Trainer Linda Rice captured a record 165th training win on the New York Racing Association circuit for 2025 when Snide posted a 28-1 upset in the fourth race Dec. 12 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Snide, who is also owned by Rice, successfully stepped up in class from a runner-up effort in a maiden claiming tilt at Aqueduct in September. The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tonalist , with regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche at the helm, graduated from the maiden special weight ranks over a mile. Snider returned $58.18 for a $2 win bet.
"It's a remarkable record and I'm proud to be amongst the trainers here in New York," said Rice, who also sent out 5-1 fifth-place finisher Trango Tower. "I was quite surprised, and I guess the public was too at 28-1.
"She took a long time to come to the races," Rice continued. "I did not want to run her back for maiden $20,000, so I was just looking for an option. It was quite a surprise."
Rice, who is also the leading owner on the NYRA circuit this year with 58 wins, credited her entire team, including assistant Marsha Barrs.
"My team has done a tremendous job all year. We get this done because of them. My office staff, the exercise riders, grooms, and hotwalkers—they're all working hard every day," Rice said. "We're always trying to continue to improve our stable and our results. Over the past 5-10 years, I've really concentrated on New York racing, and the stable has certainly improved along the way."
Carmouche, who notched his 4,000th career win earlier this year at the Big A, credited Rice for the tremendous achievement.
"Congratulations to Linda Rice. She has had such a strong year, like she has every year," Carmouche said. "I'm just glad I'm a part of her team. It makes the circle go around. God bless her and her staff, owners, and breeders that support her system. I'm very pleased to be a part of it."
Rice, a 61-year-old resident of Floral Park, N.Y., shared the previous single-season record of 164 with trainer David Jacobson (2013). Rice reached the 165 figure in 2023 but subsequently lost one win due to an equine medication violation that demoted Afleet Arlene (1/21/23) from victory earlier that year.
Rice has enjoyed a solid 2025 season on the NYRA circuit and is closing in on her second year-end title, having already earned leading trainer honors at the Aqueduct winter (52 wins) and Aqueduct spring (15) meets. She is currently the leading trainer at the Aqueduct fall meet with 24 wins.
Rice noted her appreciation for a loyal group of owners that continue to provide her with competitive stock year round.
"It's quite remarkable," Rice said. "I train for Mr. Ralph Evans; Jon Clay of Alpha Delta Stable; Barry Schwartz; Chester Broman; Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm, and Winning Move Stable to name a few. I'm very proud to have horses with all of them."
Rice, who conditioned 2015 champion female sprinter La Verdad, saddled her first winner, Contrabass, in 1987 at Garden State Park and now boasts more than 2,700 wins for purse earnings in excess of $122 million, according to statistics provided by Equibase.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
