Streak of Smoke Looks to 'Shine' for Castille

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Horse racing parallels life's experiences of highs and low in many ways and one need look no further, for a prime example, than Evangeline Downs trainer Carrol Castille. From the height of winning an important race to the low of being away from the game on the outside looking in, Castille has been through the whole spectrum of racing and life.

The 35-year-old conditioner will send out Streak of Smoke in the $93,500 D. S. "Shine" Young Memorial Futurity at Evangeline Downs July 4.

In the July 4 D. S. "Shine" Young Memorial Futurity, a full gate of twelve is expected for the 5 furlong test. Castille is not concerned about the post draw and the possibility of drawing outside.

"This horse balked at the gate, we took the blinkers off prior to his first race because it made him easy to load," said Castille. "He stood in the gate first out so we put the blinkers back on and he was more aggressive in the morning (working :35.80 at Evd on June 4). He actually outworked a nice four-year-old in B. J. Gilbert's barn."

In the Futurity Trials the change was evident as he broke immediately to the front. A moment of uncertainty arose when the filly Tornado Warning loomed up outside Streak of Smoke but he quickly squelched her chance by rebreaking and pulling away to win by a convincing four lengths.

Win or lose in the "Shine", Castille has an ambitious schedule planned for his charge. Included are stops in the $75,000 Evangeline Sales Stakes (August 2), the $50,000 Lafayette Stakes (Evangeline Downs, Sept. 1), the $50,000 Louisiana Premier Day Juvenile at Delta Downs and finally Louisiana Champions Day. He is determined his stable will be no larger than 12-14 head and he is making plans to point his charges to the opening of Evangeline Downs in 2004. The addition of purse revenues generated from slot machines and the Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino makes the prospect of racing at his home track very promising.

Castille, a Carencro, Louisiana native, began his career in the racing game in the early 80's when he left school to work for Dee's Farm. He quickly moved up the ranks and found himself the manager of the farm in charge of its five stallions. He obtained his trainers license during his tenure and trained Thoroughbred and Quarter horses, with most making their starts at the now extinct Jefferson Downs.

In 1984 he left the life of racing and took on a new role climbing radio towers for a communications business. The hours were long and required long periods of time away from his wife and family. He started at the bottom but quickly became adept in all facets of the business. In 1989 he undertook his own business but within two years sold it to Solar Communications. He would stay on in its tower division, based in New Orleans, for four years.

In 1993 he teamed up with his former boss, Lester Bowheam, to begin a two-way communications company concentrating on two-way radios, beepers and cellular phones. "The initial investment was $35,000," said Castille. "I had to hock everything I had to get that money."

The new company, Total Tower Service, was more successful than Castille could have ever imagined. Seven years after start up, the company was valued at $27,000,000, had a fleet of 50 trucks and other equipment and employed 125 people. Castille and his partner sold the company but kept several of the communications towers.

In 2000, he and Bowheam started Tower Equities, LLC, a new company that leased the towers to top cellular phone companies, Singular, Nextel and others. In addition, the new company invested in real estate and also owned horses, the first of which was Louisiana bred Mr. King Rex. Don Cormier trained the son of Pentelicus and finished a promising third in the $35,000 Bayouland in his first start for the new connections on August 3, 2002.

Cole Norman took over the training in October of 2002 and Mr. King Rex competed in three stakes at Louisiana Downs, the $30,000 Minstrel, $41,000 Stardust and the $32,000 Pelican Stakes. He finished fifth in the Minstrel, third in the Stardust and won the 6 furlong Pelican. In February of 2003, Mr. King Rex hooked multiple stakes winner Posse in an allowance race at the Fair Grounds and actually led by two lengths in the opening quarter mile. He eventually faded late to finish fifth but Posse would win and set the track record of :57.35 for the 5 furlong distance.

Three years ago Castille began construction on his home on 64 acres of forest and brush in Carencro. Upon completion of the barn he expanded his stable to four after purchasing three two-year-olds from J. Adcock. Since last fall that number has grown to 12 as he has brought in colleagues and acquaintances made through his business contacts in New Orleans. "All the people I have brought into the business have no racing background so I don't have the problems that many public trainers have keeping owners happy." said Castille, "I train horses for fun and for my friends. They love to be part of the excitement and they all come when we run a horse. I originally got back into the racing business for breeding and as a hobby, it has turned into a business."

So far a fairly successful one, in his first six starts at Evangeline Downs, he has recorded two wins and two seconds. In addition, on any given race night when Castille has a horse in, he is likely to have upwards of 20 people on hand dressed in the yellow and black colors of Tower Equities, LLC filling up the dining room and excited about thoroughbred racing.

Castille is a hands on trainer, not your "suit and tie kind of trainer" in his own words. He even goes so far as to give his employees the day off on Sundays and tends to all the horses himself. He grooms, legs and even gallops. He doesn't exactly do this alone however, as his father is retired and lends a helping hand.

His 16-year-old son is also involved. Castille thrives on a challenge and he has found many of those in the racing game. "I love when somebody tells me I can't do something," said Castille, "it makes me try even harder to prove them wrong." In the July 4 D. S. "Shine" Young Memorial Futurity, Castille hopes to realize a dream. Just look for the group of 40-50 in the bright yellow shirts, they are easy to spot, they're the ones having the most fun.

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