Trainer Robert Medina Opens Public Stable

Trainer Robert "Robbie" Medina has opened a public stable based out of Lexington and is accepting new clients.

Since April 2020, Medina has served as the general manager and trainer for Blackwood Stables, the state-of-the-art training center near Lexington. At Blackwood, he focused on breaking, training, and rehabilitation for many of the sport's leading owners and trainers. He also ran horses under his own name at Kentucky tracks for a few select clients, including August Dawn Stable's Play Action Pass , winner of the Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs last year. Selected as a yearling by Medina, the 4-year-old colt has earned $480,935 to date.

Medina will operate his stable out of the Thoroughbred Training Center on Paris Pike in Lexington while also continuing to develop 2-year-olds at Blackwood before they are ready to graduate to the Thoroughbred Training Center.

"The last three years at Blackwood have been wonderful, but I am excited to be opening a full public stable in Kentucky," Medina said. "I am a lifelong racetracker and have been fortunate enough to work for some tremendous horsemen and play a crucial role in the development of some of the sport's best horses. The timing is right for me to devote myself full-time to a public stable. I have a great staff and setup in place and am ready to grow our operation."

Prior to taking the job at Blackwood in 2020, Medina worked for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey from 1995 to 2020, starting as a groom for McGaughey before eventually working his way up to assistant trainer in the fall of 1999. He oversaw McGaughey's Payson Park division for 15 years, as well as his Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course divisions in his career. Medina was instrumental in the development and training of such McGaughey stars as 2013 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb ; 2005 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Pleasant Home ; and multiple-grade 1 winners Point of Entry   and Honor Code  .

Prior to his years with McGaughey, Medina worked as groom in New York for Angel Penna Jr. and for Chicago and South Florida trainer Lou Goldfine. He is a native of Chicago, and his parents both worked at the Chicago-area racetracks of Arlington Park, Hawthorne, and Sportsman's Park.

Medina may be contacted at (518) 441-0502 or at robertmedinaracing@gmail.com.