William "Buff" Bradley
Buff Bradley was born and raised in Frankfort, Kentucky, and began working at age ten on his father's farm performing such duties as foaling mares, prepping mares for the breeding shed, sales prepping, breaking and training yearlings, and galloping layups. While being involved with the daily operations of the training center, he also took classes at night and graduated in 1989 from Kentucky State University with a degree in business management. In 1989 he left his father's training center and went to work on the racetrack as an assistant trainer for the late Clarence Picou. During a four year stay with Clarence, he oversaw strings at Remington Park, Oaklawn Park, and Louisiana Downs. His biggest day with Clarence came in the 1991 Super Derby when the horse he helped care for won; Free Spirits Joy defeated champions Best Pal, Olympio, and Lite Light. In 1993 he took out his trainer's license and won his first race with his fifth starter for his only owner at the time, the late John Franks. In 1994 he had as many as ten horses for Mr. Franks, who in that year won the Eclipse Award for Owner of the Year. Bradley Racing Stable has grown to have many owners, including his father, who is his biggest client. His father, Fred Bradley, has a great love for the game and has worked hard to upgrade his stock each year so that he may train for him on the Kentucky circuit. Together with his father, they have bred and raised several stakes horses including G1 winner and multi-millionaire Brass Hat. Buff commented about Brass Hat after his win in the 2004 Ohio Derby, "Breeding and foaling him on the farm, raising, breaking and doing everything with him from day one, it's been so gratifying." Brass Hat earned over $2,000,000 and is now retired at Indian Ridge Farm. His home-bred Champion Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll has just repeated in the Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Sprint and she was subsequently sold.
