With his deep rooted racing roots, Eduardo followed the horse path like the rest of the men in his family as the third generation. When he was just 3 years old, he started hanging out around horses with his dad who was one of the most renowned trainers in Venezuela at the time. He remained by his father’s side at the tracks for many years, until he was 19, when he “officially” became his assistant trainer in Florida.
His early passion for horses brought him to the University of Florida in Gainesville where he studied animal science for four years. He then moved to California in 1983 where he received his trainer’s license at the young age of 21.
In 1988 he moved to the North-East when he was offered to train a very special colt. MI SELECTO brought him to the light when he started winning many races, including a Grade II and III stakes. He was just 26 years old at the time.
Soon after his success in Monmouth, he caught national attention when another colt under his training CALTECH, began winning very significant races, the most important being The Budweiser International Cup, a $750.000 purse, G1 stake. This cup was one of the few international races recognized in the world. Having won this race in 1989, he was awarded “The youngest trainer to win the Budweiser International Cup”. He was 27 years old then. Caltech continued to win and make impressive appearances in major races including 5th place in the 2 million dollar Breeder’s Cup Turf Classic.
He completed the training circuit in the United States, training not only in Florida but in New Jersey, New York, California, Kentucky and many other states… “I know all tracks in this country, I have felt them, tried them, worked them, suffered them… when I tell one of my clients where to send a horse to, I really know what I’m talking about”.
With his natural enthusiasm for horses, and the years of being around them, he not only developed an innate intuition for horses, but an extensive knowledge of all stages of the thoroughbred business, including Pedigrees, Consignments, Training and Breaking. “I have been most of my life around horses, the rest I have just waist it”.
In the years 2000, he decided to settle down in Florida in the breaking and consigning aspect of the business. After breaking horses for a year at the Starting Point Horse Complex, he decided to buy a Training Center where he founded AZPURUA STABLES.
In 2005, he came back to the spotlight, this time as a consignor, when he owned, broke, and later consigned BUZZARD’S BAY who a year later won the Santa Anita Derby and ran and impressive 5th in the Kentucky Derby. Eduardo was awarded the Joe O’ Farrel Memorial Award as “Consignor of the year” for having consigned that colt.
Just one year later, he returned to the spotlight, when he broke and consigned another horse that made it to the Kentucky Derby. Sweetnothernsaint, who won the Illinois Derby in 2006, went on to be the betting favorite at the Kentucky Derby that same year. He finished 6th at the Derby and 2nd at the Preakness.
In 2008, the most prominent horse magazine in the country, THE BLOODHORSE Insiders Guide, published a statistic powered by Market Watch placing AZPURUA STABLES as “The leading Juvenile consignor from 2000 to 2004 by % of GI winners”. In another statistic from the same magazine, he is ranked as “The second leading consignor by average of earnings of 2 years olds”.
Today, while Eduardo continues to be dedicated to breaking, consigning and being a horse advisor, AZPURUA STABLES is expanding its operations by starting a group of partnerships with the intention of buying and selling weanlings and yearlings at premier auctions across the country.
