Hall of Fame Trainer Mark Casse Secures 4,000th Career Victory
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse reached a significant career milestone Thursday when It’s Witchcraft captured his 4,000th career win in dramatic fashion at Colonial Downs.
The achievement came via a thrilling nose victory in a four-horse photo finish during the 11th race at Colonial Downs, approximately 530 miles from Saratoga Race Course where Casse was stationed.
Casse, 64, watched the historic moment unfold on a television in the Saratoga clubhouse alongside his wife, Tina, before rushing to saddle 2-year-old filly Charlottesuniverse for Saratoga’s sixth race.
The New York Racing Association presented Casse with a commemorative 4,000-win sign in the Saratoga winner’s circle despite his Saratoga entry finishing fourth.
“That is my life,” Casse said through an ear-to-ear smile. “We thought we had [Colonial race] won, then you have to get one place to another.”
With this achievement, Casse becomes just the 14th trainer in North American racing history to reach the 4,000-win plateau.
The milestone represents a remarkable journey for the Indiana native who obtained his training license in Massachusetts at just 17 years old while working alongside his late father, Norman. Casse secured his first victory at Keeneland in 1979 at age 18.
Over his distinguished career, Casse has saddled 24,412 starters.
“I have a bunch of wonderful people and owners,” Casse said. “I never work, I get to play every day. I am a very fortunate person. And, boy, 4,000! You know what that means? There were a lot of losers!”
Casse’s son Norman, a longtime assistant, has recently embarked on his own training career.
The winning horse, It’s Witchcraft, a 3-year-old daughter of Tapit, represented the 2,600th career victory for longtime Casse client D J Stable.
“They have been big supporters of ours,” Casse noted. “Everybody wanted to be [part of] 4,000. [Jockey] Jose [Ortiz, who rode Charlottesuniverse] said a bad word. He said he wanted to be my 4,000th. For all the people that have given me their support and cheered for me, I appreciate it.”
Casse’s illustrious career includes induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2020, following his 2016 enshrinement in Canada’s Racing Hall of Fame. He has earned the Sovereign Award as outstanding Canadian trainer 16 times.
His Triple Crown successes came in 2019 when he captured the GI Preakness Stakes with War Of Will and the GI Belmont Stakes with Sir Winston. Casse has also collected six Breeders’ Cup victories.
“When I am dead and gone, I want to be known as a good horse trainer, but a great person,” Casse said. “That is what I work on every day.”
When asked about pursuing 5,000 wins, Casse quipped, “I told my wife I would retire at 5,000. She didn’t believe me, so let’s go for 6,000.”
The journey toward that next milestone has already begun. Casse won Thursday’s finale at Saratoga when Film Academy broke his maiden.
It’s Witchcraft’s victory came in an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf. The $1.1 million yearling purchase prevailed by the narrowest of margins over Ambaya after a thrilling stretch duel. The filly has now compiled a lifetime record of 9-2-2-1 with earnings of $124,833.
Trainer @markecasse gets his 4,000th career win! 🤩🎉
It's Witchcraft gets the headbob in R11 at @colonialdowns! @jockeygallardo was aboard.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/OgauB1l3Sq
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires)
Trainer July 17, 2025
