David Prine
photo by Adam Coglianese

It was a long and arduous road that led trainer David Prine to the Belmont Park winner’s circle on Saturday, May 24. While working in 1999 as a chef in Louisville, KY., Prine was nearly killed during a kitchen gas explosion. He was left paralyzed on one side and unable to speak. After enduring years of physical therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and several surgeries, he slowly learned how to walk again, and how to talk again.

As a teenager, Prine had worked as a hot walker at his local racetrack, and three years after the accident he decided to try and become a trainer. After incredible perseverance, he received his official trainer’s license this past March. The first horse he sent to the races was Halation, a 4-year-old New York-bred gelding, on May 24. Despite being sent off as a prohibitive long shot at 72/1, Halation beat the odds, just like his trainer, and emerged victorious. It was literally the stuff that dreams are made from.

David Prine makes his residence in Glendale, NY.

Q : How did you first become involved with horses?

As a kid, I was always involved with animals in some way or another. Whenever I came across an injured animal in the wild, be it a squirrel, raccoon, or whatever, I would bring it home to help it recover. Horses have always amazed me. Even while I was studying to become a chef, I had it in the back of my mind that I might want to get involved with them eventually. That’s why I took a job at a restaurant in Kentucky. I figured it was a great place to make a living and also have more interaction and involvement with thoroughbreds. After I got hurt, I told myself that if I ever recovered, I was going to get involved with horses. The accident was a heck of a way to wake up to that realization, but that’s what happened.

Q : Why do you love being around the horses so much?

I love being around horses because of their bravery, their character, and their honesty in living. They are a profile in courage. It sounds weird, but when I am around them, it makes me a better being. The elements that we are missing as people, horses have always had, and have never lost. In general I believe that animals were put on this planet to remind us of how we should be. I don’t know any human being that doesn’t feel better when they are around their pets, and that’s how I feel about my horses.

Q : What do you remember about the accident in 1999?

I remember walls of flame and I thought I was standing on the Sun, or on Mars. It was almost as if I was dreaming the entire thing. It was a complete nightmare. But then I felt the heat and realized it’s not a dream, I’m on fire. I was literally inside a ball of flames. There was nothing but red, orange, yellow, and then my system just fading out. I really couldn’t tell you if I was fading out or if I was melting. It was horrifying.

Q : What was your recovery like?

There were days when I had horrible flashbacks. They’d turn the light on in my room and it was the explosion all over again. I wasn’t able to deal with light for a long time. My senses took a long time to recover. When I watched a movie and there was an explosion, it would throw me into a flashback. The first time I was allowed out of the rehab center, my family and I went to go see Star Wars. I was so excited to be out and around people for the first time in eight months, you can’t even imagine. At the beginning of the movie there was a huge explosion and I started sweating and went into a seizure. It was awful. Thankfully it doesn’t happen so much anymore.

Q : How is your health now?

My health is good. I stay on top of things and really take care of myself. I’m at the racetrack a lot, which helps me to heal because of what I can draw from those around me. I am inspired by so many of the good people around the track and also by the horses. The horses are healthy and beautiful and make me so happy. After Halation won on May 24, he came back happy and healthy like a champion. That was so rewarding for me. It was such a beautiful day for both of us. That’s the moment that all horsemen live for, a happy and healthy horse, because in reality, it is the horses that take us to the winner’s circle.

Q : How did you decide to try and become a trainer?

Before the accident I spent a lot of time reading various books on different topics that interested me. I was a voracious reader. But after the accident, my reading ability was almost completely obliterated. It was devastating. I thought to myself, “why is this not working?” Doctors who saw me couldn’t figure it out. They told me to be thankful I was alive even if things like reading might not come back. But that was very difficult for me to cope with. So I worked at it and worked at it, and little by little my reading skills returned. At that point I started reading books and books and books about animals, and horses especially. My rehab specialists nicknamed me Seabiscuit, because of my miraculous recovery, but also because of how often I read that book. Emotionally, I really identified with Seabiscuit’s story of redemption. I also read many stories about training horses, and watched racing on TV in my room. One day I saw an advertisement for a groom school, and decided that I was going to enter that program after I left the rehab center. I was a little afraid of taking a trainer’s test because I couldn’t retain much knowledge after the accident, but fortunately I was able to pass the test. Dr. James Hunt at the groom school was a great influence on me, mainly because he was very hard on me and expected a lot from me. He didn’t treat me like someone recovering from a serious accident, and I appreciated that. The day I won with Halation, Dr. Hunt’s assistant, Christian, saw me and almost had tears in his eyes. He was so proud. The next day I saw Dr. Hunt. We were both so elated, and it was one of those amazing moments in life.

Q : Did you think Halation could win despite being a huge long shot?

Absolutely. Halation is an incredible horse. He is very unaware of his strength, and has never once been vicious or nasty or harmful with anyone. He has great personality and character, and I love him dearly. It’s funny, sometimes I’ll wind up having conversations with him and his half-sister Mercy’s Delight. That’s just how I am. Halation is a very talented horse with a lot of natural ability. After a few poor dirt efforts, the doctors came by to check him out, but he was fine. I could always see his talent, and felt that turf racing was where he wanted to be. The morning of the race on May 24, I was very worked up and excited. It was an unbelievable day to begin with, and marked my official first race as a trainer. When we got Halation going in the morning, he was very excited and eager. I gave jockey Jean-Luc Samyn a leg up early in the paddock because the horse was absolutely raring to go. We knew deep down that Halation was going to run well. I was surprised that he didn’t get bet at all, because he looked really good in the paddock. In the race, he was surrounded by horses, came up around them and shot through a hole to win going away. My mother was at the track with tears screaming down her face. Her faith helped me get through my ordeal, and she stood by me during the entire journey. Most people counted me out and disappeared from my life while I was recovering from the accident, which was very upsetting. But my mother was always there for me. So between Halation’s victory and the look on my mother’s face, you’d be a fool to ask for a better moment in life.

Q : As a chef, do you feed your horses any special recipes?

I do have some special recipes that my horses really enjoy. They get the best available nutrients, electrolytes, and vitamins. Let’s just say that my feed bills aren’t cheap! They eat mainly the same stuff over the course of the week, but I routinely make slight menu adjustments. I can tell you this, my horses are excited about getting fed and are always looking forward to it. The feed tubs are spotless when they’re done with them. My horses are living the life as far as their menus are concerned. I actually enjoy cooking for the horses more than I did for people in the restaurant.

Q : What is the best advice you could give to a young person who wants to become a trainer?

You have to truly love, respect, and understand the character and the being of the horses that you will be dealing with. The commitment you have to show for your horses is the same that you would for your child. Their lives are entrusted into your hands, and you have to be 24/7 committed to them. In general, you need to love anything you do, and that is especially true with training horses.