August 9, 2024 • 8 mins
Trainer of Five Star General, Grant Forster, joins the show to discuss the upcoming Long Acre Mile race and his quest to repeat as winner.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now back to Dave Softy Muller from the Boeing Classic
and the Club It's They'll call Me Ridge, sponsored by
Tito's Handmade Vodka on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, big weekend in Seattle. Man, you're a sports fan.
It's like a sports gasm going on this week. He
got Madiers three games at te Mobile Park, the Boeing Classics,
they'll call me Ridge here install kualme this weekend and
the Long Acres Mile on Sunday, gates open eleven thirty
post time, five p forty five as five star General
looks to defend the title from last year, and the
(00:38):
trainer for that phenomenal horse, Grant Forster, joins us right
now on the radio show. Grant, How are you pal?
What's going on? Do we have Grant? Grant has never
sounded as good as he does right now? There he is, Grant,
Do you have me?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Yes, Color, are you there? I'm here.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It's first time coler, longtime listener. Thanks for doing this, man,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Hey. First of all, number one, thanks for doing that's
great to have you on.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
And then second of all, man, just give us a
take on defending this thing. I mean, winning it's one thing,
but going out and defending it's another. What are the emotions,
how are the juices flown for this thing on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Man, Well, we're super excited. Obviously last year winning it
was fantastic and and anybody that grows up in the
Northwest that has anything to do with horse racing, the
long Acre's Mile is the you know, that's our Mount Everest.
And I was fortunate to be able to do it
early on in my career in two thousand and five,
(01:36):
and to be able to come back last year and
win it again with this special horse, and it was
just really a magical day. And like you said, it's
one thing to do it once, but now to try
and repeat. Now everybody's aiming and gunning for us, and
we're gonna try and go do it again.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, you mentioned the words special and obviously a special
horse to win it once. But I think if I'm
not mistaken fifth straight year in the mile one it
last year. What makes five Star General so special in
your mind?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Uh, he's just the epitome of the alpha male. I
mean he's just you know, as a horse trainer, we're
very similar to any kind of coach in any sports.
And he is just the absolute dream player. He never
never misses a practice, never takes a practice off. He
loves to train, puts every ounce of enthusiasm into everything
he does, whether it's a workout, a regular gallop, or
(02:25):
a race. He never leaves anything left undone. And he's
just a just an absolute joy to be around. He's
so consistent, So as a coach, he makes your job easy.
He shows up for work and brings it every day.
And like I said, he's just that that you know,
that Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant kind of mentality. He just
doesn't ever take a practice off.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well again, Sunday is gonna be fun, whether it's gonna
be great. Gates open eleven thirty five to forty five
post time for the mile of Long Acres mile at
Emerald Downs. And I'm here in rumor that Joe Withe
used to call you Young Forster back in the day.
What was it like for you trained there in the
early two thousands, man, What was it like for you
to come back and shove it in with his face
(03:05):
last year?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Man? Well, anytime you can get Joe with me to
settle down a little bit. It's an important moment in
your life, for sure. But no, I actually I grew
up the son of a trainer and my dad, you know,
like most parents, he wanted his son to do something different.
He wanted me to run a racetrack rather than be
a horse trainer like him. And I started out working
(03:26):
at Emerald in the publicity department under your man Joe
with me and I had three great years, but I
really really missed being with the horses and the competition.
I grew up playing sports and just missed the competition
and went to training and it's been, you know, no
looking back since then. But it was really really special
to be able to come back and see a lot
of old friends. I'm based in Louisville, Kentucky now Churchill Downs,
(03:49):
but it was so special to come back last year.
And you know, for those of your listeners that haven't
maybe been to a Long Acres Mile, it's really one
of the special days on the Seattle Sports calendar, and
if you haven't ever done it, you should really experience
it one time in your life. It's going to be
a gorgeous day and it's a great fun crowd and
it's just it's a really really neat experience.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, I don't know. Grant Forrester again is with us.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
He's the trainer for five Star General, going four back
to back wins in the Long Acres Mile on Sunday.
You won it last year with five Star and then
you want it with no giveaway in two thousand and five.
I mean, just off the top of your head, how
many trainers have three championships, have three mile wins?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
You know how many have done that?
Speaker 4 (04:31):
I'm not sure. I'm sure there's a couple at least
you know. The race has been around, of course, was
started by Joe Gottstein at Long Acres way back in
nineteen thirty five when it opened. And the owner of
my horse, five Star General, is Kenny el Haddeff, who
is Joe Gottstein's grandson, which is why it's such a
special thing to bring the horse back. So I'm sure
it's been done before, but not very often. And he'll
(04:54):
be the first horse. I believe that he was the
first horse last year to ever run one, two three
in the race four times and now going for his
fifth uh his fifth crack ad. It is just to
be able to run in a in a race like this,
five years in a row is an amazing accomplishment, let
alone how well he's performed in it every year.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
And your horse is now eight years old. I mean
it's kind of starting to get up there a little bit.
Is he as good as he was a year ago?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
You think he seems like it? He's, uh, he's, he's.
I mean, he's kind of like Lebron he's still going
strong at an elderly age. For for race horses, there's
actually a there's a ten year old in the field
who's who who I can't think of his name right now,
I apologize, but he's he's kind of in record form too.
So these uh, these they're they're athletes just like any others.
(05:40):
And he's he's still thriving. He's he's. He hasn't lost
any one bit of his enthusiasm and uh, we're hopefully
gonna be uh he's still a stallion and we're looking
to find him a stallion career starting next year. So
this is potentially his his last is kind of his
swan song, but soundness wise and physical, he could go on,
(06:01):
you know, quite a bit longer based on what I've
seen for sure.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I love it well. Grant before you go in.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Grant Forrester again is the trainer for five star General
looking to defend his Long Acres Mile championship on Sunday
five forty five. Post time gates open eleven thirty. So
this is probably a better question for Joe because he's
the big marketing wizard. But you've been around the mile
long enough to know what that day is like. For
all the parents out there looking for some fun for
the kids this weekend, they got the m's, they got
(06:26):
the Boeing Classic. Tell people what's in store. You think
what the atmosphere will be like on Sunday, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
It's just it's a it's a great crowd. I'm not
sure exactly what kind of promotions they've got going on
on Sunday, but it's it's just always and it's a
it's a place where a lot of people that don't
maybe you know, have come to the races in the
past but haven't been lately. It just kind of circle
it on their calendar and it's almost like a like
a family reunion in some ways. You get to see
a lot of old friends and everybody's having a good
(06:55):
time obviously. You know in my travels I tell everyone
everywhere I go that there's no better place to be
in July, August and September than the Pacific Northwest. And
the weather is going to be gorgeous, and the mountain
will be out, and it's going to be a Yeah,
it's just a really fun vibe. And we've got you know,
some really the best horses in the in the Northwest
and some from California are going to be running, and uh,
(07:16):
it's a a data showcase our sport. And like you said,
there's a lot of a lot of stuff going on
around town, a lot of a lot of fun stuff.
So hopefully we'll get a get a big crowd out
on Sunday to have a good time.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, Joe has already told me that if five Star
defends that, you're buying cocktails for the whole place. When
it's all said and Dug.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
No problem, no problem, no light no light beers though,
you got it. I'm from Canada, so you got to
drink regular.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
That's a great offer by you, very very generous.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Ran All right, man, Hey, good luck on Sunday, go
get them buddy, all right, thanks for doing this.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Man, thanks so much. I really enjoy listening to you
all the time. I'm a big Seahawks fan. We're growing
up in the Northwest, so I listen to your show
regularly back in Louisville. And thanks for having me on Toffee.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
You must not have any options for sports talk radio
down there if you're tuning into US Man, so appreciate buddy.
Go get him on Sunday. Grant Forster trainer for five
Star General. I think he has been the last few
years maintaining a stable at Churchill Downs. Yeah, for the
last decade and a half, and he's he's one of
the big ones in that business.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Man.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
You'll see his horse five Star General Sunday at Admiral Downs,
gates open eleven thirty post time five to forty five
as he goes for a third long acres mile title
and second in a row with five Star General on Sunday.
All right, we're gonna break logan. Gilbert's gonna join us,
coming up for the next hour right here on ninety
three three kJ arfm
Now back to Dave Softy Muller from the Boeing Classic
and the Club It's They'll call Me Ridge, sponsored by
Tito's Handmade Vodka on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, big weekend in Seattle. Man, you're a sports fan.
It's like a sports gasm going on this week. He
got Madiers three games at te Mobile Park, the Boeing Classics,
they'll call me Ridge here install kualme this weekend and
the Long Acres Mile on Sunday, gates open eleven thirty
post time, five p forty five as five star General
looks to defend the title from last year, and the
(00:38):
trainer for that phenomenal horse, Grant Forster, joins us right
now on the radio show. Grant, How are you pal?
What's going on? Do we have Grant? Grant has never
sounded as good as he does right now? There he is, Grant,
Do you have me?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Yes, Color, are you there? I'm here.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It's first time coler, longtime listener. Thanks for doing this, man,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Hey. First of all, number one, thanks for doing that's
great to have you on.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
And then second of all, man, just give us a
take on defending this thing. I mean, winning it's one thing,
but going out and defending it's another. What are the emotions,
how are the juices flown for this thing on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Man, Well, we're super excited. Obviously last year winning it
was fantastic and and anybody that grows up in the
Northwest that has anything to do with horse racing, the
long Acre's Mile is the you know, that's our Mount Everest.
And I was fortunate to be able to do it
early on in my career in two thousand and five,
(01:36):
and to be able to come back last year and
win it again with this special horse, and it was
just really a magical day. And like you said, it's
one thing to do it once, but now to try
and repeat. Now everybody's aiming and gunning for us, and
we're gonna try and go do it again.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, you mentioned the words special and obviously a special
horse to win it once. But I think if I'm
not mistaken fifth straight year in the mile one it
last year. What makes five Star General so special in
your mind?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Uh, he's just the epitome of the alpha male. I
mean he's just you know, as a horse trainer, we're
very similar to any kind of coach in any sports.
And he is just the absolute dream player. He never
never misses a practice, never takes a practice off. He
loves to train, puts every ounce of enthusiasm into everything
he does, whether it's a workout, a regular gallop, or
(02:25):
a race. He never leaves anything left undone. And he's
just a just an absolute joy to be around. He's
so consistent, So as a coach, he makes your job easy.
He shows up for work and brings it every day.
And like I said, he's just that that you know,
that Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant kind of mentality. He just
doesn't ever take a practice off.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Well again, Sunday is gonna be fun, whether it's gonna
be great. Gates open eleven thirty five to forty five
post time for the mile of Long Acres mile at
Emerald Downs. And I'm here in rumor that Joe Withe
used to call you Young Forster back in the day.
What was it like for you trained there in the
early two thousands, man, What was it like for you
to come back and shove it in with his face
(03:05):
last year?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Man? Well, anytime you can get Joe with me to
settle down a little bit. It's an important moment in
your life, for sure. But no, I actually I grew
up the son of a trainer and my dad, you know,
like most parents, he wanted his son to do something different.
He wanted me to run a racetrack rather than be
a horse trainer like him. And I started out working
(03:26):
at Emerald in the publicity department under your man Joe
with me and I had three great years, but I
really really missed being with the horses and the competition.
I grew up playing sports and just missed the competition
and went to training and it's been, you know, no
looking back since then. But it was really really special
to be able to come back and see a lot
of old friends. I'm based in Louisville, Kentucky now Churchill Downs,
(03:49):
but it was so special to come back last year.
And you know, for those of your listeners that haven't
maybe been to a Long Acres Mile, it's really one
of the special days on the Seattle Sports calendar, and
if you haven't ever done it, you should really experience
it one time in your life. It's going to be
a gorgeous day and it's a great fun crowd and
it's just it's a really really neat experience.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, I don't know. Grant Forrester again is with us.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
He's the trainer for five Star General, going four back
to back wins in the Long Acres Mile on Sunday.
You won it last year with five Star and then
you want it with no giveaway in two thousand and five.
I mean, just off the top of your head, how
many trainers have three championships, have three mile wins?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
You know how many have done that?
Speaker 4 (04:31):
I'm not sure. I'm sure there's a couple at least
you know. The race has been around, of course, was
started by Joe Gottstein at Long Acres way back in
nineteen thirty five when it opened. And the owner of
my horse, five Star General, is Kenny el Haddeff, who
is Joe Gottstein's grandson, which is why it's such a
special thing to bring the horse back. So I'm sure
it's been done before, but not very often. And he'll
(04:54):
be the first horse. I believe that he was the
first horse last year to ever run one, two three
in the race four times and now going for his
fifth uh his fifth crack ad. It is just to
be able to run in a in a race like this,
five years in a row is an amazing accomplishment, let
alone how well he's performed in it every year.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
No doubt.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
And your horse is now eight years old. I mean
it's kind of starting to get up there a little bit.
Is he as good as he was a year ago?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
You think he seems like it? He's, uh, he's, he's.
I mean, he's kind of like Lebron he's still going
strong at an elderly age. For for race horses, there's
actually a there's a ten year old in the field
who's who who I can't think of his name right now,
I apologize, but he's he's kind of in record form too.
So these uh, these they're they're athletes just like any others.
(05:40):
And he's he's still thriving. He's he's. He hasn't lost
any one bit of his enthusiasm and uh, we're hopefully
gonna be uh he's still a stallion and we're looking
to find him a stallion career starting next year. So
this is potentially his his last is kind of his
swan song, but soundness wise and physical, he could go on,
(06:01):
you know, quite a bit longer based on what I've
seen for sure.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I love it well. Grant before you go in.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Grant Forrester again is the trainer for five star General
looking to defend his Long Acres Mile championship on Sunday
five forty five. Post time gates open eleven thirty. So
this is probably a better question for Joe because he's
the big marketing wizard. But you've been around the mile
long enough to know what that day is like. For
all the parents out there looking for some fun for
the kids this weekend, they got the m's, they got
(06:26):
the Boeing Classic. Tell people what's in store. You think
what the atmosphere will be like on Sunday, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
It's just it's a it's a great crowd. I'm not
sure exactly what kind of promotions they've got going on
on Sunday, but it's it's just always and it's a
it's a place where a lot of people that don't
maybe you know, have come to the races in the
past but haven't been lately. It just kind of circle
it on their calendar and it's almost like a like
a family reunion in some ways. You get to see
a lot of old friends and everybody's having a good
(06:55):
time obviously. You know in my travels I tell everyone
everywhere I go that there's no better place to be
in July, August and September than the Pacific Northwest. And
the weather is going to be gorgeous, and the mountain
will be out, and it's going to be a Yeah,
it's just a really fun vibe. And we've got you know,
some really the best horses in the in the Northwest
and some from California are going to be running, and uh,
(07:16):
it's a a data showcase our sport. And like you said,
there's a lot of a lot of stuff going on
around town, a lot of a lot of fun stuff.
So hopefully we'll get a get a big crowd out
on Sunday to have a good time.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Well, Joe has already told me that if five Star
defends that, you're buying cocktails for the whole place. When
it's all said and Dug.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
No problem, no problem, no light no light beers though,
you got it. I'm from Canada, so you got to
drink regular.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
That's a great offer by you, very very generous.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Ran All right, man, Hey, good luck on Sunday, go
get them buddy, all right, thanks for doing this.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Man, thanks so much. I really enjoy listening to you
all the time. I'm a big Seahawks fan. We're growing
up in the Northwest, so I listen to your show
regularly back in Louisville. And thanks for having me on Toffee.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
You must not have any options for sports talk radio
down there if you're tuning into US Man, so appreciate buddy.
Go get him on Sunday. Grant Forster trainer for five
Star General. I think he has been the last few
years maintaining a stable at Churchill Downs. Yeah, for the
last decade and a half, and he's he's one of
the big ones in that business.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Man.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
You'll see his horse five Star General Sunday at Admiral Downs,
gates open eleven thirty post time five to forty five
as he goes for a third long acres mile title
and second in a row with five Star General on Sunday.
All right, we're gonna break logan. Gilbert's gonna join us,
coming up for the next hour right here on ninety
three three kJ arfm
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