Stidham Posts 1,000th Career Win

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Trainer Michael Stidham won the 1,000th race of his career Feb. 1 when Exoteric captured the second race at Sam Houston Race Park the evening of Feb. 1.

Stidham, 50, began training in Florida in 1978, saddling his first winner the following year. He is the son of George Stidham, the former jockey and trainer who died in 2005. The younger Stidham trained for Max Gluck's Elmendorf Farm in California in the early 1980s before returning to Florida. In the early 1980’s Michael continued his training career in California for Elmendorf Farm, Max Gluck, and Harold Goodman.  For the several years, he has trained on the Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, and Illinois circuits.

Sutra provided the most lucrative victory of Stidham's career when she won the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) in 2006. Stidham also won the 1994 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) with Two Altazano. Stidham's horses made 5,491 starts through Feb. 1 and have earned $24,935,415 in purses.

His milestone victory came in a $20,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies. Exoteric, sent off as the even-money choice, drew clear in the lane to win by four lengths with Paul Nolan aboard. Arthur B. Hancock III and Joseph W. Sutton co-owned and bred the dark bay.

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