David Cotey’s Career

Early Life and Introduction to Horse Racing

David Cotey, born on February 18, 1948, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a well-known Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Cotey's path to horse racing began unexpectedly through his early days as a hockey player in Aurora. Alongside his teammates, Cotey would often visit Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto to watch the races. His interest in horse racing grew under the influence of his hockey coach, Larry Regan, who owned racehorses, and Regan's trainer, who played a key role in encouraging Cotey to purchase his first horse, setting him on a trajectory that would shape his future.

Dominion Bloodstock Partnership and Early Career Success

In the early 1990s, Cotey officially ventured into the world of horse racing, forming the Dominion Bloodstock partnership alongside Hugh Galbraith and Derek Ball. This partnership was created with the goal of purchasing and racing Thoroughbred horses. Cotey’s career as a full-time trainer began in 2001. His early success came that same year when he achieved his first win on May 25 and later secured a victory in the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. The following year, Cotey continued his winning streak, claiming the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton with his horse, Stage Classic.

The Rise of Mine That Bird and Kentucky Derby Triumph

However, Cotey's most notable achievement came in 2008 when he trained Mine That Bird, a horse he had purchased for a modest $9,500. Mine That Bird became Cotey's second Sovereign Award winner, following Lady Shari, who had been named the Top Three-Year-Old Filly in 2002. Under Cotey's care, Mine That Bird raced at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack, where he excelled, winning four out of six starts. With jockey Chantal Sutherland, Mine That Bird triumphed in both the Silver Deputy Stakes and the Swynford Stakes. On October 11, 2008, the horse also won the prestigious Grey Stakes. Shortly after this victory, Cotey and his partners sold Mine That Bird for $400,000 to the New Mexico-based Double Eagle Ranch and Bueno Suerte Equine partnership. The horse was later voted the 2008 Canadian Champion 2-year-old Male Horse.

Despite the sale, Cotey had so much confidence in Mine That Bird’s potential that he nominated him for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby. His belief was validated when, on May 2, 2009, Mine That Bird shocked the racing world by winning the Kentucky Derby at 50-to-1 odds. Although Cotey was no longer the trainer, Chip Woolley, who trained the horse after the sale, credited Cotey for preparing Mine That Bird for success, stating that Cotey was the one who truly qualified the horse for such a prestigious race.

Mine That Bird's success didn't end at the Kentucky Derby. He went on to place second in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes, ultimately earning over $2.2 million throughout his racing career. His final race took place on November 6, 2010.

Throughout his career, Cotey remained based out of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, where he earned respect and recognition as a skilled trainer. Living in Mississauga, Ontario, Cotey is best remembered for his early discovery and training of Mine That Bird, a horse that would go down in racing history.