Brittany Russell, a talented trainer in the world of horse racing, achieved a remarkable feat on Sunday at Laurel Park.
At just 34 years old and in only her fourth full season, she became the first woman to top the annual trainer standings in Maryland.
Russell secured her title as the year-end champion, a position held by Claudio Gonzalez since 2017. Her victory came in race 3, where Point Dume ($3.20) triumphed with an impressive 11-length lead in a six-furlong maiden claimer for 2-year-olds.
The winning horse is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Diane Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
With a total of 118 wins at Laurel and Pimlico, Russell finished five victories ahead of the runner-up, Jamie Ness. This win also marked her 37th victory of the calendar year, ending the fall season on a high note.
Russell’s accomplishments broke a tie with Ness, earning her fifth career individual meet training title.
In addition to her impressive track record, Russell is married to jockey Sheldon Russell, and they have two children together.
Her outstanding performance in 2023 included a record-breaking season with 687 starts, 177 wins, 141 second-place finishes, and 96 third-place finishes.
She also earned a total of $7,996,867 in purse earnings. Nationally, she ranked 11th in wins and 16th in money won in 2023.
This is not the first time Russell has made history. Last spring, she became the fourth woman ever to win a Maryland meet training title at Laurel, achieving this milestone on Mother’s Day.
She then went on to become the first woman to win the title more than once, leading the standings at both Pimlico’s Preakness and Laurel’s fall meets.
Russell’s love for horses began at a young age while working at local farms in Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania.
Starting as an amateur rider, she later transitioned to training and gained experience working for renowned trainers such as Brad Cox, Jimmy Jerkens, Ron Moquett, and the late Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard.
Russell’s career took off when she ventured out on her own, winning her first race with Oh My on February 25, 2018, at Laurel.
