Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. earned the 1,000th victory of his career when Palace Zip (Palace Malice) won the 10th race at Gulfstream Park Sunday.
“It's amazing,” Joseph said after being recognized and posing for photos in a winner's circle ceremony. “I remember the first one and here we are at 1,000. The first probably 200 took five or six years and it was a struggle, and the last 800 have come pretty quickly. We've gotten the opportunities from the owners and that's what you need. Without the owners, you can't do it. There's no trainer without horses, and the owners produce the horses.”
A native of Barbados, the 37-year-old Joseph has won eight consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park since finishing second during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. He is on track for a third straight Championship Meet title, leading the 2023-2024 stand in wins (47), starters (223) and purses earned ($2.37 million).
“We're only as good as what the owners give us. That's what makes trainers,” Joseph said. “We have to take care of them with the staff, and that's what makes me. I'm one person that is head of 80 people that make me and make us as a unit. It's not just me, it's a credit to the whole staff. It's a whole crew that makes this success possible and I'm very thankful to be in this position.”
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