Contessa Second Major New York Trainer to Retire

Another top trainer based in New York has decided to get out of the business with the announcement that Gary Contessa is ending his 35-year career.

Contessa, 62, said a combination of circumstances, including his wife's health, recent aggressive moves by state and federal labor departments to audit and impose fines on racing stables over their systems of employee compensation and record-keeping, and the ongoing difficulty of making ends meet with a stable numbering 30-35 horses led him to the decision to retire from training and seek other opportunities within the industry.

Rather than wait until the end of the month and turn most of his horses over to his long-time assistant Amira Chichakly and quietly walk away from training, Contessa said he decided to come out publicly after trainer Kiaran McLaughlin announced earlier this week that he was getting out of the training profession to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez. 

"I was already quietly figuring out my exit strategy at the end of the month, but when Kiaran came out I thought I would go ahead and announce it and maybe it would draw more attention to the problem," Contessa said. 

McLaughlin, who trained for the Maktoum family's high-powered Shadwell and Godolphin entities, was recently hit with a hefty state fine for wages due, damages, and penalties for violating minimum wage requirements, and faces additional federal penalties. 

"My wife is very sick and I want to take care of her, but they have pretty much priced us out of the business," said Contessa of the state and federal labor departments' actions. 

Contessa's decision was first reported by Paulick Report.

Contessa said he pays his stable personnel well above the prevailing minimum wage but the labor departments failed to take into consideration the unique nature of the training business or the bonuses often awarded workers when horses within the stable succeed.

The trainer said he is unable to increase the day rates he charges owners and that he was left with few options.

"My options are to cut corners on costs or to cheat on my books, neither of which I'm willing to do," Contessa said.

Among the best horses trained by Contessa, who has saddled 2,363 winners from 18,142 starters, according to The Jockey Club Information Systems, have been grade 1 winners Sippican Harbor and Do It With Style.

While he will also tend to his wife's medical needs, Contessa said he is considering various future opportunities within the industry, but would preferably would like to work in racetrack management.

Over the past three decades Contessa has been a positive ambassador for racing, opening his stable to the public and fans to show how a stable operates on a daily basis. He has also been active on social media, commenting on various industry issues.

"I have over 40 videos on YouTube and I love this business," he said. "I live, eat, sleep, and bleed racing. I would love to work for The Stronach Group, the New York Racing Association, or even a smaller track that is looking to open up to changes. I think I could bring a world of knowledge to whoever hires me. My work ethic is second to none. I have never met anybody who has outworked me."

Contessa, who has also had success buying horses at auction and re-selling for a profit, is considering all his options and could follow in McLaughlin's footsteps and become a jockey's agent "if the right jockey came along."