Diodoro knocking on the door for 3,000th win
It’s about 2,000 miles from Calgary, Alberta, to Hot Springs, Ark., and that’s the journey trainer Robertino Diodoro’s parents have made to be with their son as he nears a career milestone of 3,000 wins.
Diodoro is the leading trainer at his winter base of Oaklawn, and through Tuesday had registered 2,997 wins in Thoroughbred races. They have come in his native Canada and the United States. Diodoro also is actively racing at Turf Paradise, Delta Downs, and Sam Houston.
The pending milestone – and Christmas – brought the Diodoros to Arkansas on Dec. 14. Racing has been a family affair for Tino and Linda Diodoro.
“My mom’s side of the family has got it in the blood,” Robertino Diodoro said. “And my dad’s been around it for many years, since he came from Italy, as an owner and helping my grandpa, who trained. He helped me out a lot when I first started training as well.”
Robertino Diodoro’s first win came Aug. 2, 1995, at Northlands Park. The 47-year-old has won a total of 3,017 races through Tuesday, but some were with Thoroughbreds in “hook races” against Quarter Horses. All told, the barn has had more than 14,300 starters, for stable earnings of more than $60 million.
Diodoro has gone on to win titles in Western Canada, Turf Paradise, Oaklawn, and Will Rogers. His first “big horse” was Broadway Empire, a multiple graded stakes winner of more than $500,000.
“I really think he’s the one that got the stable going to the next level,” Diodoro said. “Broadway Empire was a big part of the whole stable kind of kicking off. He was a special horse for a lot of reasons. We won our first Canadian Derby with him.”
Sky Promise came along and became the first horse to win the three major derbies in Western Canada. And in more recent times, marathon specialist Lone Rock has been a flagship horse for Diodoro.
“He has given us a real thrill,” Diodoro said, “winning stakes at every major racetrack, from Del Mar to Oaklawn, to Keeneland, to Churchill, Saratoga, Belmont.”
Lone Rock has been on vacation and this week was to ship from Florida to Oaklawn, where he could run late in the meet, said Diodoro.
Diodoro leads the Oaklawn standings in wins and earnings, with 13 victories from 36 starts and stable earnings of $698,493.
But for all the numbers, the one in focus right now is 3,000.
“I think everyone’s excited, even the guys in the barn,” Diodoro said. “It’s a team effort and this will be a team accomplishment.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.