[5] In 2024 Brown narrowly missed a victory in the Kentucky Derby with Sierra Leone, [6] who later claimed a resounding win in the Breeders' Cup Classic solidifying his status as one of the year's most exceptional horses.
His passion for horses began at an early age, sparked by family visits to the nearby Saratoga race track.
[10] During high school, Brown gained hands-on experience with Standardbreds at Saratoga Raceway, where he learned the intricacies of breaking and training horses.
[11] While pursuing a degree in animal science at Cornell University, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian,[12] Brown took a summer job with Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
After graduating, Brown realized that his true passion lay in training horses rather than veterinary medicine, leading him to pursue a career as a Thoroughbred trainer.
[11] During this period, Brown gained invaluable experience working with some of the top racehorses in the world, including Medaglia d'Oro,[16]Empire Maker,[16]Aldebaran, Ghostzapper,[16] Intercontinental,[15] and Ginger Punch.
[16] Brown credits Frankel's training methods, particularly his focus on each horse's unique strengths, as the foundation of his future success.
[17] Brown even dedicated Cloud Computing's Preakness Stakes win to Frankel, stating that, "I feel this is for him... without his mentorship I certainly wouldn't be here.
"[18] In 2007, Brown gained national attention at the Breeders' Cup, when he stepped in for Bobby Frankel, who had returned to California to care for his ailing Australian Shepard named Happy.
[25] 2009: Brown won his first New York Racing Association, (NYRA), training title at the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet securing it with nine wins.
[28] Brown also claimed his fourth graded stakes win of the year with the European horse Tottie (GB) in the Suwannee (G3).
Stacelita (FR) went on to win the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf under his guidance.
[12] 2012: Zagora (FR), won several major stakes, including the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
[21] Highlights included Big Blue Kitten's victories in the United Nations Handicap, the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Race Course and 90 minutes later Brown took down the Arlington Million with Real Solution for Ken and Sarah Ramsey,[23] and also won the Belmont Racetrack fall training title with 26 wins.
[42] Cloud Computing, a lightly raced colt making only his forth career start,[8] pulled off an upset victory at odds 13:1.
[7] Additionally, Lady Eli who recovered from a severe case of laminitis under Brown's care,[44] won the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female.
[49] His achievements included three more Breeders' Cup victories, bringing his career total to fifteen, placing him third all-time among trainers.
Significant wins in 2019 included Bricks and Mortar's victories in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), the Manhattan Stakes (G!
Rushing Fall's success throughout the year contributed to her being named the Eclipse Award winner for Champion Turf Female.
[21] 2022: Brown won the 147th Preakness Stakes with Early Voting, marking his second victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
Brown showed a lot a of diversity in his wins from dirt spinners to route grass horses, both male and female which helped him earn his eighth consecutive year-end NYRA training title[53] and was ranked number one in the North America Training rankings, leading the United States in earnings with a total of $31,057,362,[21] 244 wins, and 51 Graded Stakes victories—18 more than the second-place trainer—achieving this with 98 fewer starts than his closest competitor.
[21] 2024: Brown won his fifth Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in the United States as well as winning the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse with Sierra Leone.