The Dallas Morning News

April 11, 2007

By:  Randy Jennings

Hometown Hero

Bret Calhoun, 42, grew up in Grand Prairie and rode horses as a youngster on land not far from where Lone Star Park was built.

Calhoun, an accomplished trainer, has finished second to Steve Asmussen in each of the last two Lone Star spring meets and never lower than third in the last five meetings.

"This is always a big meet, because it is home for me and most of my clients," Calhoun said. "They've been waiting a long time for this."

Calhoun is stabling 50 horses at Lone Star with another 20 only a few hours away at Louisiana Downs.

Calhoun is coming off a solid meet at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he finished sixth with 25 wins.

"When the meet started, I didn't think we could win five," Calhoun said, "so it was a pleasant surprise."

Calhoun has earned a reputation for success with 2-year-olds in recent local meets. He trained Lone Star's top 2-year-old male last year, Be a Resident, and the top 2-year-old female in 2005, Final Trick.