Wayne Catalano to Enter Built in Breeders' Cup Sprint
Trainer Wayne Catalano will field his horse, Built, at the Breeders' Cup Sprint taking place on October 31, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Equestrian
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Trainer Wayne Catalano is set to compete in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland on October 31, 2026, with his horse, Built. This marks a significant return to high-level competition for the horse after a series of setbacks in 2025.
Why it matters
The entry marks another milestone in the veteran career of Catalano, who is the only individual to record at least 1,500 wins as both a jockey and a trainer. His participation highlights the endurance and versatility of his racing operation based out of Churchill Downs.
Wayne Catalano has secured over 3,500 career wins as a trainer and 1,792 victories as a jockey. His horse, Built, struggled in 2025, finishing ninth in the Pat Day Mile after being scratched from the Kentucky Derby.
The players
Wayne Catalano
A 70-year-old trainer based at Churchill Downs who remains the only horseman to win at least 1,500 races as both a jockey and a trainer.
Built
A racehorse managed by Wayne Catalano that is scheduled to compete in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
The details
Catalano, who operates his small racing stable out of barn 14 at Churchill Downs, manages a veteran team that assists various industry professionals with their horses. The 70-year-old horseman maintains a legacy built on a career that started as a New Orleans-based jockey in the 1970s.
Timeline
Wayne Catalano competed as a jockey between 1974 and 1983.
The horse Built was scratched from the 2025 Kentucky Derby and ran the Pat Day Mile in 2025.
Built will compete in the Breeders' Cup Sprint on October 31, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This race represents a pivotal moment for Built following a challenging 2025 season where the horse was scratched from the Kentucky Derby. A strong finish would significantly alter the trajectory of the horse's racing career heading into the next calendar year.
Fans tracking the Breeders' Cup Sprint should monitor Built's performance as a test of the horse's recovery from his 2025 season struggles. The result will determine if the horse remains a viable contender for major stakes races in the upcoming circuit.
The takeaway
Catalano demonstrates the longevity possible in horse racing through his unique dual-career success as a jockey and trainer. His ongoing work at Churchill Downs shows how seasoned horsemen adapt their operations to support younger competitors in the industry.
Further reading
For more background on regional horse racing, visit the Equestrian section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Courier-Journal.
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