Photos provided.
Many people are familiar with the cliché of the early bird gets the worm.
Like countless trainers on the Saratoga Racecourse backstretch, Eric Gulliot is one of those early birds, whether he is one of the first trainers at the barn each morning or setting up his stable when the Oklahoma Training Track opens in April.
However, Guillot took a different approach to his training base over the past year. Instead of migrating like a bird to a warmer area like Florida, Southern California or his native state of Louisiana for the winter, Guillot opted to stay in Saratoga Springs.
For Guillot, it was a cold reality.
“This was the first time I had ever to run a heater,” he said. “In Southern California and Louisiana, I never had to run a heater. Our noses were bleeding because it was so dry.”
Guilliot and his wife Anna, who celebrated the birth of their daughter Olivia in February, learned how to acclimate with the help of his neighbors who recommended a humidifier attached the furnace. Still, he was still unprepared with his notable attire of shorts and t-shirts to shovel snow, start his trucks or make a trip to the store.
“The worst part was digging out. I was digging out snow in my shorts and rubber boots,” Guillot said. “I went to Home Depot in my shorts, hoodie, and UGG boots. I never wore long pants all winter. This is no way to live. Now, I see why birds go to the south. Now, I see why people migrate to the south.”
Guillot, who turned 57 on Jan. 3, has become a familiar and charismatic trainer on the Saratoga backstretch over the past decade, especially pulling off upsets with Moreno and Laoban, both horses owned by Southern Equine Stables.
After beaten a nose at 31-1 in the 2013 Travers, Moreno came back the following year to win the Whitney at 10-1 in front-running fashion. Two years later, Guillot got Laoban to lead from start to finish at 27-1 in the Jim Dandy.
These two horses aren’t the only ones who have given Guillot the nickname “The Dragon Slayer” by his fan base. Champagne d’Oro won the 2010 Acorn at nearly 40-1 before coming to Saratoga and taking the Test Stakes at 5-1.
“I have been coming up here 10 years. I have learned this is the Sarengeti and I am the Lion King,” Guillot said jokingly. “I became famous for having fun. I am the Dragon Slayer because I won some big races at a price.”
Humor and fun have been one of Guillot’s coping mechanisms for the challenges and experiences in both his professional and personal life. As a trainer in his early 20s in Southern California, he competed against powerhouse trainers that included Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Robert Frankel, Charlie Whittingham and Laz Barrera. At the same time, Guillot suffered setbacks.
“I can have fun for the struggles that I’ve been through,” he said. “It wasn’t easy when I got to California. Everyone else was older. I was one of the youngest trainers. I think three of us were under 30 in the mid-1980s. I eventually lost everything. I was down and out. I lost my credit. I lost my contract’s license. I’ve overcome a lot.”
Today, Guillot has just eight horses at Barn 79, and there is a possibility that one of his horses may run in a maiden race during the first week of the meet that started July 11.
“We bought some two-year-olds from the sales,” Guillot said. “We really haven’t bought anything in a couple of years since we won with Laoban. I think we may have one ready to run on opening week.”
Even with a small stable, Guillot sees the benefits of starting to train horses here in April, especially since the racing season is starting a week early.
“There is definitely an advantage of having horses here early,” he said. “The cool offs are better. The air quality is better. With the new earlier week, it doesn’t give a whole lot of time for some people. There are some people who are just moving in now. When I came from California, I was coming in the middle of May. It took us five days to get across the country. ”
Along with getting an early start at Saratoga, Guillot wanted to get involved with the New York breeding and racing program since Laoban is now a sire at Sequel Farm in Taghkanic, about 80 miles south of Saratoga Springs. Both Guillot and Southern Equine are hoping Laoban can produce some young horses within the next couple of years.
“I am going to have anywhere from 7-13 of them in the next couple of years,” Guillot said. “Being in the New York program is going to be very lucrative. The New York program is second to none.”
While Guillot has his preference for the south during the winter, he and his workers still know the importance of Saratoga and appreciate it, especially with the extracurricular activities.
“As soon as the snow melts and things start turning green until the end of October, it is so beautiful,” he said. “When we are done with training, we head over to Saratoga Lake for fishing. I take care of my help. We go fishing, shoot pool, go bowling, then go eat afterward.”
