Only a year ago, Will Walden launched his budding training career out of Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala, Fla. with only a handful of unraced 2-year-olds and an unlikely crew of riders and grooms that had never laid a hand on a horse before. In a whirlwind 12 months, Walden and his stable have transformed themselves into a thriving race barn whose breakout year was capped by Kate’s Kingdom ‘s thrilling victory in the Dec. 11 $100,000 My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park.
“I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say it was a big moment,” Walden said. “And this win wasn’t just for me. There’s a lot that goes into our barn that’s a lot more than just running horses.”