Broberg's 'heard it all' but just keeps winning 10 years later

It seems like much longer than 10 years that Karl Broberg has been training racehorses.

He embarked on his career in 2009 when he acquired the Texas-based stable of John Locke, who gave up his veterinary practice to train horses full time. Locke was well-respected at each of the Texas tracks, garnering stakes wins with some very well-bred runners, including stakes winner Scrappy Roo. Locke was the quintessential “hands-on” horseman, caring for each horse and even guiding turf veteran Proven Cure to victories as a 12-year-old.

Broberg, an ad agency guru, came into the world of horse racing with a businesslike approach that has vaulted him up the statistical ranks at a level that few industry followers have ever seen. He completed 2019 as the leading trainer by wins with 547 victories from 2,130 starters. This was the sixth year in a row that Broberg topped his fellow North American Thoroughbred trainers in wins. He has run 13,929 horses, winning 3,488 races and purses of $53.7 million over the past decade.

He looks back on his initial foray into training racehorses back in 2009.

“My goal was to become the king in the claiming ranks and always felt that we could do it,” stated Broberg. “I believed we could dominate, but never thought we would get the sheer number of wins that we have. I have a very competitive spirit and cannot imagine being complacent. If you don’t try new things and grow your business, this game will pass you by.”

He relies on a core of very hard-working assistants, who he refers to as “the best in the business.”

Jose Garcia, known as Chuy, will run the Sam Houston barn for Broberg at the track's upcoming meeting beginning Friday.

“Chuy has been with me for 10 years,” said Broberg. “He worked as a groom for John Locke and loves what he does.”

Broberg prefers to engage a first-call rider at each of the tracks and has tapped David Cabrera, who was a top apprentice in Houston before advancing to new heights, with multiple leading rider titles in other regions.

“I never used David as a bug,” he said. “But I saw that he was incredibly talented. Where many riders rise to the top of their game as an apprentice, David’s career took off and he soared.”

Choosing the right rider is a top priority for Broberg.

“I have 100%  respect for jockeys, and truly believe that one of the ingredients to our success is leaving them alone,” he said. “If you are giving them a ton of instructions, you are using the wrong rider. We prefer to establish a bond and the results speak for themselves.”

Speaking for himself has never been an issue for Broberg, who continues to be very active on social media and has no qualms about sparing with his detractors on Twitter.

“I’ve heard it all: that I’m not a ‘real’ trainer and that I don’t care or respect my horses,” he said.  “It’s one of the biggest misconceptions. There are too many to mention, but I love Social Misfit, who was claimed by Ron Faucheux and cheer for him every time he runs.”

Is this the beginning of a “kinder and gentler” Karl Broberg?

“I’ve matured some,” he acknowledged. “The pressure got to me in the beginning as I hate to fail. My temper got out of control. There will always be people who don’t like me and the way I operate my stable, but I stay too busy to let it get to me.”

Broberg won his first Sam Houston leading trainer title in 2010, when he tied with Danny Pish. He followed that with two more outright titles in 2011 and 2012.  He is looking forward to the 2020 Sam Houston Race Park live racing season and has seven runners entered on opening night.

“Sam Houston has become a focal point for us,” said Broberg, who plans to add a string a Quarter Horses to his stable. “I’m looking forward to winning races.”