Robert Joseph “Joe” Woodard has been training racehorses professionally for over 15 years. A native of Kentucky, he graduated from Trinity High School before pursuing further education in the field of Criminal Justice at the University of Louisville.

For Joe, the road to Churchill Downs began in high school when he started walking horses. Later, he purchased a few claiming horses with a few friends, enjoyed some success with them, and took out his trainer’s license in 1992. In 1993, he began training horses for small partnerships.

In 1997, as a result of his success with these humble beginnings, Joe was hired by Billy Hays as a private trainer. Mr. Hays’ interest was primarily in claiming horses who could benefit from a customized training regemine. The statistics prove Joe’s success with Mr. Hays’ horses. From 1997 to 2003, the number of horses started in a race rose from 17 to 397. In 1997, Joe had two winners, five seconds, and two thirds for total earnings of $38,526. In 2003, Joe racked up 73 wins, 62 seconds, and 45 thirds for total earnings of $790,108 putting Joe’s total percentage of 45% money winners well ahead of the average trainers 31%.

Joe’s success as a trainer has been acknowledged by racetracks and horse racing fans all over the country. Perhaps Joe’s most memorable and highly publicized accomplishment came in 2005 at the Churchill Downs Spring Meet when Joe won an unprecedented TEN RACES IN A ROW, breaking the former record of six consecutive wins by a single trainer. It was then he was given the nickname “10-In-A-Row Joe”. Joe’s career continues to attract attention at other noteworthy racetracks such as River Downs, Indiana Downs, Hoosier Park, Kentucky Downs, Oaklawn Park, Prarie Meadows, Horsemans Park, Canterbury Park, Thistle Downs, Buelah Park, Penn National, Colonial Downs, Ocala Breeder Sales, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, Hawthorne, Pennacle Downs, Arlington, Laurel Park, Meadowlands, Mountaineer, and Tampa Bay Downs. Several “Leading Trainer”, “Highest Percentage Wins”, and other record setting trophies adorn his home and office.

Allow Joe Woodard and Woodard Racing Stables to lead you to the winner’s circle. Contact us today for a training facility tour and new ownership meeting.