Woodford C. "Woody" Stephens

Biography

Born in Stanton, Kentucky, in 1913, Woody Stephens trained from 1936 through 1997, winning 1,937 races and compiling purse earnings of more than $53 million. He left school in 1929 to join John Ward’s stable, where he spent time as a groom, hotwalker, jockey, exercise rider, and stable foreman.

Stephens ran a public stable in the 1940s and 1950s before taking over as trainer for Harry Guggenheim’s Cain Hoy Stable, a role he served in for 10 years. For Cain Hoy, Stephens trained Bald Eagle, record-setter in the Metropolitan and Widener handicaps and two-time winner of the Washington D.C. International, among others.

Stephens won the Kentucky Derby with Cannonade in 1974 and Swale in 1984, and the Preakness with Blue Man in 1952, but he is best known in the American classics for his five consecutive victories in the Belmont, which he won with Conquistador Cielo (1982), Caveat (1983), Swale (1984), Crème Fraiche (1985), and Danzig Connection (1986).

The Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer in 1983, Stephens trained 11 champions: Bald Eagle, Never Bend, Bold Bidder, Sensational, De La Rose, Devil's Bag, Conquistador Cielo, Swale, Smart Angle, Heavenly Cause, and Forty Niner. 

Other major races won by Stephens-trained horses include five runnings of the Kentucky Oaks and Saranac Stakes; four renewals of the Ashland Stakes and Breeders’ Futurity; and three editions of the Champagne, Belmont Futurity, Acorn, Blue Grass, Sanford, Saratoga Special, Spinaway, Remsen, and Pennsylvania Derby.

Since industry databasing began in 1976, Stephens won a total of 157 graded races, including his final Grade 1 wins in 1988 when Forty Niner won the Haskell and Travers.  

Achievements

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer — 1983

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1974 Kentucky Derby — Cannonade
Won the 1984 Kentucky Derby — Swale 
Won the 1952 Preakness Stakes — Blue Man
Won the 1982 Belmont Stakes — Conquistador Cielo
Won the 1983 Belmont Stakes — Caveat
Won the 1984 Belmont Stakes — Swale
Won the 1985 Belmont Stakes — Creme Fraiche 
Won the 1986 Belmont Stakes — Danzig Connection 

Other Highlights

Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1981
Won the Saranac Stakes — 1975, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988
Won the Ashland Stakes — 1949, 1957, 1959, 1963
Won the Breeders' Futurity — 1954, 1975, 1983, 1987