John M. Veitch

Biography

In a career that spanned from 1974 through 2003, John Veitch trained four champions — Before Dawn, Davona Dale, Our Mims, and Sunshine Forever — as well as the great Alydar, who joined Davona Dale in the Hall of Fame. 

Veitch, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Sylvester Veitch, won a total of 410 races in his career, including 76 graded stakes and 93 overall stakes. He was instrumental in the revitalization of historic Calumet Farm, which had fallen on lean times. Veitch also had a tenure of success as private trainer for another historic stable, Darby Dan.

Veitch’s champions ranged from a 2-year-old filly to a mature turf colt, as he won Eclipse Awards with Davona Dale, Our Mims, Before Dawn, and Sunshine Forever. Calumet’s Davona Dale swept both old and modern versions of the Filly Triple Crowns, taking the Kentucky Oaks and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in addition to New York’s Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks. Veitch was also the trainer of Alydar, second to Hall of Fame rival Affirmed in each of the 1978 Triple Crown races. Alydar defeated Affirmed three times, most notably in the Champagne Stakes and via disqualification in the Travers Stakes. Alydar also won the Flamingo Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes, Arlington Classic, and defeated older horses in winning the Whitney by 10 lengths.

In 1985, Veitch won the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Proud Truth for Darby Dan and the Metropolitan Handicap with Star Choice for Frances Genter. In addition to Sunshine Forever, his other major Darby Dan runners included Florida Derby winner Brian’s Time and Yellow Ribbon and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Plenty of Grace.

Achievements

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the 1985 Classic — Proud Truth

Other Highlights

Won the Florida Derby — 1975, 1985, 1988
Won the Coaching Club American Oaks — 1977, 1979
Won the Mother Goose Stakes — 1979, 1980
Won the Acorn Stakes — 1979
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1977
Won the Blue Grass Stakes — 1978
Won the Budweiser International — 1988
Won the Champagne Stakes — 1977
Won the Delaware Handicap — 1977
Won the Fantasy Stakes — 1979
Won the Flamingo Stakes — 1978
Won the Flower Bowl Handicap — 1985
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1979
Won the Man o' War Stakes — 1988
Won the Matron Stakes — 1981
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1983
Won the Pegasus Handicap — 1988
Won the Peter Pan Stakes — 1985
Won the Remsen Stakes — 1983
Won the Sapling Stakes — 1977, 1978
Won the Spinaway Stakes — 1981
Won the Travers Stakes — 1978
Won the Turf Classic — 1988
Won the Yellow Ribbon Invitational — 1990
Won the Young America Stakes — 1984

Trainer Profile | John M. Veitch | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information