RT

Leroy Randolph

Born in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Leroy Randolph was first introduced to Thoroughbreds at age six when his Uncle took him to the local track, Ruidoso Downs, where both Quarter horse and Thoroughbred races were run. Leroy remembers with a smile that even at such a young age he knew there and then that horses were going to be his life.

Bitten by the bug, Leroy began visiting the track looking for and doing any job that came his way, anything to be around that exciting environment. He became friends with Cody Lambert, who went on to become a champion bull-rider, and his brother Chuck Lambert, who trained at the track. Chuck kept Leroy busy and satisfied for a time.

When Leroy was thirteen the mayor of Ruidoso was looking for someone to break his string of racing Quarter horses and you guessed it Leroy applied for and got the job. It was during that period of his life that he also began galloping for various other trainers. He didn't know it at the time, but one of the trainers, JJ Pletcher was to have a profound influence on his life.

Leroy's riding career ended when he accepted the position of assistant trainer offered to him by Brooks Claridge who ran the circuit from New Mexico to Arizona to California and back again.

Looking for a change, Leroy came to Florida in 1982 where he worked at Mockingbird Farms for Harry T. Mangurian in the stallion complex. Leroy immersed himself in the breeding industry, learning all he could, unfortunately, family business required that he return to New Mexico in '83. Four years later, brother Jimmy called and said a job was waiting for Leroy working for, you guessed it, JJ Pletcher, manager at Cloyce Box's new "CB Farms" in Ocala, Florida. This time the move took and Leroy has never left either Florida, or the world of Thoroughbreds. In 1990 he became the stallion manager at The Oaks Thoroughbred Corporation, which later sold to Brig Hart who renamed it High Mark Farms and hired JJ Pletcher as his manager. Leroy stayed with the farm and with JJ until it sold once again in 1999.

Leroy had built up such a reputation as a fine horseman with a list of friends as long as his arm that he, with the support and encouragement of his partner Heidi Crane, made the decision to go out on their own. In 2001, they purchased what is currently Randolph Thoroughbreds Inc.