He had to wait until he was 18 to get his racehorse trainer license, but Tyler Stein had been teaching and learning from horses long before, running primarily quarter horses at bush tracks in South Dakota since he was 14. The official licensing process in 2019 was a formality as soon as he was of age. His first start recognized by Equibase, scorekeeper of such things, was July 7 of that year. His first win came at Prairie Meadows in Iowa on Aug. 30.
Now at the age of 20, Tyler oversees 18 horses at Canterbury Park where he is currently second leading trainer with six wins. The answer he gave at 18 years of age is the same he provides today when asked about his favorite aspect of training – seeing the progression of a 2-year-old race horse, “see what they become” from the time they arrive in his care to where they are today.
On July 15 he won with 2-year-old Possibilitease who paid $53.80, making her third start. The filly is owned by Tom Maher, a multiple graded stakes winning owner and breeder who has had 2,500 starters on his own and another 400 or 500 in partnerships in which he has been involved. Tyler considers himself “really blessed” to receive horses from Maher.
“His father Craig Stein shoed for me and I’d see Tyler holding the horses,” Maher, who has a history of supporting young and talented trainers, said. Before long, Maher would notice the teenager was rasping the hooves, and eventually clipping. “I was really impressed. This was a young man who took the next step.
“I think he’s going to stick,” said Maher who is pleased that Tyler is in Shakopee. “Canterbury has a family-friendly atmosphere. He’s in a good environment there. A young man is going to be given a fair shake there at Canterbury.”
Tyler Stein is doing everything he can to prove Tom Maher right. He understands that to succeed at the sport he loves, he needs to “put in the work” and that he is willing to do. He can run stalls, break babies, do the leg work, gallop horses, read a condition book – you name it. That has not gone unnoticed. Tyler was named Trainer of the Week by representatives of the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association.
