from Scioto Downs Racino

Columbus, OH — Virgil Morgan Jr. became the first trainer to reach 5,000 career wins this past Saturday night (Sep. 7).

The USTA has only been keeping trainer’s statistics since 1991.

Conrad photo

Stacy Cahill made a special presentation in the Scioto Downs winner’s circle to Virgil Morgan, Jr. after he hit career training win 5,000 at Hoosier Park just two hours earlier.

Morgan had his first training win when Count Jazz won a $3,000 claimer on Sept. 22, 1992, at The Meadows Racetrack.

Training win no. 5,000 came Saturday at Hoosier Park when Tyler Smith piloted Rose Run Oriana to a win in the fourth leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes silver series trot.

Morgan started on his way to his next milestone less than two hours later when Pet Rock and Dan Noble set a new world record on a five-eighths-mile track of 1:47.2 at Scioto Downs Racino.

Morgan started winning 100-plus races in a single year starting in 1995 when he trained winners of 114 races in only 417 starts, earning a UTR of .393. Since then he has had as many as 409 wins in a year and his horses have earned more than $41.8 million.

“I didn’t know (I was near 5,000) until someone brought it to my attention,” Morgan said. “Hopefully, I’ll be fortunate enough to win a few more races.

“I prefer to let the horses do the talking,” he continued, adding with a laugh, “It’s one of those things that make you feel a little bit older than you thought you were. You look back and that’s a lot of racing. A lot of people helped me achieve that. Many thanks to all the drivers and owners and all of my help.