Biography

Peter Miller first became interested in racehorses through his parents, who competed as Winning Ways Stable. He first intended to become a jockey, attending a riding school, but turned to training when doctors told him he would grow too big.

His first full-time racetrack experience was as good as it gets, grooming horses for Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham, considered the greatest trainer in Southern California history. While working for Whittingham, Miller groomed such top-class horses as Greinton, who won the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap, and the top turf horse Palace Music, who became best known as the sire of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar.

Miller also gained experience working for trainers Mike Mitchell and Don Warren, and during a brief stint as racing manager for the legendary Golden Eagle Farm of John and Betty Mabee.

Miller’s first Grade 1 win came with the filly Set Play in the 2007 Del Mar Debutante. Set Play was purchased for $105,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company 2-year-old-in-training sale in March of that year.

Miller is currently based at San Luis Rey Downs and races primarily on the Southern California circuit, mostly at Santa Anita and Del Mar. However, in 2019 Pete expanded his stable to include Kentucky tracks Keeneland and Churchill Downs.  No matter what, he will ship when a great opportunity presents itself, as he has shown with the likes of Finnegans Wake, Comma to the Top and Majestic City.

Early in his career at San Luis Rey Downs, before going out on his own, he would do the early prep work with runners who were bound for trainers at the major racetracks. Because of that experience, he is well-versed in teaching young horses their lessons, and bringing older horses back from layoffs. His barn houses everything from graded stakes performers to claiming horses, the backbone of the sport.

Of Miller's top horses, many are Grade 1 winners including Roy H, Stormy Liberal, Comma to the Top, Finnegans Wake, Heir Kitty, All Squared Away and Set Play.   Four of his top earners also include Grade 2 & 3 winners Belvoir Bay, Calculator, Reneesgotzip and Appealing Tale to name a few.

BREEDER'S CUP 

Peter earned his first Breeders' Cup win...and second...on November 4, 2017 when Stormy Liberal took the Turf Sprint and Roy H took the Sprint Championship.   Even more impressive (and historic) Stormy Liberal and Roy H repeated in the same races in the 2018 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs, giving Pete and the team their 3rd and 4th Breeders' Cup victories.

On November 2, 2019, Gary Barber’s Belvoir Bay (GB), the only female in the field, became the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Champion, setting a course record at Santa Anita and earning Pete his third consecutive win in this prestigious race. Just two years earlier, she had been lost for two days following the San Luis Rey fire. Her return to racing and ultimate victory beating the best of the best was an especially emotional highlight for the owner and Miller team.

Eclipse Awards

2017:
Male Sprinter:  Roy H

2018:
Male Turf Horse:  Stormy Liberal
Male Sprinter:  Roy H

Training Titles

Los Alamitos :   3    (Spring 2014, Spring 2019, Fall 2021)   

Del Mar : 9  (Summer 2012, Summer 2014 (tied), Fall 2014, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Summer 2018, Summer 2020, Summer 2021)

Santa Anita : 6 (Spring 2015 (tied), Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Winter/Spring 2020, Fall 2020 (tied))