Nicholas Philip Zito (born February 6, 1948, in New York City,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

) is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer. His first top level horse was

Thirty Six Red 30 (thirty) is the natural number following 29 (number), 29 and preceding 31 (number), 31. In mathematics 30 is an Parity (mathematics), even, composite number, composite, pronic number. With 2, 3, and 5 as its prime factors, it is a regular nu ...

with which he won the 1990 Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes and earned a second-place finish in that year's

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...

. Nick Zito went on to win the Preakness once, and the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

and

twice. He got his big break in 1991 when he won his first

Strike the Gold Strike the Gold (March 21, 1988 – December 13, 2011) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1991 Kentucky Derby. Upon the death of 1987 Derby winner Alysheba in March 2009, Strike the Gold became the oldest living Ke ...

. He was inducted into the

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 1955, the museum moved to its current location on Union Av ...

in 2005, a year that his stable won more than $8 million in purses. Zito has also trained the 1996 U.S. Champion2-Year-Old Filly Storm Song as well as Bird Town who was voted the 2003 U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. Nick Zito is a National Spokesperson and Honorary Director of the National Horse Protection Coalition. Zito and his wife, Kim, advocates for the just treatment of horses and are involved with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Other Graded stakes race wins (partial list): * Blue Grass Stakes : 1991, 1998, 2004 *

Brooklyn Handicap The Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (formerly known as the Brooklyn Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to four-year-ol ...

(2001, 2006) * Champagne Stakes : 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007 * Florida Derby : 2005, 2010, 2011 * Jockey Club Gold Cup : 2000 * Kentucky Oaks : 2003 *

Pimlico Special Handicap The Pimlico Special is a Grade 3 American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of miles ( furlongs) held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. The race currently offers a purse of $300,000. ...

: 1992, 1996 * Wood Memorial Stakes : 1990, 1999, 2005

References

External links

Official Website

Interview

Nick Zito at the NTRA

Nicholas Zito at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
* American horse trainers United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees Sportspeople from New York City Sportspeople from Saratoga Springs, New York 1948 births Living people {{US-horseracing-bio-stub