Trainer Jorge Lara

Born: 06/02/70, Mexico City, Mexico

Resides: Bossier City, Louisiana

Family: Christian, son

Jorge is a highly promising young trainer, now in the third year of being on his own. He finished fourth to Steve Asmussen in the final trainer standings of the 2008 Oaklawn meeting.

The top four at the Spa in the 2008 season were Asmussen with 33 wins, Steve Hobby, 26, Stanley Roberts, 23 and Lara, 19.

At Oaklawn in 2008, the Lara-trained horses made 122 starts and earned $318,820.

Jorge brought in 33 horses for Oaklawn’s 54-day 2009 meeting.

“I have a nice three-year-old in Bertsgoldenmissile, a stakes winner and who is three of eight starts for us,” chatted Jorge,who last year won his second training title at Louisiana Downs.

Bertsgoldenmissile won the Gate Dancer Stakes at the Bossier City track, October 18.

It is noteworthy that Jorge had been an assistant to Cole Norman nine years.

Starting in 2001 Norman won six consecutive training titles at Oaklawn.

In January 2007, when Norman needed to take some time away from his training, he turned the reins over to Lara.

On a national level in 2007, Lara ranked among the national leaders with more than 100 winners, his horses having earned more than $1.5 million.

Even as a youngster, Jorge always figured he would have a racing career. He recalls that, as a young man, he was a jockey and started riding at the Hipodromo de Las America track in Mexico City.

“I grew up in Mexico City. There are several jockeys and horse people in my family. I came to the states and recall winning a race here at Oaklawn. I also rode at Louisiana Downs.

He went to work for Norman as an exercise rider and eventually worked his way to assistant trainer.

When asked his philosophy of horse training, Jorge answered, “Feed right, train right and keep your horses happy. At our barn we don’t run just to be running. We run when a horse is ready and we think it can win,” avowed Jorge.