Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Art Sherman to retire

DEL MAR, Calif. – Art Sherman, whose career spanned from Kentucky Derby winners Swaps to California Chrome, is retiring at the end of the year and was feted by Del Mar on Thursday with a brief winner’s circle ceremony and video tribute.

Sherman, 84, trained California Chrome to a pair of Horse of the Year titles, in 2014, when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and 2016, when his wins included the Dubai World Cup, Pacific Classic, and Awesome Again.

Training was something Sherman turned to after earlier stints as an exercise rider – including accompanying Swaps to the 1955 Derby at age 18 – and then a jockey. He retired as a jockey in 1978, then was a successful trainer, winning 2,261 races. When he won the Derby at age 77, he supplanted Charlie Whittingham as the oldest trainer to win the Derby.

Sherman said his small stable, currently based at Los Alamitos, is being dispersed to his two sons. Alan is training in Kentucky, and Steve has been a longtime mainstay in Northern California.

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“I want to have some fun,” Sherman said of his reason to step away, saying he’s looking forward to traveling with his wife, Faye. “I’ve had some friends invite me to Ruidoso; I’ve never been there. I’d love to go to Yellowstone. I’m an old cowboy at heart.”

And Sherman said he’s “thinking about” going to Japan to see California Chrome, who is at stud there.

“I’ll still be around. I’ll still have my box; can’t give that up,” he said.

Sherman was diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago, but said he’s cancer free now.

He said his final starter likely will be Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos. Fittingly, it will be with Chasing Alchemy, a son of California Chrome.