Trainer Jorge Lara

Born: 06/02/70  Resides: Bossier City, Louisiana  Family: Christian, son

Lara finished second to Steve Asmussen in the final trainer standings of the 2007 meeting at Oaklawn. Of his 102 starters, 22 won.

In the course of the meeting, the Lara-trained horses earned $400,380, the highlight coming March 3 when True Tails won the $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes.

“True Tails favorite furlongs are the early ones. She has a lot of early speed and loves to go five and a half furlongs. The Spring Fever was my first career stakes win,” reflected Lara.

It is noteworthy that Lara had been assistant to Cole Norman nine years and, from 2001 to early 2007, the latter won six consecutive training titles at Oaklawn.

In January 2007, when Norman needed to take some time away from his stable because of a medical situation, he turned the reins over to Lara.

On a national level through mid-November, 2007, Lara ranked among the leaders with 100 winners from 436 starters, his horses having earned more than $1.5 million.

Even as a youngster, Jorge always figured he would have a racing career. He recalls that, as a young man, he was a jockey and started riding at the Hipodromo de Las America track in Mexico City.“I grew up in Mexico City. There are several jockeys and horse people in my family.

I came to the states and recall winning a race here at Oaklawn. I also rode at Louisiana Downs.

He went to work for Norman as an exercise rider and eventually worked his way to assistant trainer.“Now my brother Oscar is my assistant,” he mentioned.

When asked the first thing Norman taught him about training, Jorge answered, “Feed right, train right and keep your horses happy. At our barn we don’t run, just to be running. We run when a horse is ready to run and we think it can win,” avowed Jorge.