Richard Rettele, a 70-year-old who trains Thoroughbreds and rides Quarter Horses, just keeps on going—he won a $15,000 stakes aboard Fearles Fred in the $15,000 Queen City Dash at River Downs in Ohio Aug. 10.
Rettele is a Kansas native who began training Thoroughbreds in Michigan at Detroit Race Course and Hazel Park. His wife, Carol, trains the Quarter Horses, which compete at tracks in the Midwest.
Richard Rettele gallops the Thoroughbreds, but regularly rides the Quarter Horses in races.
“Racehorses have been my total living,” Rettele told River Downs officials. “I started riding Quarter Horses before they kept records. Right now we’ve got about 50 horses. I only gallop eight or 10 each day; I do have to take it easy somewhat. I like it; nice horses keep you going, but if not, that road gets awful long.
“As long as I’m healthy I plan to continue to ride.”
Rettele said he rode Fearles Fred’s dam and grand dam, and recently won a stakes aboard his brother at Mount Pleasant Meadows in Michigan.
Rettele spent his early years working for Marion Van Berg, father of Jack Van Berg.
