Mark Casse
Born February 14th, 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Mark Casse was born into racing. He is the son of Norman Casse, former chairman of the board of OBS. Seeing Secretariat win the Kentucky Derby is what got Mark hooked on the Sport of Kings.
Mark started his career on the racetrack mucking stalls in Indiana. He then went on run his father's Cardinal Hill Farm in Ocala. At the young age, of eighteen he became a trainer, winning his first race at Keeneland Racecourse in 1979. Casse is now based in Ontario, Canada at Woodbine Racecourse, and also has strings at Fair Grounds and Santa Anita. He and his wife also operate a training center in Ocala, Moonshadow Farm . He is also the former private trainer and director of operations for the massive Mockingbird Farm operation, which owner Harry Mangurian dispersed in 1999.
In the past couple of years, Casse has added clients that include Will Farish, Stonerside Farm, WinStar Farm, The Vinery, a partnership called Woodford Racing LLC put together by Bill Farish, as well as Eugene Melnyk. Casse has trained four Sovereign Award winners - Exciting Story (1999 2-year-old colt), Added Edge (2002 2-year-old colt), Kimchi (2006 3-year-old filly), and Sealy Hill (2007 3-year-old filly, turf female and Horse of the Year). He has also won the Sovereign Award for leading training twice, as well as earned training titles at Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, and Woodbine.
Casse resides in Kleinburg, Ontario and Ocala, Florida with his wife Tina and seven children.
Casse on West Point Thoroughbreds:
"West Point has established itself as an industry leader. They are committed to this game, and share the same passion for horses that I do. I think we will be a strong team."
Terry on Mark:
"Mark was born into this game. He is a wonderful person and a wonderful trainer. He has had a great deal of success over the years, and we are anxious to share success with him in the future. He is a top guy."
Graded I Stakes Winners:
- Dark Ending
- Exciting Story
Graded Stakes Winners:
- Added Edge
- Arch Hall
- Clearly Foxy
- Higher World
- Marchfield
- Office Cherrie
- Pool Play
- Precise End
- Raja's Shark
- Royal Oath
- Sealy Hill
- Seaside Retreat
- Skip Code
- Sprung
- Top Notch Lady
- Turf War
