Stidham wins 2,000th race

Mike Stidham sent out the 2,000th winner of his training career when Lem Me Tel Ya rallied to victory in the eighth race Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldmar, Fla.

Stidham, a 61-year-old native of Neptune, N.J., began training in 1979, with his first winner coming in January 1980 at Florida Downs, which eventually was renamed Tampa. He has since won 42 graded stakes, with his most accomplished runners being Two Altazano, Willcox Inn, Upperline, Istanford, and Synchrony.

Stidham’s father, George, was a jockey and close associate of Bill Hartack, with whom Mike Stidham also became close prior to the Hall of Fame jockey’s death in 2007. Stidham has raced throughout the United States, mostly in the Midwest, and currently has his stable split between Tampa and Fair Grounds. He has had more than 11,000 starts.

Lem Me Tel Ya, owned by Benjamin Trask, was claimed from his most recent start last month at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old colt was ridden to victory in the $8,000 claiming race by Pablo Morales after lagging well off the pace.

Stidham watched the race on television at his New Orleans house, located just outside the Fair Grounds gates.

“This is great,” he said afterward by phone. “Believe me, it was a struggle for the first 15 years, and then things started getting good. Fortunately, I’ve had a lot of good clients behind me, and most importantly, all the great help and the horses. It’s been a wonderful ride and I’m very glad to be in the business.”