Meet Kentucky Oaks trainer Will Walden who sealed success with Bless the Broken after troubled past
This weekend was a proud one for horse trainer Will Walden, who saw his filly Bless the Broken finish third in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday.
But Walden's life was in a far different place a decade ago, when he was in a Mississippi rehab facility for drug and alcohol abuse.
'I was kind of open to all parties,' Walden told WAVE in Louisville of his substance abuse issues, which began in college.
'From alcohol to fentanyl, to cocaine use, everything. I didn't take any days off. I was a bottom level junkie.'
The son of respected horse trainer Elliot Walden, Will always had a love for racing.
'I mean, it's the one passion I've always had is being around horses,' Walden said. 'I think Winston Churchill says it best, that the outside of a horse does something to the inside of a man.'
However, he flirted with death at various points - even having to be defibrillated several times - before ultimately beginning his training career three years go.
Though it was not his first stay at a rehab center, Walden's time at the facility in Mississippi proved to be significant as he met Ryder Finney, who also grew up with family ties to the racing industry.
Finney recalled watching the 2015 Oaks with Walden while they were both in rehab together.
'...Now 10 years later we're here, and it's pretty surreal,' Finney told WAVE.
Bless the Broken is short for the hit Rascal Flatts ballad 'Bless the Broken Road,' and Finney added to the network that he and Walden were both 'broken' a decade ago.
Eventually, Finney - who is now the racing manager for Cypress Creek Equine - used his power to tap his friend as Bless the Broken's trainer.
Cypress Creek Equine owns Bless the Broken alongside Madaket Stables LLC.
Walden, whose horse returned $4.78 at Churchill Downs, credits horses with saving his life.
He is also a graduate of the Stable Recovery program, which reportedly offers substance abuse treatment alongside 'horse therapy' and industry training.
However, Walden also went into this weekend with a heavy heart.
A friend from Stable Recovery, Josh Bryan, recently passed away due to complications from jaw surgery at just 33 years old (Bryan was born with a facial development defect).
'To know that he was a part of the ride and the journey that we had here is immeasurable,' Walden told ABC 36 NEWS NOW.
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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Epsom legend Kieren Fallon gives his big tip for this year's meet with Irishman insisting it's a 'foregone conclusion'
Kieren Fallon wouldn't usually show his hand so easily but an exceptional horse has led him to take a break from the norm. 'I think the Oaks is a foregone conclusion,' Fallon proclaimed of Desert Flower, hot favourite for Friday's Betfred-sponsored Classic. 'She settles and will switch off nicely. She will be fine over the trip and she'll go on any ground. 'If the filly was running in the Derby, I would think she would be very competitive. I would be wanting to back her. She's the nicest filly I've seen in a long time. I thought she would maybe even be good enough to beat the colts.' Fallon was a magician at Epsom, a jockey who could go around those hairpin turns as if he was being controlled by a joystick. He won The Oaks four times, to go with three Derbies and three Coronation Cups, so for him to say Desert Flower has it all should register on antennas far and wide. Epsom in June should always herald the possibility of history and in Desert Flower, we have the potential to see something exceptional. Fallon, who is regular work rider for her owners Godolphin, has watched the chestnut develop over the last 12 months and is convinced she's ready to bloom. What a prospect it would be to see. Since the turn of the century, only Kazzia (2002), Minding (2016) and Love (2020) have annexed the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and gone on to follow up at Epsom but the vibes are that the exclusive club is about to welcome a new member. Desert Flower, unbeaten in five thunderous starts for Charlie Appleby, is the kind of horse that quickens pulses even in yards that are accustomed to dealing with superstars and the vibes about her have been strong since before she made her debut at Newmarket's July meeting last summer. 'She was different last year – ever since her first start, she showed things that were just a bit out of the ordinary,' William Buick, her smitten jockey, tells Mail Sport. 'Her work at home was out of the ordinary. After so many years of riding at Moulton Paddocks, you know what separates the good ones. 'She was doing things from the start that suggested she was top drawer.' For Fallon, who is now 60, to raise the possibility of her running against male opposition gives an insight into how far Godolphin think Desert Flower can climb — if she was to extend her winning spree on Friday, might she go onto emulate Oh So Sharp? It is 40 years since Oh So Sharp completed the fillies' triple crown, supplementing victories at Newmarket and Epsom on Doncaster's Town Moor in the St Leger and a handsome bonus is on offer from Betfred if it can be completed. That, of course, is for the future. Epsom is all that matters for now and for all that connections rave about Desert Flower, the opposition is deep and plentiful — as it should be — with Ballydoyle firing three potent arrows at the target. Minnie Hauk, who warmed up for this by winning Chester's Cheshire Oaks last month, appears to be the stable number one but Twirl was a taking winner of York's Muisadora Stakes and Giselle, victorious in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, has had a towering reputation for 12 months. 'She was just ready to start in Chester,' trainer Aidan O'Brien said of Minnie Hauk. 'We had to try to get a run into her somewhere before the Oaks and that suited perfectly. We knew it wouldn't be too demanding on her and she would have learned plenty. 'She's a lovely filly with a good nature, a good traveller and has a good stride to her. She shows plenty of pace in her work in her half-speeds. Giselle got very keen through the winter and spring and wanted to do too much so we didn't get to do an awful lot with her – it was all about relaxing her. 'If we were going to the Oaks she had to run and Lingfield was about the only place she could. She was probably very underdone fitness-wise, we were just hoping to get her started and go from there, so we were delighted with the way she won. She's come forward a lot since then, we think. 'Whirl is a very straightforward filly and Ryan (Moore) was very happy to make the running on her in York. A filly came up either side of her, but that was no problem. She's got a lovely mind and she got the mile and a quarter very well. She looked like a filly that could get further.' O'Brien has won the Oaks on 10 occasions and will know exactly the quality of his ammunition. So too, though, will Fallon, a man with an encyclopaedic knowledge. If he is prepared to say Desert Flower is not for stopping, the best advice would be to sit back and enjoy the show.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘She'll relish the extra half mile' – Templegate's massive 11-1 NAP on Oaks day at Epsom
TEMPLEGATE takes on day one of the Derby Festival confident of bashing the Epsom bookies. He's delivered his full Oaks tip, 1-2-3 prediction and runner-by-runner guide for your viewing pleasure here. Epsom Derby 2025 free bets: Best new sign up offers - HERE And below he goes through all his picks and big-race verdicts for the epic seven-race card. ELWATEEN (4.00 Epsom, nap) She ran a mighty race when beaten just two lengths by Desert Flower in the 1,000 Guineas last time. It was a doubly good effort given it was just her second run and she was coming back from a nine-month break. She still looked pretty green but improved as the race went on and gives the impression she'll relish this extra half-mile. She definitely looks overpriced. GIAVELLOTTO (2.40 Epsom, nb) He clocked a personal best when winning the Hong Kong Vase over this trip at tricky Sha Tin two runs ago. That built nicely on his Yorkshire Cup and Princess Of Wales's victories last season. 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Calandagan is short with good reason after his close second in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan last time when not getting the breaks. He's a Group 2 winner over this trip but he's looking for his first victory at the highest level. Jan Breughel won the St Leger last season and didn't enjoy dropping back to 1m2f for his comeback at The Curragh when only second. He'll prefer this trip but things may still happen a bit quick. You Got To Me cost connections £4.8m despite finishing last in the Leger. She won the Irish Oaks over this trip and was fourth at Epsom. She may just need this first run in nine months. 3.15 HAVE SECRET caught the eye when running on strongly into second at Ripon last time. That was over a similar trip and built on a good effort at York. He likes this trip and a repeat would take him very close. The booking of Ryan Moore is a plus for Botanical who has been below par in a couple of Listed races this season. Dropping back into a handicap gives him a place shout. Mutaawid took a step forward when winning at Newmarket last time. He was right at home on the rattling fast ground there and will be a threat if handling what are likely to be much slower conditions. A 10lb rise in the weights makes things a bit tougher too. Defiance was smart before going wrong at Royal Ascot last year and is worth a market check. Ashariba ended last season with a battling win at Newmarket. He goes up in class here but looks the type to continue to improve this season. Akecheta has bits and pieces of form in Ireland and has place claims if taking to this tricky track. 4.00 ELWATEEN ran a mighty race when beaten just two lengths by Desert Flower in the 1,000 Guineas last time. It was a doubly good effort given it was just her second run and she was coming back from a nine-month break. She still looked pretty green but improved as the race went on and gives the impression she'll relish this extra half-mile. She definitely looks overpriced. 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There won't be a lot between them again with the latter looking the best prospect over this longer distance. 4.35 TWO TEMPTING won this 12 months ago and tuned up for his defence with an impressive win at Chester last time. We know this trip and track are ideal and he'll give it another good go. Flight Plan looks as good as ever when winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup from the front last time. Pacepushers can prosper at Epsom too and he'll be competitive despite his hefty weight. Mr Baloo ran a good race when third at Newmarket last month. He likes this trip and should be right there again. Oisin Murphy takes over on Mirsky who got his head in front at Thirsk 20 days ago. He likes this trip and won't be far away. Ebt's Girl is more than capable at this level and was just pipped in a decent contest at Newbury. 5.10 MISS INFORMATION looked a nice prospect when winning at Newmarket over this trip last time. She showed good pace to leave her rivals behind and goes on any ground. 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Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
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Beckett wary of Oaks stamina test for Revoir
It is 17 years since Beckett broke his Classic duck in the Epsom feature with Look Here, who like his latest challenger carried the colours of owner-breeder Julian Richmond-Watson. The trainer doubled his Oaks tally with Talent in 2013 and is out to make it a hat-trick with a filly who impressed on her juvenile debut at Nottingham in the autumn, before being touched off by the reopposing Qilin Queen on her reappearance in a Listed contest at Newbury last month. Beckett said: 'I think she should come forward for the run at Newbury. I felt it was a good starting point, but she was still pretty green through the race. I liked the way she went through the line. 'You would think the step up in trip will probably be in her favour. There are stamina influences on her page, but I have slight reservations in the fact that Regardez (her dam) didn't stay a mile and a half, she got a mile and a quarter well. 'This filly is a slightly different character and is more laid-back than her mother was, but we are taking it on trust. 'Look Here winning the Oaks when we were at Whitsbury is a big part of what is going on here now. It's been 17 years and it's been a big joy to train the family – it's been a privilege. 'Julian and Sarah (Richmond-Watson) are exceptional breeders, they've never had more than six broodmares and to come up with not just Look Here but Remarquee, Scope and Kinross in the space of 15 years from six mares is extraordinary. Hopefully this filly is the next cab off the rank.' One Beckett-trained filly who has already proven her worth at the highest level is You Got To Me, who placed fourth in last year's Oaks before striking gold in the Irish equivalent and makes her first start as a four-year-old in the Betfred-sponsored Coronation Cup on the Oaks card. The daughter of Nathaniel, who will carry the Amo Racing silks for the first time, has been off the track since finishing last of seven in the St Leger at Doncaster in September. 'She's not much different different now, she's filled out (over the winter). She was always a big girl and in that sense not much has changed,' said Beckett, speaking on a Zoom call hosted by the Jockey Club on Thursday. 'This looked a good starting place for her. It looks a deep renewal and she'll have to go a bit, but she's been away for gallops a couple of times this spring and they've gone well, so I couldn't be happier. 'She's been off since the St Leger so that is nine months. Inevitably she'll need the match practice, but this leads us into the year. 'I had intended to start her in the Lancashire Oak, so this is a month earlier than we imagined.' On plans beyond her Epsom comeback, Beckett said: 'I'd like to get her in against her own sex at some point. The Yorkshire Oaks is the obvious one but France Galop, in their wisdom, moved the Prix Vermeille so there is only 17 days between the only two fillies' only Group Ones over a mile and a half in Europe, which makes life somewhat complicated. Those two races are high on her agenda.'
