percent geared to the fans and you just don’t see that anywhere. I hope I can spend the rest of my racing days with Canterbury being a part of this. I’m here to try and help make it even better.”
Contessa, who was the leading trainer in wins on the New York Racing Association circuit from 2006-09, was training horses until last fall. His last starter was Nutella Fella, who finished fifth in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler last Nov. 2 at Aqueduct. Contessa walked away after that to address a health issue. Though he’s down to 168 pounds Contessa said he feels well.
“I took care of the illness that I had. I feel like I’m certainly back in business,” Contessa said. “I’m not thrilled with how thin I am but that was part of it. I had problems with my stomach. I got things going in the right direction. Now, I’m feeling much better. I’m back to work and I’m loving it.”
Contessa said he initially went to Minnesota because that’s where two of his sons and all four of his grandchildren reside. Contessa took his family one day to Canterbury and was really impressed.
“I walked in there with my grandkids on family day – which is every Sunday – there was face painting, pony rides, and all that stuff,” Contessa said. “I discovered what Canterbury was all about. I started watching it more closely, it’s everything I ever wanted to be a part of, so I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this and my health issues are behind me. We conquered those, I’m really doing good.”
In his role, Contessa said he deals with owners, trainers, and breeders in both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse world.
“I’m there for solving problems, which I’ve always been very good at,” Contessa said. “I do whatever they need me to do.
“Saratoga is Canterbury Park on steroids,” Contessa added. “If I brought you to Canterbury Park for a week you will see and say, ‘I know what Contessa is talking about.’ This place is amazing, it’s such an entertainment venue. It’s not just go to the racetrack, handicap a race, and then handicap again. There are all kinds of attractions for kids, toddlers, teenagers, pre-teens.”
Andrew Offerman, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations, worked at Canterbury Park for 12 years. Contessa said in dealing with Minnesota horsemen he often hears Offerman’s name.
“I don’t know anything about Offerman other than he went to NYRA and I never really crossed paths with him, but he did a lot of good things for Canterbury,” Contessa said. “He probably had a lot to do with setting the course for this place. I’m very impressed with the guy.”
Contessa was in Saratoga this week for the Fasig-Tipton yearling sale. He trained and worked closely with Lee Pokoik, who, through Taylor Made Sales, consigned three horses in the sale. One of thoses was by Elite Power and a half-sister to Commandment, a horse Pokoik bred who won the Grade 1 Florida Derby this year for Wathnan Racing and trainer Brad Cox. For Pokoik, Contessa trained Commandment’s dam, the Grade 1 winner Sippican Harbor.
Contessa said he is also meeting with breeders who may want to stand Nutella Fella at stud. Nutella Fella won the Grade 1 Hopeful for Contessa in 2023. Contessa said there is interest from breeders in Turkey, the Koreas, as well as stateside in Louisiana.
Lastly, Contessa said he is in Saratoga to try and talk to people about Canterbury, something he will start doing more in earnest after the Canterbury meet ends in mid-September.
“October, November, December, January, February, non-stop recruitment,” Contessa said. “I want to get ideas and find out what horseman want in order to come here.”
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