5 in Front: Travis Forbes
MILTON, March 31, 2023 – Twice monthly until April, a familiar Woodbine Mohawk Park horse person will step into the spotlight to answer a handful of fun, offbeat questions, while giving readers a unique perspective into their personality on and off the racetrack.
Travis Forbes has a positive mindset heading into his first official summer as a trainer. Though new to the training game, Forbes is an experienced horse person and close friend of Woodbine Mohawk Park. Forbes began his career in hospitality and event management with Woodbine Entertainment before making the jump to ownership and training. Forbes secured his first training win earlier this month, on March 6, with Assassins Creed, a pacer he proudly owned but was subsequently claimed in mid-March.
How did you get into horse racing?
“I've always owned horses, jumpers specifically, and I moved into racing through the connections I made when I worked internally at Woodbine. I started working alongside them as a groom. Then I really got an interest in ownership and training. During this time, I had been pursuing my career of events and fundraising, and I left it all behind in August to be a full-time owner and trainer. I’m absolutely loving it.”
What are you looking forward to this year?
“I am most looking forward to getting my first race horse I have owned to the races and qualified. His name is Livin Ona Dream and truly has been a huge motivation to live my dream as a trainer every day.”
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
“My superpower would be to put a smile on anybody’s face.”
What is a movie or TV show you never get tired of?
“I love the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. It has so many valuable lessons of pushing forward and always finding something to be happy about.”
Who inspires you the most?
“I need to preface that there are a lot of people in the industry that inspire and motivate me, but my best friend Katie Miller inspires me the most. She was my trainer before I got my trainer’s license. She’s career driven and lives her life so authentically.”
Travis Forbes and Victoria MacInnis with Malvolio and driver James MacDonald in the Woodbine Mohawk Park winner's circle on December 1, 2022 (New Image Media)
Travis Forbes and Katie Miller pose with Livin Ona Dream and driver J. Bradley Harris in the winner's circle on June 20, 2022 at Grand River Raceway