Matt Shirer

Matt Shirer, a Cleveland, Ohio native, started working on the track at Thistledown during the summers in college. Matt graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science and went to work full time at Thistledown Race Track. After several years Matt took a job as Barn Foreman for Kenny McPeek at Churchill Downs shortly thereafter taking over assistant for Kenny’s main string of horses at Churchill Downs. Matt worked for Mcpeek for 3 years at several prestigious tracks around the country, including Saratoga Race Course, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park. During his time at McPeek’s Matt was fortunate enough to be able to work with Graded Stakes horses such as Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet winner PURE FUN. Grade 1 Ashland winner ROSALIND and Grade 1 Travers winner GOLDEN TICKET. Matt was also able to work with Kentucky Derby participants FRAC DADDY and JAVA’S WAR. Feeling that he was ready for a new challenge, Matt took out his trainers license in November 2015 at Churchill Downs and started his own public stable. Matt’s first win came in an Allowance race at Turfway Park only one month after taking out his trainers license in December of 2015.