As we enter the final few weeks of the season, one trainer who wishes the Tampa Bay Downs meet would keep on going is Lynn Rarick, who is having a career season in Oldsmar. The veteran trainer has won 11 of 36 races this season including four wins in just the last several weeks, which was enough to secure her the Martin’s Italian Restaurant Trainer of the Month Award.
“It’s been a really great season,” said Rarick. “I’ve gotten some new owners and some younger horses and we’ve had some really good luck with some of the claims we’ve made this season.”
Rarick has trained horses since 2010 on her own, basing at Tampa Bay Downs in the winter time and at Canterbury Park during the summer months. She’s on pace through the first three months of 2026 to crush her career records for wins and earnings in a calendar year as she’s already over halfway to both marks through April 8th.
A native of Minnesota, Rarick came into training on the Quarter Horse side of the business both in racing as well as barrel racing. Rarick moved over to work with Thoroughbreds for trainer Troy Bethke for several years before going out on her own.
Among Rarick’s recent success here at Tampa Bay Downs are a win on Wednesday April 8th with Jokes Up who set a new track record for the five and one-half furlong distance, stopping the clock in an impressive 1:02.73 seconds, lowering the previous record of 1:02.79 seconds by .06. The previous track record was set on March 14, 2012 by Lady of Greatness.
For her recent successes, Lynn Rarick will receive a gift card to Martin’s Italian Restaurant as well as a trophy on Saturday April 11th between races at Tampa Bay Downs. Tampa Bay Downs continues racing on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule through May 3rd, 2026.
