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According to family legend, Henry Forrest watched his first Kentucky Derby in 1921 from the roof of a barn at Churchill Downs and told his buddies that some day he would be over where the trophies are presented. Just over 40 years later, a couple of decades into a successful career as a trainer, Forrest’s prediction came true when Kauai King won the 1966 Derby. Two years later, with his second and last Derby horse, Forward Pass, Forrest emerged as a winner again. Forward Pass finished second in the race but was placed first when Dancer’s Image was disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance. Forrest was born on July 7, 1907 in Covington, Ky. As a teen-ager, he was already helping his father’s horse rental business when he caught on working with Thoroughbreds at Col. E. R. Bradley’s famed Idle Hour Farm in Lexington. Forrest was hired as an exercise rider, a job he pursued at the farm and the racetrack for more than 25 years. Although he took out a trainer’s license at 18 while working for “Rome” Respess, it was not until 1937 that he set up his own stable. He established a strong reputation in Kentucky, and by the time of his death at the age of 67 in 1975 he held the record for most winners at both Churchill Downs (271) and Keeneland (153).
For most of his career, Forrest operated a public stable. His victory in the Derby led to positions with Calumet and Claiborne farms. Forrest spent his life around horses and saddled a total of 25 stakes winners while winning 1,837 races and earning $6,575,236. Henry Forrest Trained two Kentucky Derby winners. Henry Forrest had a brief career as a jockey and spent many years as an exercise rider before turning to training. While based in Kentucky, his stable raced throughout the Midwest, South and East. In 1965, Ole Liz, a filly co-owned and trained by Henry Forrest, right, and ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker, won the Lassie Trial Stakes at Arlington Park. Less than a year before he died in 1975 at the age of 67, trainer Henry Forrest won The Julep Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs with Barclay Jet.
Swaps and Shoemaker in the San Vincente © 1955 Santa
Anita Photo; Henry Forrest
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