David Bell Racing Stable

Experience+Enthusiasm=Excellence!

• David is a public trainer based at Woodbine Racetrack.

• He has been training for over 23 years and has been working with horses for over 35 years.

• David's excellent horsemanship and easy-going nature make him one of the most well-liked and well-respected trainers today.

Click HERE to see Davids' top 5 video!

Biography

David was born in Reading England. He has been an avid horse lover for all his life. As a teenager he rode showjumpers and taught riding. While still in England David began working with Roger Attfield (a future Hall of Fame Trainer).

When he was 18 David relocated to Canada and continued to work with Roger. David was Rogers' Assistant Trainer for nearly 18 years. During this time, David was an integral part of the success of the Attfield stable, working with champions such as: Playlist, Norcliffe, Play the King, Selous Scout, Alywow, and many others. 

For a 2 week period in 1986 David had the pleasure of training Rogers' stable and recorded his first official stakes win with Carotene when she won a division of the Toronto Cup.

Carotene winning a division of the Toronto Cup in 1986.

In 1987 David officially began training on his own. Dice Cup, owned by the late John Franks, gave David his first win and later that season his first stakes victory in the Whimsical. 

By 1990, David was well on his way to becoming one of the leading trainers at Woodbine winning 35 races, and winning stakes with Premier Question, Victorious Trick and Star Standing.

One of the most notable horses that David has trained was John Franks, Kissin Kris. In 1993 Kissin Kris won the Gr. 1 Haskel, finished 2nd in the Belmont and the Travers, and ran 3rd in the Breeder's Cup Classic.

Kissin Kris winning the Gr. 1 Haskel in 1993.

David also trained the Franks owned Native Regent who won the 1994 Summer Stakes and the Gr. 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Native Regent winning the Summer Stake in 1994.

In 1997 David trained Dick and Joellen Shaws' superfilly Woolloomooloo, who scored a Sovereign Award double by winning top older mare or filly AND top turf filly honours.

In 2000 David scored a Sovereign award double of a different sort. He trained Kiss a Native, for the late John Franks, who was awarded top 3-year-old honours. That same year he trained the talented Heliotrope, owned by the Shaws', who was voted the country's top turf female.

Incredibly in 2000, David also scored stakes wins with The Fed (Dominion Day), Love a Ruckus (Passing Mood, La Prevoyante), Solitary Dancer (Play the King 2nd division), and Devil Valentine (Kingvarie).

Topping of a truly remarkable year, David also trained Fly For Avie for Ivan Dalos, who won the Gr. 1 E.P. Tayor in dramatic fashion.

In 2001 David had another great season, with some of his juvenile horses taking the spotlight. Lush Soldier won the Natalma and Changeintheweather won the Grey Breeder's Cup.

In 2003 David had stable earnings of over $2 million dollars for the fourth year in a row, winning 38 races and winning the Grey Breeder's Cup for the second time with Smoocher.

Smoocher winning the Grey Breeder's  Cup Stake in 2003.  

2004 brought more stakes victories with I Thee Wed winning the Neartic, Black Rock Road winning the Carotene, and Victorious Ami winning the Princess Elizabeth.

In 2005, David won 33 races; among them the Corontion Futurity with the late Morgan Firestones' Thinking Out Loud, and Schooner Bay winning the Classy'N Smart.

That year also brought David one of his biggest personal thrills when his own horse, Cricket Wicket won the Zadracarta Stake. In 2005 David made the top 10 list of trainers at Woodbine for the 6th straight year.

Cricket Wicket winning the Zadracarta in 2005.

In 2008 David had another respectable year, and he trained the talented Shadowless for Heather Takahashi. Shadowless had a fabulous season running in the Queen's Plate and scoring a victory in the Gr. 2 Kennedy Road.

Shadowless winning the Gr. 2 Kennedy Road in 2008.

In 2009 David had another good season with 13 wins and winning the Algoma Stakes with Roses N' Wine for Firestone Farms. He also won the Highlander Prep with Shadowless.

He had near misses in stakes competion with Shadowless running 2nd in the Jacques Cartier, Roses N' Wine running 2nd in the Hill'n'Dale and 3rd in the Maple Leaf Stake, Peploe running 3rd in the Nandi, and Witch's Coven running 3rd in the Gr. 3 Mazarine.

Three of David's horses set records for fastest times in 2009. Roses N' Wine clocked the fastest time for 1 mile 1/16th, Patience of Job clocked the fastest time for 1 mile 3/16ths and Shadowless ran the fastest 6 fulongs on the turf of the year.

Roses N' Wine winning the Algoma Stake in 2009.

Outside of horses, David has many interests. He is an animal lover in general and owns 3 rambunctious dogs.

When time permits David is an avid fisherman and boater. He enjoys fishing in both salt and freshwater. He also enjoys scuba diving and spear fishing.

David in the winner's circle at Woodbine.