Trainer Michael Tomlinson
Born: 05/01/54 Resides: Shelbyville, Kentucky Family: Vicki, wife; Cole, Cale and Cache, sons
Mike is on hand for the 2008 meeting with 24 horses headed by the outstanding mare Kettleoneup. The latter is recalled as winner of the $324,300 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs in November and most recently the winner of the Pippin at Oaklawn on February 16.
Oaklawn Park has been a lucky track for Tomlinson.On April 12, 2003 he sent out Sir Cherokee to win the 67th running of the Arkansas Derby and his horse returned $113.20 to his backers.
“I have had some useful horses over the years. Love Talking was a nice stakes winner. But, I had never had a graded stakes winner until Sir Cherokee,” noted the trainer.
Tomlinson is a veteran of the Kentucky circuit.
“Counting blacksmiths in my family, I am a fourth generation horseman,” he grinned. “I was born in Kentucky in horse country. What’s more, I came into this world on Kentucky Derby Day of 1954.
Tomlinson recalled that his great grandfather and later his grandfather, both then living in Alton, Illinois, had regularly shod the famous Budweiser Clydesdales for the Busch family.
“There is an Oaklawn connection there,” Mike reflected. “A number of the Clydesdales that once pulled the starting gates at Oaklawn, came from the Budweiser horses.”