Delta Downs a centerpiece in Broberg's success

Trainer Karl Broberg has achieved some notable milestones over the past two months, and one track central to his reaching those markers has been Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

“It’s the focal point of my year,” Broberg said of the annual meet.

Broberg hit a milestone of 3,000 career training victories Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park – with 674 of those wins having been compiled at Delta dating back to 2010.

Broberg achieved another milestone in December, when he became the third trainer in history to win 500 or more races in a calendar year in North America. He ended up at 509 in 2018 – with 116 of those wins recorded at Delta.

The trainer reached yet another milestone Saturday night, and this one was personal. It happened when Social Misfit captured the second race at Delta, giving him his 100th win at the current meet that opened in October and ends March 9.

“Going into this meet we set some ridiculous goals,” Broberg said. “One was trying to run out $2 million. The other was to win 100 races.”

Broberg said he does not anticipate hitting the stable earnings goal at Delta with $1.8 million through Monday. However, he hopes to pad his 100-win goal. It’s a personal best for him at Delta.

“That’s something I’m pretty proud of,” Broberg said.

Broberg has made Delta his base, with a farm in Vinton, La.

“It’s such an advantage with my farm being a half-mile from the track,” he said.

The scenario gives Broberg the opportunity to keep more runners in the area and keep horses fresh with the amenities a farm provides.

Broberg, a 48-year-old native of Chicago, also has divisions of his stable at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn, and Sam Houston. Before long, he will be branching out to Canterbury, Evangeline Downs, Lone Star Park, and Will Rogers.

Broberg said Saturday that he is applying for stalls at Indiana Grand, where he has not been stabled before.

He also said he’s contemplating applying for a few stalls at Belmont Park, where he predicts he’ll get his “head jerked.” However, the quality of Broberg’s barn has risen in recent times, and he long has wanted to race at Belmont.

Broberg is fast at work on his next 3,000 wins, with 3,004 through Monday. He’s not had time to dwell on the milestone hit Friday.

“At this point, it’s just a number – like a lifetime achievement award and we got there a little faster than most,” Broberg said. “It’s odd . . . I was so worn out trying to pull out 500 in a season, the number [Friday] was anticlimactic.”

Broberg hit the summit of 3,000 after a five-win day Friday. He won a race at Oaklawn, three at Delta, then notched the milestone at Sam Houston. Broberg registered his first career training win Nov. 7, 2009, at Retama Park, according to Daily Racing Form records.