Visited Lind Racing Stable in Goshen, New York, last week. After a number of years as a successful private trainer for Celebrity Farms, Staffan Lind is now a public trainer and still remain a trainer for Celebrity Farms. He and his wife Marie is running a quality operation that is based at Celebrity Farms of Goshen,NY in the summer time and at the newly constructed, state of the art Palema Trotting Center in Vero Beach Florida. Lind have been successful in selecting horses as yearlings, developed and raced them on the Grand Circuit. Out of a low number of yearlings each year, Lind have developed horses like Celebrity Secret, 1:52.3 ($ 1 099 663) and the following: Sweedie, 1:56.0 ($ 410 910), Playboy 1:53.3 ($ 319 744), Cowboy 1:53.3 ($ 186 367),  Speedie 1:57.3 ($ 141 788), Hercules 1:53.2 ($ 223 551), Deville 1:54.3 ($ 338 744), Juliet 1:55.4 ($ 290 561), Athena 1:54.2 ($ 173 515), Bluechip 1:57.0 ($ 250 444), Tribute 1:56.2 ($ 181 385) and Feeling 1:54.2 ($ 192 617), all with the kennel name Celebrity.

Celebrity Farms Training Center is located a few minutes from the cradle of Trotting, Goshen Racetrack, with The Harness Racing Hall Of Fame. A beautiful location and within reasonable distance to most major race tracks in the North East. The training center has a half mile training track, a newly constructed straight track and a number of beautiful paddocks.

The Winter training is being held at Palema Trotting Center in Vero Beach, Florida. This newly built facility includes a state of the art 5/8 mile track, a straight track and a large number of green paddocks. In addition, there is a water treadmill that is a great compliment to regular training and helps out when a young horse is experience a growth spurt or need a small break from the track.

To read Hoof Beats article about Palema Trotting Center please click below:

This year, as always Staffan Lind has a number of stakes horses and some of them we will see at The Meadowlands, during the upcoming eliminations to the Grand Circuit races, they are:

The Hambletonian:

Celebrity Bombay 3 c Yankee Glide-Secret Harmony

This colt was only a $ 7000 yearling, but a nice looking horse and he has shown speed all along, but have needed time to mature. Made a break in the last turn in The Yonkers Trot, with a lot left in the tank, then came back and won a qualifier in 1:54.4. Last week, he finished third in a NJSS and trotted 1:53.4. He is coming along nicely and should have a shot to reach The Hambo final. 

The Hambletonian Oaks:

Celebrity Katie 3 f SJ’s Caviar-Star Hanover

Katie was a $20 000 yearling and raced very well at two. She was actually one of the fillies that I saw as a potential winner in the Breeders Crown final last year, but things did not work out that time. She has come back in a great way this year and she has raced 8 times with 3 wins a second and a third so far. Katie has a total of $ 210 106 on her card and a has a mark of 1:55.4. Aside of Cry’s Dream, the three year old trotting filly division is pretty much open and Katie should also have a shot of reaching The Oaks final, if things work out.

The Merrie Annabelle:

Dream On Hanover 2 f Andover Hall-D Train

This big powerful filly was $ 260 000 purchase at Harrisburg. She had the pieces that would give her a shot at stardom, for sure. As a full sister to the great Donato Hanover, with her size and gait, she was worth the purchase price, even if she never would have seen a race track. Today’s breeding market may be down, but quality will always be valued. But, this filly has what it takes to be a star on the track as well. She has now raced three times.First time out, she made a break early, but came back nicely and still finished the mile with a 28.2 last quarter. Since then, she has raced twice and won both of them. Her mark is now 1:57.4 at Poconos 5/8 mile track. This filly is big and powerful and already a serious contender, but I have a feeling that she will continue to develop as the year goes on, as many big horses do. She could also be a special three year old if things goes well. She has drawn post one in her Merrie Annabelle and she should have a shot to be successful in this, the first really big one of the year for 2 year old fillies!

Staffan and Marie Lind runs a quality training and racing operation and have proven that they can select, develop, train, manage and race stakes horses. In addition, they have also proven that they can train race horses and horses that haven’t been able to show their full potential yet, including my own trotting colt Affliction, that recently won at The Meadowlands. The may have more experience with trotters, but have also selected and developed some pacers including Celebrity Citation 1:50.4, that now is racing in Canada under Casie Colemans management.

Since The Lind family now runs a public barn, I can recommend to contact them, if you are looking for a quality operation. Linds are very approachable, hard working and service minded. At the same time, they run a bit of an “older” style barn, that ensures that things are getting done, no matter what. That is my experience anyway...

You can reach Staffan at: 1-845-591-8070 or send him an e-mail at: lindtrot@comcast.net