One of the prominent names in California racing is that of Gayle Van Leer, a former trainer and farm manager turned successful bloodstock agent who has been behind a parade of graded stakes winners for decades. After trying her hand in just about every aspect of the sport, Van Leer is more than happy with her bloodstock business and continues to excel at her favorite sport. Although she is best known as the racing manager for perennial leading California-based owner Golden Eagle Farm, Van Leer began her career in racing well before that gig. “I started as an exercise rider,” she said. “I was working the 2-year-old sales, and I was a really good rider, which got people’s attention.” She ultimately opened her own training barn, taking in second-string horses for leading trainers around Southern California. Her program at San Luis Rey Downs in the 1980s helped develop Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old male Roving Boy. How did she land the famous Golden Eagle position? Van Leer laughed while remembering the... ...
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