Lindsay Schultz checked a lot of boxes. She graduated from the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program, transferred to the prestigious Godolphin Flying Start program, managed Glen Hill Ranch in Florida, and worked as an assistant to Tom Proctor and Hall of Fame coach Shug McGaughey. However, she admits she was nervous and didn’t know what to expect when she decided to go out on her own as a coach last fall. Maybe she shouldn’t be.
Less than a year after opening her stables, Schultz, 34, is making a name for herself at Monmouth Park, where she has six winners in 22 starting matches with a 22% win rate. Overall in her short career, she is 11 years 61, good for 18%.
“This was definitely beyond my expectations,” she said. “I exceeded my goal.”
Schultz rode diving athletes while growing up in Linkicut and enrolled in the racing program at the University of Louisville. However, it wasn’t until she joined the Godolphin program that she decided she wanted to become a trainer.
“I knew I wanted to be in this industry, but didn’t know exactly what,” she said. “When I joined the Flying Start program, I saw every aspect of the industry and decided I wanted to focus on racing. When I started working for Tom Proctor as his assistant, I thought maybe I could do this on my own and get the job done.”
Along the way, she caught the attention of Marshall Gramm, who runs the Ten Strike Racing Partnership. Schultz and his bloodthirsty advisor Liz Crow were close friends and Crow had a long and fruitful business relationship with Ten Strike. Gramm has helped a number of young coaches start their careers and at Schultz he saw someone he was delighted to be given the opportunity to.
“I spoke to her around this time last year and it was clear that she was at the stage where she was about to go out alone,” Gramm said. “We discussed it last summer and I told her that if she was going to do it, she should go to Oaklawn Park and I could use her there. I told her that would be a good place to start and I thought I could really help here. That’s the track I want to win.”
“I have a great deal of support from Ten Strike and Marshall,” said Schultz. “It was a good feeling to have someone so smart put their faith in me and help me get started. It really means a lot. The opportunity he gave me was the biggest reason why I thought it was the right time to try this.”
Gramm had not correctly given her the keys to a fifty-horse stable filled with stallions. Schultz tells him that she thinks she can make it through if Ten Strike gives her six to seven horses and that she’s fine with joining the claimants. Her first winner went to the $10,000 claimant at Oaklawn, Capture the Glory (Scat Daddy). Another winner at Oaklawn goes to Tiger Moon (Start up). Schultz talked to Gramm about asking him for $10,000 from a maiden money race. She edged him up to $40,000 in initial claim on his next start, and he won by a score of 29-1. (Gramm, a keen and enthusiastic equestrian, said he did not bet on Tiger Moon that day.)
What Gramm gave her was an opportunity to prove that she could make the most of the opportunity.
It was Gramm who suggested that Schultz come to Monmouth after the meeting in Oaklawn was over.
“She really blossomed at Monmouth,” Gramm said. “There the competition is a little easier. We realized we could get some horses that were average horses in Oaklawn who would be successful in Monmouth. She really hit her stride there and it was fun to watch. She works really hard and knows her job. I am very pleased and impressed and I am delighted to be a part of her growing career. “
Schultz had 14 horses at Monmouth, seven of them for Ten Strike. The barn has 5 2-year-olds, none of which have started this year.
While happy to have accomplished so much in his career, Schultz has made no secret of his desire to take things to the next level.
“I wanted to have 40 horses so I could have two strings,” she said. “It would be nice to be able to use two different circuits. I want to continue to improve the quality. Obviously, to get there, you need horses and you need owners. All I’m trying to do is get the job done, go to sales and go to the big meet, meet people, talk to people. I’m not a self-promoter, but I hope if I keep up the good work and keep looking for new opportunities, they’ll come to me. “
Can it happen? Gramm believes it is possible.
Gramm said: “Lindsay will need to find some other owners willing to accept her chance and she will need to get some good 2-year-olds in her cage. “The claim is a way to get noticed and get your first set of owners, but in the end you need to show that you can develop some nice horses and win some races. bets. That’s what gets you more and more attention. Every year is a baby step. She has gone from five horses down to 14 and has several 2-year-olds in her stable. It’s a great place to come after a year. Hopefully she can continue the momentum and pick up a few more owners. She has such a great background and I am delighted for her considering her position at such an early stage in her career. “
