Robert Troeger Racing Stables

We are proud to introduce the newest member of the Southern California training colony.

by Bruno De Julio

Bobby Troeger has been Jeff Mullins' Assistant at Hollywood Park for the past five years. He is now open operating his own public stable. "It was Time!" Bobby said.

Bobby and Jeff developed horses like Castledale, who won the 2004 Santa Anita Derby and ran in the 2004 Kentucky Derby. Bobby was also instrumental in the development of I Want Revenge. Bobby trained the Mullins string at Hollywood Park. It was the Hollywood Park string that shined throughout the Santa Anita Winter/Spring meet in 2009 winning 19 of 47 starts. That's over 40%. Bobby's efforts kept Mullins barn stats over 20% all meet long.

Bobby also trained the first time starters, Leavenworth, who was very impressive in debut, and Broken Record, to win at seven furlongs first out for Jeff. Bobby was moved over to Santa anita after the Derby run, and he trained Worth The Fight, a first time starter, to win at Hollywood Park after training at Santa Anita.

Bobby best qualities is the individualizing of each and every's horse need in their training regiment. A quality he learned while working for horsemen like J.C. Newsome, Loren Rettele, and Hall-Of Famer Jack Van Berg. He worked and galloped Wild Again leading up to his upset win at 30-1 in the 1984 Breeders Cup at Hollywood Park under a legendary Pat Day ride.

Troeger prior to the Mullins opportunity worked for Michael Machowsky, and was instrumental in the development of Southern Image, multiple Handicap and Graded winner, along with Michael.

Bobby is a breath of fresh air in the training community. He is kind to his owners, and opens both channels of communications. He has the people skills and the saavy of the teachings from Jack Van Berg, Loren Rettele, and other notable horsemen, who have made an imprint in his racing career and experience.

In a racing world, where some trainers don't speak to their owners, or treat like 'mushrooms', Bobby has an open policy. Exchange of ideas, and mutual respect.

He welcomes visitors to the barn. He doesn't frown the company, nor the interest. He has no prejudice. In the horseman's world today your horse is only good if he or she made the deal or picked the horse. Bobby welcomes all and is up to the challenge.

Bobby's strength is his attention to detail. Within three days we moved the horses in his barn he told me more, and did more, than the previous trainer. He took an x-ray of a shin of a two-year-old that was suspect. Immediately sized up a three-year-old filly that her ankle had a little filling, but, most important, she was trying to tie up when jogging. He spends time watching, clocking and analyzing his horses works. He doesn't just rely on the watch or his exercise riders comments. He sees it himself.

I was on the phone with him one morning while one of his horses worked. We watched the work together, and immediately after the work, before the horse even got off the track, he said: "his foot is bothering him again,gotta go,'' and hung up the phone to watch the horse walk back to the barn.

His staff, is his staff. The staff led by 'Arturo', who goes by Shorty. "It's been so long I don't remember my name" said Shorty when I asked him his real name. He has been with Bobby for years. His exercise riders, his grooms and hotwalkers all been with Bobby for years. Fernando and his sister Rosa, both grooms, have done great jobs with our horses in the past when we were all together in the Mullins shedrow. they always have a great attitude and the feelings from all enlightens the shedrow.

As an owner, I got tired to watch and hear the sourness, bitterness and constant growling from trainers on the backstretch and on the front side. The only growling you will hear in the Troeger shedrow is if someone tries to take down his treasured calendars.

All in all, BOBBY IS ALL HORSEMAN, without the BS and the attitude. Next time you see Bobby at the track say hello, introduce yourself. He will treat like you are his friend or brother. That's why, myself, and my partners, the Burnetts and others have moved in with Bobby Troeger. The Troeger Racing Stable is like a family affair.