Charles Sniffen, who obtained his trainer’s license in 1968 and has spent the last 20 years working as assistant trainer to Ferris Allen, has been honored as the 2025 Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Backstretch Worker of the Year.
Originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and raised in Olney, Maryland, Sniffen comes from a long line of jockeys, being a fifth-generation rider. He launched his training career at Charles Town Races and Shenandoah Downs, operating out of Barn K, before moving to Maryland in the late 1980s. Among his early achievements was winning the Grade 3 Riggs Stakes on turf at Pimlico Racecourse in 1981 with Advan, owned by Helen Pollinger.
Sniffen’s career later took him back to West Virginia, where he worked as a trainer and also trained as a blacksmith, serving as a paddock blacksmith at Tampa Bay Downs. He spent three years training at Rockingham Park and Suffolk Downs in New England before Ferris Allen reached out to him in 2005, inviting him to work at Penn National.
“Ferris called me to help manage his horses at Delaware Park and Gulfstream Park,” Sniffen recalled. “For around a decade, I split my time between Delaware during racing season and Gulfstream for the other half of the year.”
After Colonial Downs closed in 2014, Ferris Allen, who holds the record as the track’s all-time leading trainer, brought Sniffen to Maryland as his assistant trainer. With the reopening of Colonial Downs in 2019, Sniffen now mainly lives at Laurel Park throughout the year, where he is a familiar and respected figure around the backstretch.
In addition to his training duties, Sniffen is known for his dedication to helping those on the backstretch with personal issues, obligations, financial concerns, and travel plans. He is a frequent presence in the Laurel Recreation Room and remains actively engaged with the horse racing community.
When asked about his favorite part of the job, Sniffen laughed, “I get to enjoy everything without paying the bills. Working for Ferris is fantastic; he’s easy to get along with, and I really appreciate working alongside him. We all get along well, even if we don’t always speak the same language.”
“Charlie is a valued member of our backstretch community,” Ferris Allen said. “He is an exceptional assistant trainer, a dependable van driver, and consistently supportive of both our staff and the entire backstretch.”
This story was first published by Paulick Report on February 3, 2026, under the News section. Click here to add Paulick Report as your preferred news source.
Fan Take: Recognizing Charles Sniffen as Backstretch Worker of the Year highlights the crucial roles behind the scenes that contribute to the success and well-being of the racing community. Celebrating hardworking individuals like Sniffen helps shine a light on the dedication and teamwork needed to sustain the sport and ensures its future strength and vitality for racing fans everywhere.
