Ted H. West Retires From Training
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Trainer Ted H. West, 43, announced his retirement July 8. A licensed trainer in his own right for the past 17 years, West started with his father, retired trainer Ted West, when he was a young boy.
"It wasn't fun and I wasn't enjoying my job anymore," said West, who took over his father's stable in April, 1999, and saddled the California-bred gelding Budroyale to a second-place finish in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Budroyale earned more than $1.7 million.
West's other major stakes winners were former claiming horse Stella Mark (2008 Tiznow Stakes); former claimer Bluesthestandard (2003 Texas Mile and Railbird Stakes; and 2004 Palos Verdes Handicap); and the crack sprinter Freespool (El Conejo twice in 2000; and the Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap and the Pirate's Bounty in 2001).
West, who holds a degree in business from Cal-Poly Pomona, had 399 career victories, his last coming with Wife Approved May 20 Santa Anita Park.
"I just kind of got burned out with everything, and not getting any help from the government (for horse racing in California) didn't help matters," said West, whose father is nearing his 80th birthday.
"I'm just going to take some time off until something else pops up. There's no rush. I've been training since I was 26 and had worked with my dad every summer since I was a little kid."