In a year defined by consistency and remarkable upward momentum, few names in Alberta racing stood out like trainer Gonzalo Anderson. The 2025 season marked a career high for the young trainer, who topped the Trainer Standings at both the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino and Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Thoroughbred meet. Guiding his barn to more than $900,000 in earnings, Anderson also notched major victories in the Freedom of the City Stakes (Playful), the Alberta Sire Stakes Derby (ThatswhatImherefor), the CTHS Sales Stakes (Itsallgoodman), and the Red Diamond Express Handicap (Itsallgoodman). The Gonzalo Anderson barn remained red hot from spring through fall.
Born and raised in Venezuela, Gonzalo Anderson, 37, credits his father for his passion for horses, “My Dad was a doctor, but his passion was racehorses. I got the passion for horses from him. He trained some horses in Venezuela, where I grew up, and he also followed the big races in North America.”
Originally arriving in Alberta to study English at the University of Calgary, his aunt found the Olds College Exercise Rider and Jockey Program online and thought he might be interested because of his love of horses. The program, a 22-year successful partnership between Horse Racing Alberta and Olds College, has produced many of the top jockeys, exercise riders, trainers and grooms in Alberta and across North America and the world. “The experience was awesome! I had never ridden English style before, I rode lots of Venezuelan western. I really enjoyed the Olds program, the instructors were nice to me, and I made a connection to horse racing. I like to be competitive, winning, and put lots of hours into improving my skills and I am still learning.”
After graduating in 2010, Anderson spent years learning the craft, working under established horseman Tim Rycroft and serving as an assistant trainer before stepping out on his own in 2022. He credits Twylla Bensmiller and Nancy Jumpson for helping him develop his skills as an exercise rider, a key ability that has carried through his career. Since then, he has built a loyal group of owners and a barn filled with talented horses who have helped push his total career earnings to more than $2.1 million. His results have been steady season after season, but 2025 marked a noticeable shift. When he reflects on what came together this year to elevate his stable, he credits staying open to trying new things and being fortunate to train a barn full of quality horses.
When asked about his year and any barn favourites, “All the good effort the horses put in is very rewarding, but Itsallgoodman is special to me. I had him from a two-year-old and he was four years old this year. He had a successful year that made us very proud, especially as an Alberta-bred putting up those kinds of numbers. Also, his owner is a super good guy, has had some health challenges and I feel Itsallgoodman has given him a little joy when things were not 100 per cent.”
ItsAllGoodMan, by Speightster and out of Geisha Peebles, was a $23,000 purchase at the 2022 CTHS Alberta Fall Yearling Sale for owner Curtis Landry. Bred by Stone Ranches, ItsAllGoodMan was a familiar sight in the win circle in 2025 with five wins from 10 starts including the Spangled Jimmy Handicap, Red Diamond Express Handicap and the CTHS Sales Stakes for three- and four-year-olds.
Anderson also has a soft spot for nine-year-old Stone Carver, a hard-knocking older horse who delivered four wins this season for owner Kirk Sutherland. The Birdstone gelding’s success reflects the barn’s thoughtful management and the dedication of Anderson’s team, especially his right-hand Crystal Cates, who serves as both assistant trainer and co-owner, along with the rest of the hardworking staff down the shedrow. Their commitment forms the foundation of his operation and leads directly into what Anderson values most, “I keep a different routine for every single horse. Happy horses run faster, so I try to keep them happy and fit.”
For Anderson, the strength of his barn truly begins with the people behind the horses. He believes the trainer-owner relationship is built on clear, consistent communication and honesty, making sure owners always know how their horses are doing and where they stand. When asked whether any one owner deserves special recognition this season, he immediately shifts the spotlight back to the entire group. He’s grateful for all of them and emphasizes that the success of his 2025 campaign was a shared team effort. He is especially appreciative of longtime supporter Chris Duggan, who has backed him since his first year on his own, as well as the ongoing support of Kirk Sutherland, Curtis Landry, Highfield Stock Farms, Debbie Bailey and Hazel Bennett, each of whom has played a meaningful role in the growth of his stable.
While calling Turf Paradise racetrack home for the winter, Anderson keeps his goals for 2026 grounded and genuine. Although enjoying the Arizona weather, he’s excited to see what the new Alberta season brings and is focused on giving his best every day. Part of that optimism comes from the current young horses in his barn, including the two rising three-year-olds he’s eager to watch develop and mature, along with a promising group of new horses arriving from Beckham Ranch for the upcoming season.
When he thinks about the future, Anderson’s motivation remains steady. His passion for the horses and the work itself keeps him improving, even through the inevitable highs and lows of the horse racing business. It is the same message he would share with anyone starting out in the industry: to have true passion for the horses, understand the hard work involved, and know that while the horse racing industry can have its challenges, it can also offer a deeply rewarding way to make a living.
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