Richard E. Mandella

Biography

The son of a blacksmith, California-based Richard Mandella began his apprenticeship in racing as an assistant to his blacksmith father. He then worked for Three Rings Ranch for three years and at trainer Farrell Jones’ ranch for a year before serving as an assistant to V. J. Nickerson in New York. In 1974, Mandella served as a private trainer for Roger Braugh before opening a public stable in 1976.

Since going out on his own, Mandella has won nine Breeders’ Cup races, including four on the same day at Santa Anita in 2003, when Action This day won the Juvenile, Halfbridled won the Juvenile Fillies, Johar deadheated in the Turf, and Pleasantly Perfect prevailed in the Classic.

A winner of five training titles on the Southern California circuit, Mandella has trained five champions: Hall of Fame member Beholder, winner of four Eclipse Awards and three breeders' Cup races; Kotashaan, Horse of the Year and Champion Male Turf Horse in 1993; and 2-year-old champions Action This Day, Halfbridled, and Phone Chatter. In 1996, Mandella saddled Dare and Go to win the Pacific Classic, snapping Hall of Famer Cigar’s 16-race win streak.

Through 2023, Mandella has won 2,292 races and ranked 15th all time in purse earnings with $155,580,036.

Achievements

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the 1993 Turf — Kotashaan
Won the 1993 Juvemile Fillies — Phone Chatter
Won the 2003 Juvenile Fillies — Halfbridled
Won the 2003 Juvenile — Action This Day
Won the 2003 Turf — Johar
Won the 2003 Classic — Pleasantly Perfect
Won the 2012 Juvemile Fillies — Beholder
Won the 2013 Distaff — Beholder
Won the 2016 Distaff — Beholder 

Other Highlights

Won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes — 1993, 1994, 2002, 2006
Won the Pacific Classic — 1996, 1997, 2004, 2015
Won the Santa Anita Handicap — 1997, 1998, 2005

Trainer Profile | Richard E. Mandella | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information