Oncoming Train Delivers Rick Mocklin First Trainer Win in 41 Years

Oncoming Train closed from last to first in the final strides on a sloppy Fair Grounds surface, producing Rick Mocklin’s first trainer victory in 41 years and a headline-making return to the saddling paddock. The dramatic late run came in Mocklin’s first starter since he reclaimed his trainer’s license this winter, an emotional coda to a career spent in practically every corner of Louisiana racing.

Mocklin called the result “just an unbelievable day” during a Monday afternoon appearance on All Access on 106.7 The Ticket. He said, “We recently bought Oncoming Train. It’s like I’ve been reborn.” The trainer also credited the race setup for the dramatic finish, saying, “He just amazingly turned in a big race. (The race) set up for a closer.”

Performance on Jan. 25 leaned toward closers as the wet track forced an honest early pace and left room for late runners. Oncoming Train’s rally from the back under sloppy conditions highlighted both the horse’s stamina and the tactical placement by Mocklin in his return to the trainer’s role. Details such as the jockey aboard and the official chart were not disclosed in initial accounts, but the closing fashion of the victory is clear and consequential for a trainer restarting after decades away.

Mocklin’s comeback is more than a single win; it is the product of a long apprenticeship around the barn and in racing rooms. “I started on the backstretch,” he said, adding that he “became interested in Thoroughbreds because of my uncle.” Mocklin was once the youngest announcer in North America at 17, and in later years he served as a jockey agent for the likes of Randy Romero, Jorge Velasquez, Craig Perret, Corey Lanerie and James Graham. That role, he said, “gave him unfettered access to some of the sport’s best conditioners,” and he singled out Steve Asmussen and Mike Stidham as influences. “Steve Asmussen and Mike Stidham, two of the greatest horsemen in the business, you get access to the barn,” Mocklin said. “I’m privy to discussions and have a reason to be in the barn. If you’re an outsider, they go on. I paid attention to what they do and how they condition horses.”

Mocklin’s outlook on training has shifted with time. Reflecting on past methods, he said, “Back when I was training full-time, I don’t think I ever jogged a horse before. Everything was a gallop that leads into a work(out). Horses seem to thrive on a little bit of variety.” He emphasized care as the through line of his approach: “What it boils down to is the care of the horse, and I’m trying to give that to them.”

The victory resonates culturally and commercially in Louisiana racing. Mocklin is a known figure as an announcer, jockey agent, publicity director and frontman for a regional band, and his return taps into the sport’s local continuity and resilience after economic shifts that once fractured owner bases. For race fans and regional stakeholders, the win signals the potential for experienced hands to re-enter training and apply accumulated knowledge from national barns to local programs.

What comes next is expansion and confirmation. If Mocklin adds runners or sustains momentum with Oncoming Train, his comeback could influence owner decisions and underscore a broader trend of knowledge transfer from high-dollar training operations back into regional circuits. For now, Mocklin’s rebirth at the Fair Grounds is a stirring reminder that in racing, longevity and relationships can still produce headline finishes.