Arnold Zetcher LLC

Birthdate: August 30, 1940

Birthplace: St. Louis, Mo.

Residence: Century City, Calif.

Family: wife, Ellen

While the world wanted a match between superstars Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra in 2010, it was Arnold Zetcher’s Zardana who defeated Rachel Alexandra in her prep race in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes that led her connections to pass on a race against Zenyatta. John Shirreffs trained both Zenyatta and Zardana.

Formerly president, chairman, and CEO of Talbot’s chain of women’s clothing stores, Zetcher became a racing fan when he went to Cahokia Downs during the years he attended Washington University in St. Louis. He later saw the great Buckpasser and Secretariat at Arlington Park in Chicago. He recalls buying a winning ticket on Secretariat and keeping it as a souvenir.

With most of his horses in trainer Bob Baffert’s barn, Zetcher has won such races as the 2011 Santa Anita Derby with Midnight Interlude, 2009 Pacific Classic Stakes with Richard’s Kid, 2009 Acorn Stakes with Gabby’s Golden Gal, and 2011 CashCall Futurity with Liaison. Midnight Interlude and Liaison competed in the Kentucky Derby. Zetcher bred Gabby’s Golden Gal and stakes winner Always a Princess from Gabriellina Geof, his first stakes winner.

In 2015 Zetcher's Firing Line won the Sunland Derby and finished second in the Kentucky Derby. Firing Line is back in training for a 2016 season under trainer Simon Callaghan.