Kevin Attard: Striving for Greatness
The athletes he coaches never say a word, but their success speaks volumes about Kevin Attard’s talents.
On a grey and snowy day at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto, the thoroughbred trainer with over 570 career wins has been hard at work since well before the sun came up and won’t be heading home until well past dinner time.
For the 45 year-old, Attard, it’s just another day at the office.
Recognized as one of Canada’s top horsemen, Attard has spent the past 20 years making quite the name for himself in the sport of kings. The journey to get where he stands today has been filled with memorable moments, the odd disappointing result, and everything in between.
Still, there’s no place he’d rather be.
“Hard work creates a lot of things, opportunity, good luck… once other people see that you’re a hard-working person that’s when doors start to open for you.”
And they most certainly have.
The son of trainer Tino Attard, who enjoyed great success over a long and prosperous career of his own, has steadily risen up the ranks to become one of the most in-demand trainers in the country.
Highlights have been numerous for the second-generation trainer, punctuated by the great Starship Jubilee, a multiple stakes-winning mare who was crowned Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2019. One year after being voted as Canada’s very best, the striking mare (female horse) bested the boys in the prestigious one-million dollar Woodbine Mile.
“It was just myself, my son (Josh), and my dad in a moment that stood still in time,” said Attard. “Her crossing the wire, sharing that with them… three generations of Attards together in what felt like a full-circle moment. It was really gratifying and a special moment that I’ll never forget.”
There have been several other big moments from talented horses who have represented the multiple Sovereign Award (annual ceremony honouring Canada’s top horses and horsepeople) finalist, including graded-stakes winners:
Those who know Attard well, including longtime owner Donato Lanni and champion jockey Justin Stein, laud the Tottenham, ON native for his commitment to his craft and honest, no-nonsense approach. But it’s not only his abilities in the racing world that garner rave reviews from those like Lanni and Stein.
“There’s never an angle with Kevin, he’s always very straightforward with me, we’re just really good friends and respect each other,” said Lanni. “Win, lose, or draw, nothing changes.”
Attard and Lanni were first acquainted through former Toronto Maple Leafs owner and legendary philanthropist, Steve Stavro.
“Stavro called me out of the blue asking me to buy him a horse and he ended up giving the horse to Kevin,” explained Lanni. “When I first met him [Attard], he was very young at the time but very focused, determined, professional, and to the point. All he wanted to do was train horses, he didn’t want to do much talking… my kind of guy.”
Attard’s professionalism doesn’t just draw attention from big-name owners, it inspires confidence among the jockeys whom he enlists to guide his equine athletes to victory, including 2012 Queen’s Plate winner Justin Stein.
“He does an amazing job,” said Stein. “He’s got an eye and a passion for what he does. He’s a guy I can ride for and completely trust, knowing that I’m going out there on a horse that’s ready to run and win.”
An Attard-trained horse, noted Lanni, is one that not only races well but also very much looks the part.
“Kevin is a trainer that believes in fitness, his horses are always fit. They look trim, never overweight and all have a good coat on them,” said the Montreal, QC native. “He doesn’t show up to a race with a horse that has a bad coat or isn’t ready to run. They’ve been schooled, they’re fit, they’re ready.”
Keeping his band of horses fit will continue to be a point of emphasis for Attard, especially with the offseason looming.
The 2021 Woodbine thoroughbred season comes to an end on December 5. To the surprise of no one, it’s been another banner campaign for Attard, one that’s yielded 52 wins (10 stakes) to date (good for third in the Woodbine standings) and over $3.4 million USD in earnings.
Attard has plenty of reason to be proud. But, in typical fashion, the man whose horses have earned just north of $27 million USD over his career, will look through the lens of what can be attained rather than what has already been accomplished.
Resting on his laurels is never an option.
“He’s just serious about it and passionate about it,” offered Stein, who has teamed with Attard to become one of Woodbine’s top trainer-jockey duos, headlined by their triumph with Starship Jubilee in the Woodbine Mile one year earlier. “It’s all he does, it’s his life. He has big goals in mind. I haven’t talked to him about it but you can kind of see how he wants to shape his future.”
A man, who just like his horses, goes to great lengths to chase success.
Attard’s winning formula is a simple but effective one.
“The horses are almost like people in the sense that you have to find out what makes them tick and take it from there.”
Matthew Lomon 