TORONTO, February 14, 2025— Doing things the right way with the right people by his side is what fuels trainer Steve Flint to continue pouring his all into the game that he loves. Currently serving as the exclusive conditioner for CamHaven Farms (owned by the husband-and-wife team of Tony and Shirley Camilleri), Flint surpassed 450 wins for his career in 2024. Among the top horses to study under the veteran horseman are multiple graded stakes winner Allamerican Bertie, Grade 3 River City champion G P Fleet, and two-time stakes victor May Gator. With his 2025 campaign already underway at Fair Grounds, Flint, who is one stakes score away from 40 for his career (39), speaks on the season that was, his close-knit relationship with the Camilleris, and what (hopefully) to expect this year. Trainer Steve Flint at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Q: What were you most happy with when it came to your 2024 season? A: “I was most happy with the way the horses had developed during the meet. We had some young horses that really made a lot of progress, and unfortunately, I didn’t get to bring any of them down [to Fair Grounds], but I think they’ll do quite well. “Let’s not jinx them,” he laughed. “Hopefully, they’ll do the talking for themselves, and we’ll all be laughing about it.” Q: You’re off to a strong start to 2025. Is there a horse in your barn who has caught your eye and why? A: “I’ve got a horse running [Feb. 13] for the first time. His name is Munnystruck, and he’s given me every indication he could be a top horse. We’re going to find out very quickly.” Q: Talk about the support of the Camilleris and their love of racing and the horses. A: “When I met Tony and Shirley, they were about to get out of the business. I flew up from Louisiana to meet with them, and after about a 30-minute meeting, I just could see in their eyes the passion that they had for racing and their love for their horses. “As that grows, you can see that they’re learning a lot more about the business, which really impresses me. I love to see owners who want to get involved with the game, learn the intricacies, and not just show up to get your picture taken. They want to be a part of the operation. They want to know what it takes to buy horses at the sales. They want to know what we’re looking for. They come out in the morning and watch them train. They ask questions, and I think the more they become involved, the better it is for me, as well as our team because we can grow together. “I’ve only had three training jobs in my life, and they were all private training jobs. I like the one-on-one consistency of the business when it’s just one owner and one trainer. It’s the closeness of it. “We really do love it. We’re happy with the way it is right now.” Social Code winning Race 7 on September 28, 2024 at Woodbine. Social Code is trained by Steve Flint and owned by CamHaven Farms. (Michael Burns Photo) Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2025? A: “Hopefully, we continue to do well. Last year, when we went to Keeneland, we really upgraded our horse flesh. Gary Boulanger, our farm manager, seems to think that our two-year-olds are going to be very impressive this year, and that’s always nice to know when you have a lot of good young horses coming up. “Hopefully, his mouth is a prayer book to God’s ear, and they all come running, and we can have a successful 2025.” Q: How do you define a successful racing season? A: “First of all, everybody’s got to come out healthy. Then, if horses progress and their speed numbers get higher as the year goes on, it shows development. If that all happens, the money will follow, the wins will follow. Keep them happy, healthy, and make sure they develop well. “Like a car: Change the oil, keep the tires filled with air, make sure everything’s running properly, and the car will get you to work every day.” By Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
