Tim Salzman, a respected horse trainer from a long-standing Maryland family of trainers, passed away at the age of 54 on February 7th after a prolonged illness. Beginning his training career in 2003 with a strong start of one win from two races, Salzman had amassed by November 2025 a remarkable career record of 425 wins, 404 second-place finishes, 406 third-place finishes, and over $10 million in total earnings.
Notably, Salzman won his very first race as a trainer and closed his career triumphantly by winning his last three races with turf favorite Whayes Ray in consecutive allowance races at Laurel Park during October and November. John Saltzman Jr., Tim’s brother, shared a heartfelt message with the Laurel backstretch community acknowledging Tim’s long battle with cancer and his indomitable spirit. The message sparked an outpouring of condolences from Maryland’s racing community.
Throughout his career, Tim was well-regarded for training Cloverleaf Farm’s homebred mare Bushap Sonata, who earned around $600,000 and secured five stakes victories, including two prestigious Grade 2 wins—the Forward Gal and Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park as a three-year-old. Bushap Sonata also earned notable placements in top races such as second in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Another standout horse under Salzman’s guidance was Sensible Lady, a turf sprinter with a stakes race named in her honor at Laurel Park. Originally racing on dirt tracks as a two-year-old, Salzman transitioned her to turf racing, where she flourished at ages three and four, winning six stakes races between 2012 and 2013—including The Berry One at Pimlico and the Coronation Cup at Saratoga. She concluded her racing career with a win in the Buckland Stakes at Colonial Downs and retired with earnings exceeding $436,000.
Salzman also trained Cosmo’s Buddy, a filly who famously beat male competitors in the 2008 Maryland Million Turf Sprint at Laurel Park, earning nearly $300,000 in multiple stakes races. She remained undefeated while under Salzman’s care and later became a broodmare. Among her offspring is Nicks Go, the highly celebrated Maryland-bred colt named National Horse of the Year in 2021 as well as Maryland Horse of the Year in 2018, 2020, and 2021.
Tim’s father, John Saltzman Sr., began his training career in 1978 and retired in May 2025. He was known for training the exceptional mare Extra Heat, who won 25 of 36 starts, was the 2001 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, and was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2015. Together, the Saltzman family has accumulated over 1,500 career wins.
This article was initially published by Paulick Report on February 9, 2026, in their News section.
Fan Take: Tim Salzman’s legacy represents the heart and grit of Maryland’s racing tradition, reminding fans of the passion and perseverance that fuel the sport. His impact on notable horses and the racing community illustrates the importance of dedicated trainers in sustaining horse racing’s rich heritage and exciting future.
