Jeff Metz closes stable to take stall superintendent position

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jeff Metz, a former leading trainer at Emerald Downs in Washington State and one of the leading trainers at Turf Paradise in Phoenix in recent years, recently relinquished his stable to take a position as stall superintendent at Santa Anita.

Metz, 56, replaces Bobby Troeger, also a former trainer, who left the position earlier this month.

Metz had his final starters at Emerald Downs and Los Alamitos on Sept. 17 and his final win at Emerald on Aug. 5. Metz won 938 races in a career that began in 1991.

Metz said the recent announcement that Turf Paradise will close and plans to close Golden Gate Fields in 2024 contributed to his decision to switch careers.

“Turf Paradise doesn’t look too promising,” he said. “With Turf Paradise and Golden Gate’s closing imminent, I think that will take a toll on Emerald Downs.

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“It was my plan to stay close to California and this came open suddenly. It happened fast.

“It looks like a good opportunity, knowing all the players between management and horsemen on the backstretch.”

Metz said he had eight horses in Washington who were turned out or sold earlier this month. He has eight horses at Santa Anita that will be trained by his daughter, Zoe, who is currently undergoing accreditation to gain a trainer’s license.

Zoe Metz, 27, has worked for her father’s stable in recent years and for Benoit Photo at Del Mar, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita.

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