The Martin Family

Right: Frank "Pancho" Martin

The Martin Family

WRITTEN BY WILLIAM G. GOTIMER, JR. | PHOTOS PROVIDED

New York Training Excellence for 70 years

Those that follow New York racing have seen many changes in the past 70 years but at least one thing has remained constant, the Martin family’s presence on the track. Beginning with the grandfather, Hall of Fame leading trainer Frank “Pancho” Martin followed by “should be Hall of Fame” trainer Jose Martin, his son, and currently with Hall of Fame-caliber trainer Carlos Martin, his grandson, the Martin family has trained horses on the New York Racing Association circuit for more than seven decades.

Frank "Pancho" and Jose Martin, On the Rail 70's

Hailing from Havana, Cuba, the Martin patriarch, Frank Martin, began shipping Cuban horses to win in the United States shortly after World War II and settled permanently on the New York circuit in 1951. Teaming with owners Sigmund and Viola Sommer, Frank Martin was the leading trainer in New York for ten straight years from 1973-1982. He is best known as the conditioner of Sham who had the misfortune of being born in the same year as Secretariat, but his stakes winners are far too long to list in addition to the claiming horses he routinely acquired and improved. Frank Martin was truly one of racing’s greatest trainers. The inaccurate and unflattering portrayal of him in Disney’s movie Secretariat was a huge injustice. He was widely respected by those in racing as a prolific horseman and a generous man.

His son – Jose Martin – is arguably the greatest horse trainer not currently in the Hall of Fame – (an oversight that hopefully will be corrected in coming years) – followed in his father’s footsteps but carved out his own niche by developing champions from modestpriced stock. Also born in Cuba, Jose Martin amassed 1,139 wins and over $20,000,000 in earnings. He trained multiple stakes winners, most notably 2-year-old Filly Champion Lakeville Miss in 1977; Champion 3-year-old filly, Wayward Lass in 1981 and Champion Sprinter Groovy in 1987. He also campaigned multiple Graded stakes’ winner and sire Noble Nashua.

In 1981 Jose Martin had arguably one of the best training years in New York racing history - winning the Marlboro Cup (Gr. 1), Jerome Handicap (Gr. 2), Dwyer Stakes (Gr. 2) and Whirlaway Stakes with Noble Nashua, who also won the Swaps Stakes (Gr. 1) at Hollywood Park in California setting or approaching track records numerous times in the short span of 7 months.

In the same year, Jose also campaigned Champion Filly Wayward Lass to win the Busanda and Searching Stakes, followed by a string of impressive victories in the Coaching Club American Oaks (Gr. 1), Mother Goose Stakes (Gr. 1), and Ruthless Stakes (Gr. 3). Wayward Lass ran 13 times in 1981, won seven times and never finished out of the money. As a testament to Jose Martin’s superior training acumen Wayward Lass won at sprint distances, at a mile and one half and distances in between all in a short period.

Jose and Frank "Pancho" Martin

Newspaper photo of Jose Martin. Caption reads " Jose Martin — two stakes in three days. Jim Raftery Turfotos"

Jose Martin began training the formerly mismanaged Groovy after he was last in the Kentucky Derby and off the board in the Preakness in 1986. Immediately, Jose’s expert handling converted Groovy to a multiple stakes winning sprinter.

Groovy's 1987 championship campaign included six triumphs in seven starts. He annexed that season's Vosburgh Stakes (Gr. 1), True North Handicap (Gr. 2), Tom Fool Stakes (Gr. 2), Forego Handicap (Gr. 2), and Roseben Handicap (Gr. 2). His only defeat was a second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr. I). Groovy retired from racing with earnings of $1,346,956 and was later inducted into the Texas Thoroughbred Hall of Fame, as the richest Texas-bred in history.

That same year Jose Martin developed eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Goodbye Halo, winning the Demoiselle (Gr. 1) in an upset before being sold to new connections at a handsome price.

Adept with fillies and primarily known for developing younger horses to be sold or syndicated for far more than their purchase price, Jose Martin showed his versatility in 1995 by reforming an older Rokeby Stables campaigner – Key Contender, who was purchased at auction by his son Carlos Martin. Shortly thereafter Jose Martin turned Key Contender into a Grade I winner at the advanced age of seven by winning the Suburban Handicap at Belmont on the 4th of July.

Jose Martin’s training career was cut short when he passed away from lung cancer in 2006 at the age of 63.

The family tradition would not end there as his son, Carlos Martin, became one of the youngest trainers on the New York circuit beginning at 19 and training a Grade I winner at the tender age of 21 with Buy The Firm. Most recently Carlos Martin campaigned the mare Come Dancing to multiple stakes wins in New York, including the Grade I Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga. To date, as a trainer Carlos Martin has amassed more than 750 wins and more than $30 million in purses. Starting in 1997 to date (25 consecutive years), Carlos Martin has an incredible strike rate at over 30% in the money with his runners.

With an expansive knowledge of New York racing at his fingertips Carlos Martin is congenial and always ready to share racing knowledge and trivia with racing experts and novices alike.

Operating out of Barn 31 on the Saratoga backstretch since 1977, the Martin family has been training for a list of loyal owners over the years but remains available to take on new owners and challenges. When asked about the family legacy, Carlos Martin said “I am proud to carry on the tradition of developing horses to reach their potential while making lifetime friends of owners, big and small. More than a business to us, this is a family calling and one of which we are all proud.”

Martin Brothers

Greg Martin at OBS Sales Grounds, 2021

Gloria Martin at OBS Sales 2021

Carlos Martin

Diane Wagner Martin and Gloria Martin at Saratoga Race Course.

Family Matriarch Gloria (Jose's wife) and Gloria Martin at Belmont.

The family connections to the horse industry widened as Carlos’ sister, Gloria Martin~Wallshein founded Britton Peak in 2020, a Thoroughbred Training facility that operates at Big Lick Farm, just outside Ocala, Florida. Another member of the Martin clan, Greg Martin (son of Frank Martin), partnered with Gloria. Greg directs all operations at Britton Peak and is the Chief Bloodstock Advisor. He catapulted the operation to some notable early successes with two Britton Peak graduates that includes Grade 3 winners along with multiple horses that were selected and broken by Greg, who all broke their maidens last year.

Also involved in the family business, is Jose Martin, Jr., who works alongside his brother Carlos, as the foreman at Belmont Racetrack. Rounding out the pack is Gregory Martin, Jr., (Greg’s eldest son), who is Britton Peak’s Assistant Trainer.

Gloria Martin reflected, “Greg and I had a dream a decade ago to develop a training center in Florida and now here we are four generations deep. The business of horses - it’s in our blood and I know Grandpa Pancho and dad are guiding us every day proud that we’ve continued their legacy”.

Many things change in life but when it comes to New York racing one thing has been constant for over 70 years - the Martin family training and developing stakes winners.

www.carlosmartinracing.com | www.brittonpeak.com