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NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. -- Trainer Eddie Clouston, who currently leads the standings at the Mountaineer meet in a close race thus far, does not have a horse entered on the West Virginia Derby program, but he is approaching a milestone in his career: 2,000 wins. As of July 31, Clouston had 1,998 victories, with his next runner scheduled to race Aug. 5 at Mountaineer, according to Equibase, the thoroughbred industry database.
Horses trained by Clouston, who also has 1,840 seconds and 1,822 thirds from more than 12,000 starts, have earned more than $14 million.
Since 2016, the year Mountaineer began reporting its trainer and jockey standings as one continuous meet, Clouston has won four training titles, from 2016 to 2019. In 2020 and 2021, he was second to Jay Bernardini. In 2022 he finished fourth in the standings behind Juan Pablo Silva, and last year was second to Silva.
Clouston was a mainstay at Finger Lakes Racetrack in upstate New York, where he is from, and eventually relocated to the Mountaineer area. He began his career as a trainer in 1985.
"My father was involved with the horses, and when I was in high school, I left and went straight to the track," Clouston said. "I left Finger Lakes in 2005, and I won my first race at Mountaineer, but as an owner. I shipped the horse down from Finger Lakes in the care of another trainer."
Clouston trains primarily for Michelle Helms, his fiance with whom he has an 18-year-old son. His other clients include John Regan Jr. of Emerald Springs Farm, Larry Petri, and Robert Bone.
Helms currently tops the owner standings at the Mountaineer meet and has won leading owner titles in the past at the track.
"It's a milestone--a goal," Clouston said of achieving 2,000 wins as a trainer. "Once you get close to it, though, it seems to slow down. Last week, I had like 12 second-place finishes. But after it happens, I'll look forward to number 2,500."
General admission at Mountaineer for Aug. 4 is $10, or $15 which includes a West Virginia Derby glass. Tickets are required for attendance and are available online or at the gate the day of the event. Food trucks will be available beginning at 1 p.m., and there will be live entertainment, bounce houses and a caricature artist from 1-4 p.m.