Wingman Provides Trainer Phil Serpe With 1,000th Career Victory
Trainer Phil Serpe recorded career win #1,000 with Wingman at Aqueduct Nov. 9
Chester and Mary Broman's Wingman provided trainer Phil Serpe with his 1,000th career victory when he captured the last race at Aqueduct Nov. 9.
According to the Daily Racing Form, Serpe began training in 1984, after having started out as a groom at the Meadowlands in 1976.
He spent his early training career at Monmouth Park, and was the leading trainer there in 1988. He moved to the New York circuit in the early 1990's.
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From the NYRA Press Office:
Phil Serpe, trainer, won his 1,000th career race, saddling Wingman (No. 2) in Race 9 Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack: "To tell you the truth, it's very humbling. I was a young guy in New Jersey in 1989 when I had a [couple of] hundred wins and two Grade 1 [victories], and I thought it would be easy doing this. It's taken some time for the next 500, so I'm very appreciative for this and for the support of the people behind me, including my owners and my girlfriend, and I'm very happy.
Phil Serpe
"We've been through some real highs in our barns and also been through some tough times, which we recently just pulled out of. Things you took for granted before, you learn to appreciate a lot more now, so I have a better grip on things.
On winning his first race in 1984 at Keystone Race Track: "I remember it. Delaware Park was closed, they were rebuilding Garden State, so I ran a horse named Alturas. I'll never forget. I won my first two races [with him] and I went 2-for-2 as a trainer. I said 'this will be easy,' but there's nothing easy about any of this. Every race you win is hard-earned and well-deserved, and that goes for all my colleagues out there. It isn't easy to come by, especially in New York."
