Hunter Rankin

[Dale Romans @Romansracing]

Heard he was looking for work. Welcome to Team Romans Cracker Barrel guy. #NewLogo

[Hunter Rankin @HunterRankin]

@EJXD2 @EquinealTDN Hope to next year. Want him to have a long career. Gotta plan it out.

[Andy Serling @andyserling]

Well, someone has to run last…

[Kentucky Woaks @KentuckyWoaks]

Happy #Woaks!

[KyHBPA @KyHBPA]

45 years later, Louisville's Gary 'Red Dog' Hartlage retiring from training at end of #Oaklawn meet. Great news feature by @OaklawnRacing publicist @RobertYates1982. @arhbpa @horseracingKK @RadioLouie @PaulMiles840 @CBredar @kaitlinefree
https://t.co/IpYiXHILuJ

[Hunter Rankin @HunterRankin]

An important note about a man named Red Dog

Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage is the reason I love horse racing. After giving his life to the sport, this meet at Oaklawn will likely be his last as a horse trainer. And if he’s to be believed, he will not take a stall this year at Churchill Downs since the 1970s. If true, it’s fitting that his final time saddling one will be in Hot Springs, a place he has always loved.

My brother Taylor and I grew up with Red Dog in the old second floor bar at Churchill Downs. Red Dog, as he did with everyone, welcomed us into his Shively, KY family. Timmy, Jennifer, Judy, Dicky, Buzz, Woodchuck, Jess, Giles, Jeff, Harper, Big Steve, Grego, Jack (and Mama), Phil, Cliff, Randy, Chris, Charlie Nash… too many to name them all, but they adopted us and our family.

He trained for my parents for over 30 years, give or take. And train a horse, he could. First, more than anything, his love for the horse is truly special. With confidence, I will say that there is not a single barn in the world where the horse is more loved and the Bud Light is that cold. Doggy worked his ass off though, and he was a hell of a horse trainer and still is. Through the years, it brought him a lot of success in the Midwest culminating with horses like Judge TC, On Fire Baby, Savings, Cyclone Mountain (barn favorite) and many others.

When it comes to family, friends and his team at the doghouse, he’s never been anything but uncompromisingly loyal. Sam, Leonard, Bobby, Belmont to name a few of the staples that held the doghouse together.. wish I could name all the people that have worked on horses for him. He loves them all.

Perhaps most importantly, it would be irresponsible to mention Doggy without Joe Johnson. “Jockey Joe” and Red Dog linked up in the late 1980s and the professional marriage lasted until 2024. Joe rode virtually every starter for the barn over a 30+ year span. I remember Pat Day walking into the paddock to ride one for Dog when I was a kid, and he remarked, “this is the hardest call to get in horse racing.” Joe, I think, was hurt at the time. Their careers essentially mirrored each other, won together and lost together, rose together and fell together. And I don’t think either would change a thing.

And so we potentially say goodbye to this incredible guy, 57 years after taking out his trainers license, at 78 years young. I wish I could convey the importance of Red Dog to me personally. His perspective on life is close to flawless. I’ve learned learned so much from him, and anyone who knows him is better for it. He’s the reason I know people like Stan Hough, and knew people like Robert “Country” Roberts. I’ve never met a better person, and I’ve never met anyone like him. He wouldn’t want the attention or fanfare probably, I imagine he’d like to go quietly back to Shively and grab a cold bud light at Otts when he gets back from Oaklawn, but I can’t let him do that without celebrating his great career and his great contribution to this sport. Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage, one of a kind, one of the greats and my favorite horse trainer of all time. Cheers Doggy, I love you my man. ❤️🙌🏼🍺🍺🍺🍺

[Ragozin Sheets @RagozinSheets]

#3YOFigOfTheWeek brought to you by @spendthriftfarm stallion JACKIE'S WARRIOR is OWEN ALMIGHTY, who finished first in the @TampaBayDownsFL Pasco Stakes but was DQed to 5th

📷 by Coady Photo

[TDN @theTDN]

🥇 DONUT GOD (Into Mischief @spendthriftfarm) spurted away inside the furlong pole and came home an easy 2 1/4-length winner.

O: @flyingdutchky Breeding and Racing
B: Aaron & Marie Jones
T: @BLynchRacing
J: @luissaezpty
https://t.co/sjeZCTu6Hg

[Hunter Rankin @HunterRankin]

This guy lives and breathes horse racing and as importantly, Churchill Downs.

[Kevin Kerstein @HorseRacingKK]

Thank you to everyone for the support of the @ChurchillDowns Spring Meet.

Hope to see you all in Henderson on Thursday for the start of the @EllisParkRacing season. Best wishes this summer.

[WinStar Farm @WinStarFarm]

Another winner for GLOBAL CAMPAIGN as 2YO filly Warming wins a MSW at Aqueduct in her first start! Congrats to breeder M. Auerbach LLC and owner @EclipseTBP! #GreatCredentials @UnusualHeat @TheNYRA

[TwinSpires Racing 🏇 @TwinSpires]

#9 Owen Almighty was too good and opens up to win on debut in R5 at Churchill Downs for trainer @blynchracing with @jose93_ortiz aboard! 💪

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay

[Kevin Kerstein @HorseRacingKK]

I always enjoy walking by Jimmy Baker's barn each day. The conversations and horsemanship are endless.

Today, we launched a series spotlighting veteran trainers with 30+ years in the sport yet fewer than 30 horses in their care:

Read Jimmy's story here: https://t.co/mtXJF8wWNf

[Hunter Rankin @HunterRankin]

@HorseRacingKK Red Dog next please

[WinStar Farm @WinStarFarm]

Looks like we have a runner 🚀! HIP 555 by GLOBAL CAMPAIGN rocks a speedy :9.4 💨
Can’t top these #GreatCredentials
Consigned by Best A Luck Farm LLC

[Pace Master @PaceMasterPlays]

Joe Craft’s plane just stopped in Temple, TX for less than 15 minutes and is headed back to Lexington

[Gulfstream Park @GulfstreamPark]

Pounce leads all the way in the 7th race, @jjcjockey in the stirrups, @markecasse trains for Quintessential Racing Florida. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet

[Lynn Hancock @lynn_hancock8]

Questionable whether I’ve ever screamed louder watching a horse race, in case you didn’t hear me. So proud of this filly!! @stonefarmky raised. 🏇🏻

[Kevin Kerstein @HorseRacingKK]

Congratulations to longtime Rusty Arnold assistant Jack Bohannan who just saddled his last horse before heading off to retirement.

Jack has been in the industry for more than 40 years as a trainer and assistant. Enjoy the Florida sunshine.

[Lynn Hancock @lynn_hancock8]

Beyond proud of this one! 👏🏻

[Keeneland Racing @keenelandracing]

(10) Cloudwalker runs down the stretch to score in the last race of the day. (6) Caberneigh and (7) Copperdrop follow.