NYRA witnessed a poignant moment of racing continuity when Miguel Clement captured the GI Manhattan Stakes with Deterministic (Liam’s Map) on June 8 — just 13 days after the passing of his father, renowned trainer Christophe Clement.
The 34-year-old trainer nearly completed a remarkable exacta as stablemate Far Bridge (English Channel) finished third in the prestigious turf contest.
“My father would have been very proud,” Clement said. “He loves this race, the Manhattan, and he’s won it three times in the past. The Manhattan is a great race because it brings together some of the best turf stayers and some of the best turf milers. Anything that is a Grade I in New York is a big deal.”
The victory carried special significance as it continued the Clement stable’s tradition of excellence in the Manhattan, a race his father had won three times during his distinguished career.
The transition to head trainer came under difficult circumstances for the younger Clement, who managed the stable while dealing with his father’s illness. Despite attempts to secure co-trainer licensing — a common practice in Europe with partnerships like John and Thady Gosden — U.S. racing authorities did not permit such an arrangement.
“How did I get through it? Plenty of work and a strong support group,” he explained. “As hard as you have to work as a trainer, that’s probably not healthy, but during a difficult time like this I think it is a blessing. The outreach from everybody was overwhelming in a positive manner, but it was also tough because his passing was very much a public affair. Most people are able to take some personal time to grieve after losing a family member. In this profession, there’s no time for that.”
The elder Clement, who passed away at 59, had carefully prepared his son to eventually assume control of the operation that has been a dominant force in American turf racing since 1991. Miguel’s preparation included completing the prestigious Godolphin Flying Start program and apprenticeships with several European trainers before joining his father’s operation.
While working alongside his father, Miguel benefited from Christophe’s collaborative approach to training.
“He was very open-minded,” Miguel noted. “He liked to be challenged. He might not agree with you, but he was always open-minded and ready to adapt. You have to adapt to be able to survive in this industry. It’s very competitive.”
The transition has brought financial responsibilities that highlight the economic challenges facing New York-based operations. Despite his father earning a career-best $12,722,301 in 2024, Miguel revealed the financial realities of the business.
“I’m actually cash flow negative,” Miguel said. “Welcome to working in an industry where there seems to be a negative cash flow at all times. You get 25 pieces of bad news hoping you get one piece that’s good. That’s what my dad and I were dealing with for many years. It was a constant stress.”
He acknowledged that relocating to Kentucky or New Jersey would make financial sense but joked about the personal considerations keeping him in New York, referencing his marriage to racing television personality Acacia Clement.
“I’m happily married and I’d like it to stay that way,” said Miguel. “If I told Acacia that we were going to move to Kentucky or New Jersey one day, I may not be as happily married as I thought.”
Among his regrets is that his father won’t see the current crop of juveniles develop — horses Christophe selected and purchased.
“He would have loved to see these 2-year-olds get to the races,” Miguel said. “He picked them out, he bought them. Some would have disappointed him. He’d say that they were not as strong and powerful as he had hoped, and they were not moving as great as he thought.”
Since taking over the stable, Miguel has maintained a 16% win rate (6-for-38) and secured a second stakes victory when Love Cervere (Into Mischief) won the Alywow Stakes at Woodbine last weekend. The upcoming Saratoga meet, with its emphasis on turf racing, will be particularly significant for the Clement operation.
“What I learned about myself as a human being, a boss and as a horseman, is that a tremendous amount comes from my dad,” Miguel reflected. “I’d much rather be doing this with him, but we were very aware that we might have to go on without him some day.”
