Reaping the Rewards

and we worked extremely well together.”

Today, Ron Winchell keeps a tight band of long-standing cohorts who aid him in decision-making. Included are David Fiske, who has managed Corinthia for more than 40 years, for both Verne and Ron; Dr. David Lambert, who performs heart scans on potential equine purchases; Keith Asmussen, who gives early training to Winchell’s horses at his Texas training center; and Asmussen’s son Steve, who conditions them at the racetrack. Tis stability of personnel brings many rewards.

“When you maintain the same cohesive team, you tend to really learn from your mistakes and your successes,” Winchell said. “We’ve done a good job collectively learning and building upon our experience, and we’re certainly way more refned today. I can tell you that Steve is a better trainer than he was 10 years ago. Dave Lambert is better today. I’m better at what I do. Te operation of the farm under David Fiske is better today. When you put all that together, it tends to become more powerful. We’re having far more frequent success today.”

Chris Baker, the chief operating ofcer of Tree Chimneys, works closely with Winchell Toroughbreds through their mutual interest in Gun Runner and confrms the importance of depth and talent. “Ron himself is a terrifc partner who understands the business thoroughly and is a pleasure to work with,” Baker noted. “And the bonus is, when you’re partnering with him, you’re partnering with his entire program — the horses he breeds and buys, his farm, the Asmussen family — all things that add value to future breeding stock through performance.

“Ron’s nature is to go about his business quietly and let the horses do the talking, but the discipline with which he conducts his afairs and the program he’s created over time are huge pluses.”

Tere are many in the Toroughbred business who do the right things and meticulously plot their matings and purchases, work hard, have a sound business plan, and yet don’t get near the results