Born in Texas, Todd began working with horses at Ruidoso Downs. His father, Jake Pletcher, trained Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. After stints at Louisiana Downs, Ak-sar-Ben, Hollywood Park, and Del Mar, Todd enrolled in the University of Arizona’s Racetrack Industry Program. During college, he worked for D. Wayne Lukas and Charlie Whittingham. Upon graduation, he went to New York to work for D. Wayne Lukas and worked his way up to assistant trainer in 1991. After working with top Lukas horses for four years, Todd went out on his own in 1995.

Pletcher has been crowned Eclipse Award-winning trainer seven times and is a dominant force in the industry. He operates the all-time leading stable by money won.