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The Record

Record & Milestones

Nearly four decades of early mornings, written down in wins. More than any woman trainer in Thoroughbred history, and still counting.

Career Record · as of October 13, 2026

Starts
15,266
Wins
2,901
Earnings
$133.26M

Most wins by a female trainer in Thoroughbred history. All tracks, as of October 13, 2026 (Equibase data via America’s Best Racing).

Highlights

By the Numbers

  • 2,900+Career wins, the most by a female trainer
  • $133M+Career purse earnings
  • 172Wins in 2025, a NYRA single-season record
  • 1,222Wins at Aqueduct, the most in its history
  • 40Saratoga wins in 2026, a career best
  • 1987Licensed as a trainer

Milestones

A Career of Firsts

  1. September 2026

    Best Saratoga summer ever

    After winning 4 of her first 45 starts, the barn finished the 2026 meet with 40 wins, her Saratoga best and two behind champion Chad Brown.

  2. September 2026

    A juvenile stakes double

    New York-bred 2-year-olds Velora and Scramjet won the $200,000 Seeking the Ante and Funny Cide in Saratoga’s final week, and Dargham won his debut on closing day.

  3. August 2026

    Five winners on one Saratoga card

    Five winners on one Saratoga card

    Five wins from six starters tied the Saratoga record for a trainer on a single card. It was her second five-win day of 2026, after January 22 at Aqueduct.

  4. June 2026

    Aqueduct’s all-time leading trainer

    As racing at Aqueduct came to a close, Rice stood as the track’s all-time leading trainer with 1,222 wins, and she won the final Belmont at the Big A spring/summer title.

  5. March 2026

    Personal-best 62 wins at the Aqueduct winter meet

    Her fourth straight Aqueduct winter title, along with the leading-owner title.

  6. December 2025

    NYRA single-season record

    Snide delivered win No. 165 of 2025, breaking the NYRA record; she finished the year with 172 wins as NYRA’s leading trainer and owner.

  7. October 2024

    Winningest female trainer in history

    Treaty Obligation won at Aqueduct for career win No. 2,511, surpassing Kathleen O’Connell.

  8. December 2023

    NYRA’s leading trainer

    A breakthrough year: first $10 million season, the Saratoga title (shared with Chad Brown) and stakes wins in 14 NYRA events.

  9. January 2020

    2,000th career win

    2,000th career win

    Scilly Cay captured the Rego Park Stakes at Aqueduct for Rice’s 2,000th victory.

  10. December 2015

    Eclipse champion La Verdad

    Eclipse champion La Verdad

    La Verdad was voted champion female sprinter of 2015.

  11. December 2013

    102-win season

    A then-personal record of 102 wins and $4.9 million in earnings at a 21% strike rate.

  12. June 2011

    1,000th career win

    Her 1,000th victory clinched a share of the Belmont Spring/Summer training title with Todd Pletcher.

  13. September 2009

    Saratoga training title

    Twenty wins at Saratoga, edging Todd Pletcher by one — the first training title ever won by a woman at a major race meet.

  14. August 2008

    The “Rice Superfecta”

    Rice saddled the first four finishers of the Mechanicville Stakes at Saratoga.

  15. September 2000

    City Zip sweeps Saratoga

    City Zip swept the Sanford, Saratoga Special and Hopeful — the Saratoga juvenile triple.

  16. October 1998

    History at Keeneland

    Tenski won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, making Rice the first woman to win a Grade 1 at Keeneland.

  17. August 1998

    First Grade 1

    Things Change won the Spinaway at Saratoga.

  18. January 1987

    Licensed trainer

    Rice took out her trainer’s license and began saddling horses on the New York and New Jersey circuit.

Training Titles

Leading Trainer

  • 2026Belmont at the Big A Spring/Summer31 wins at the final meet run at Aqueduct; also leading owner
  • 2026Aqueduct Winter62 wins, a personal best; fourth straight winter title; also leading owner
  • 2026Aqueduct Spring21 wins; fourth straight spring title, seventh overall; also leading owner
  • 2025NYRA leading trainer (year)172 wins — NYRA single-season record
  • 2025Aqueduct Fall31 wins — fourth straight Aqueduct fall title
  • 2025Aqueduct Winter
  • 2025Aqueduct Spring
  • 2025NYRA leading owner (year)61 wins
  • 2024Aqueduct Fall
  • 2024Aqueduct Winter
  • 2024Aqueduct Spring
  • 2023NYRA leading trainer (year)First $10 million season
  • 2023Saratoga35 wins (tie with Chad Brown)
  • 2023Belmont Spring/Summer34 wins
  • 2023Aqueduct Fall
  • 2023Aqueduct Spring
  • 2023Aqueduct Winter
  • 2022Aqueduct Fall
  • 2020Aqueduct Winter40 wins
  • 2019Aqueduct Winter45 wins
  • 2017Aqueduct Spring12 wins (tie)
  • 2017Laurel Winter27 wins (tie)
  • 2012Aqueduct Spring13 wins
  • 2011Belmont Spring/Summer25 wins (tie) — included her 1,000th career win
  • 2011Aqueduct Spring9 wins (tie)
  • 2009Saratoga20 wins — first woman to win a Saratoga training title

Honors

Awards & Recognition

  • 2026All-time leading trainer at Aqueduct Racetrack (1,222 wins)
  • 2025NYRA leading trainer and leading owner, with a single-season record of 172 wins
  • 2024All-time winningest female Thoroughbred trainer
  • 2015Trainer of Eclipse Award champion female sprinter La Verdad
  • 2013Trainer of the Year — New York Thoroughbred Breeders
  • 2010Trainer of the Year — New York Thoroughbred Breeders
  • 2009Trainer of the Year — New York Thoroughbred Breeders
  • 2009First woman to win a training title at Saratoga
  • 2000Fourstardave Award for Outstanding Achievement — New York Turf Writers Association
  • Named a “Woman of Influence” by the Thoroughbred Times

The Horses

Notable Runners

La Verdad

La Verdad

Champion female sprinter of 2015 and a multiple graded stakes winner for the Rice barn.

City Zip

Swept Saratoga’s Sanford, Saratoga Special and Hopeful in 2000; later a leading sire.

Max Player

Max Player

Won the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct in 2020 and finished third in the Belmont Stakes under Rice.

Scilly Cay

Scilly Cay

Delivered Rice’s 2,000th career victory in the 2020 Rego Park Stakes.

Palace

Palace

Claimed by Rice and developed into a multiple stakes winner, including on Empire Showcase Day 2013.

Kid Cruz

Kid Cruz

A New York-bred stakes standout for the barn.

El Grande O

Barn favorite and stakes winner of the Bertram F. Bongard and Sleepy Hollow; seven wins at the Big A.

Pioneering Spirit

Won the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga and the Knickerbocker in 2023.

Mommasgottarun

Graded stakes winner of the 2023 Distaff Handicap (G3).

Joey Freshwater

Graded stakes winner of the 2023 Bay Shore (G3).

Things Change

Rice’s first Grade 1 winner, in the 1998 Spinaway at Saratoga.

Tenski

Won the 1998 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland.

Velora

A New York-bred Yaupon filly bought for $300,000 as a 2-year-old. She won the 2026 Seeking the Ante by 2¼ lengths and then tried Grade 1 company in the Frizette.

Scramjet

An Uncle Mo colt bred by Steve Barberino. He won his debut on the record five-win card and then the 2026 Funny Cide, going 2 for 2 at Saratoga.

Year by Year

Annual Statistics

YearStarts1st2nd3rdWin %Earnings
2026* 690 163 121 109 24% $9,809,811
2025* 808 172 139 120 21% $9,561,873
2024* 685 121 119 118 18% $8,157,761
2023* 705 164 122 107 23% $10,359,922
2022* 479 84 86 75 18% $5,501,821
2021* 408 64 67 70 16% $4,076,957
2020 482 79 84 78 16% $4,035,920
2019 660 145 122 99 22% $7,258,064
2018 606 130 100 92 21% $6,914,061
2017 664 166 107 93 25% $7,107,114

* Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga only (NYRA figures); other years include every track. 2026 is through October 13.

ArchiveHistorical Race Meet StandingsShow tables

Leading Trainers at Aqueduct 2019-2020 (Winter Meet)

RANK NAME STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS WIN % TOP 3 TOP 3 %
1 Linda Rice 196 40 33 31 $2,148,115 20% 104 53%
2 Rudy R. Rodriguez 167 32 31 26 $1,679,186 19% 89 53%
3 Rob Atras 51 16 10 8 $652,930 31% 34 67%
4 Jason Servis 62 14 20 11 $1,163,685 23% 45 73%
5 Chad C. Brown 36 13 8 2 $620,057 36% 23 64%
6 Mark E. Casse 43 11 4 6 $557,940 26% 21 49%
6 Chris J. Englehart 72 11 6 14 $505,256 15% 31 43%
6 Gary P. Gullo 50 11 7 5 $383,488 22% 23 46%
9 Danny Gargan 29 10 2 3 $399,456 34% 15 52%
10 Michelle Nevin 66 9 10 9 $570,227 14% 28 42%
10 Gary Sciacca 60 9 9 10 $532,742 15% 28 47%
10 Brad H. Cox 41 9 11 6 $445,328 22% 26 63%

Leading NY-Bred Trainers of 2014

Rank Trainer Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Totals $↓ Per Start $ Win% Top3 Top3%
1 Rice Linda 287 49 56 43 $3,574,882 $12,456 17% 148 52%
2 Brown Chad C. 107 29 19 13 $3,563,843 $33,307 27% 61 57%
3 Hushion Michael E. 137 37 19 20 $2,515,073 $18,358 27% 76 55%
4 Jacobson David 242 58 51 38 $2,461,759 $10,173 24% 147 61%
5 Contessa Gary C. 292 36 48 48 $2,116,011 $7,247 12% 132 45%
6 Violette, Jr. Richard A. 122 14 15 21 $1,985,712 $16,276 11% 50 41%
7 Rodriguez Rudy R. 216 38 30 36 $1,910,584 $8,845 18% 104 48%
8 Englehart Chris J. 411 84 70 62 $1,814,711 $4,415 20% 216 53%

Leading Trainers at Aqueduct 2014 (Fall Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 David Jacobson 108 28 29 12 $1,334,564 26% 69 64%
2 Linda Rice 94 16 19 20 $849,261 17% 55 59%
3 Rudy R. Rodriguez 93 14 16 15 $1,057,411 15% 45 48%
4 Michelle Nevin 33 12 1 7 $483,445 36% 20 61%
5 Chad C. Brown 49 11 11 7 $896,193 22% 29 59%
6 Bruce R. Brown 57 10 6 16 $407,886 18% 32 56%
7 Gary C. Contessa 102 9 17 9 $543,636 9% 35 34%
7 Chris J. Englehart 56 9 11 8 $474,356 16% 28 50%

Leading Trainers at Belmont 2014 (Spring/Summer Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 Todd A. Pletcher 124 28 16 21 $3,504,454 23% 65 52%
2 Chad C. Brown 74 24 14 8 $2,889,743 32% 46 62%
3 Christophe Clement 110 21 21 14 $2,752,442 19% 56 51%
4 David Jacobson 114 19 26 15 $1,205,222 17% 60 53%
5 Linda Rice 102 18 20 12 $1,407,728 18% 50 49%
6 Gary C. Contessa 111 16 18 15 $823,715 14% 49 44%
6 William I. Mott 82 16 14 17 $1,981,187 20% 47 57%
8 Bruce R. Brown 64 13 10 7 $603,986 20% 30 47%

Leading Trainers at Aqueduct Inner Track 2013-2014 (Winter Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 David Jacobson 304 77 49 65 $3,114,301 25% 191 63%
2 Rudy R. Rodriguez 217 61 39 25 $2,693,863 28% 125 58%
3 Linda Rice 149 28 33 25 $1,340,010 19% 86 58%
4 Gary C. Contessa 184 26 31 32 $1,328,745 14% 89 48%
5 Todd A. Pletcher 121 25 24 19 $1,797,698 21% 68 56%
6 Bruce N. Levine 118 20 11 16 $682,318 17% 47 40%
6 Chris J. Englehart 138 20 21 11 $752,509 14% 52 38%
6 Randi Persaud 197 20 24 27 $796,852 10% 71 36%

Leading Trainers at Belmont 2013 (Fall Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 Chad C. Brown 100 26 18 13 $2,486,630 26% 57 57%
2 Linda Rice 83 21 11 15 $1,216,848 25% 47 57%
3 Todd A. Pletcher 95 19 19 18 $2,512,314 20% 56 59%
4 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 57 16 10 9 $1,128,274 28% 35 61%
4 David Jacobson 120 16 24 17 $935,948 13% 57 48%
6 William I. Mott 81 14 10 11 $1,689,516 17% 35 43%
7 Christophe Clement 65 11 13 15 $1,155,809 17% 39 60%
8 Chris J. Englehart 39 8 8 4 $363,307 21% 20 51%

Leading Trainers at Belmont 2013 (Spring/Summer Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 David Jacobson 168 44 27 25 $1,666,453 26% 96 57%
2 Todd A. Pletcher 118 27 22 15 $2,908,601 23% 64 54%
3 Chad C. Brown 79 23 18 7 $1,604,966 29% 48 61%
4 Christophe Clement 83 17 9 15 $1,184,264 20% 41 49%
5 Linda Rice 88 16 18 15 $845,870 18% 49 56%
6 Bruce R. Brown 76 14 6 8 $517,128 18% 28 37%
6 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 64 14 6 10 $901,961 22% 30 47%
8 Bruce N. Levine 82 12 16 9 $667,205 15% 37 45%

Leading Trainers at Aqueduct 2013 (Spring Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 David Jacobson 63 12 15 12 $512,528 19% 39 62%
2 Linda Rice 37 10 5 5 $351,134 27% 20 54%
3 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 22 8 1 5 $348,470 36% 14 64%
3 Chad C. Brown 23 8 5 5 $558,360 35% 18 78%
5 Randi Persaud 52 7 5 7 $216,863 13% 19 37%
6 Gary C. Contessa 31 6 1 5 $180,401 19% 12 39%
6 Todd A. Pletcher 17 6 3 3 $921,910 35% 12 71%
6 Jason Servis 23 6 4 4 $251,428 26% 14 61%
9 Nicholas P. Zito 17 5 2 2 $266,022 29% 9 53%

Leading Trainers at Aqueduct Inner Track 2012-2013 (Winter/Spring Meet)

Rank Trainer Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win % Top 3 Top 3%
1 Rudy R. Rodriguez 143 41 29 24 $2,000,842 29% 94 66%
2 David Jacobson 145 34 30 23 $1,364,449 23% 87 60%
3 Bruce N. Levine 97 27 16 19 $1,020,573 28% 62 64%
4 Linda Rice 107 26 18 21 $1,009,626 24% 65 61%
5 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 73 19 17 12 $1,043,860 26% 48 66%
6 Gary C. Contessa 132 17 13 14 $612,217 13% 44 33%
7 Richard A. Violette, Jr. 59 15 12 10 $674,894 25% 37 63%
8 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 41 14 5 7 $559,717 34% 26 63%