David Jacobson Retires From Training

David Jacobson, the leading trainer by wins on the New York Racing Association circuit from 2012-14, has retired from training.

Although he still is involved in racing as an owner, the conditioner who won two grade 1 races since 2013 and earned more than $8.3 million in purses in 2014 said Jan. 2 his departure comes because the game—specifically in New York—has become "unfeasible" for "smaller horsemen."

"Racing has changed, and not for the benefit of the horsemen," Jacobson said. "It has become unfeasible to train or race horses in New York. From management to the racing office—the management all the way to the top is not respecting the smaller horsemen, which are the backbone of the racetrack."

Known best as a claiming trainer—although he trained grade 1 winner Salutos Amigos and Strapping Groom, along with recently retired millionaire Stallwalkin' Dude (the latter two were Jacobson claims)—the 64-year-old specifically targeted NYRA in his critiques of racing, although he didn't raise specific issues.

"I'm happy with the horses I had. I had a lot of very good horses and claimed a lot of good horses who became very successful in grade 1s," Jacobson said. "But it's impossible for the claiming guys to do business. The claiming owners, claiming trainers—management has made it impossible to do business."

NYRA communications director Patrick McKenna declined to comment on the topic.

Jacobson—the son of trainer Howard "Buddy" Jacobson, who was convicted of murder in 1980—said he will now focus on his real estate business in Manhattan. Jacobson began his training career in the 1970s, then was away from the game for 25 years, in part because in 1982 the New York State Racing and Wagering Board revoked his owner and trainer license—citing failure to give proper care to 6-year-old gelding Hugable Tom in 1981.

Jacobson resumed training in 2007 and each season from 2008-18 earned more than $1 million in purses. The 2018 season marked his lowest purse total during that stretch, at more than $1.5 million. In total, his horses have earned more than $45.7 million from 6,662 starters, 1,272 of those being winners.

Jacobson, who once had more than 100 horses under his care, led NYRA by wins in 2013 (164) and 2014 (133) after tying with Rick Dutrow Jr. for the most wins in 2012 (110).

Jacobson brought a string of horses to Southern California in 2015 and raced there almost exclusively in the second half of 2018, but he said he needed the business in New York to keep the operation afloat.

"It just got to be too much work for me on both coasts," Jacobson said. "I'm from New York, grew up in New York, lived in New York—I am New York. We needed New York to support us."

His top earner was Stallwalkin' Dude, a claim who went on to earn more than $1.6 million and win two graded stakes for Jacobson. The City Place gelding was recently moved to trainer Justin Evans (while still owned by Jacobson, in partnership with Head of Plains Partners) in New Mexico, where he placed in an allowance and two stakes at Zia Park before his retirement.

Jacobson's grade 1 wins came with Salutos Amigos in the 2016 Carter Handicap and with Strapping Groom in the 2013 Forego Stakes.