Robert Teel

Robert Teel (born 1959, lives in the Point Loma area of San Diego, CA) ~ Thoroughbred Owner and Breeder. Teel is also among other things a lawyer, speculator, commodities trader, private equity investor, and has served as a court appointed advocate for foster kids.
Professional Background: Practiced law from 1987 to 1996; now a commodities trader with seats at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, and New York Mercantile Exchange. Calls himself “a recovering lawyer, even though there is no 12-step program,” he said. “I still do quite a bit of volunteer work. I’m a court-appointed advocate for foster kids. In this area, only 13 percent of foster kids graduate high school, and thus far I have a perfect record. I work to get them through high school and out into the world. You couldn’t pay me enough money to do this work. There’s not enough money to give you this feeling.”
Racing Background: Had Quarter Horses growing up, but hadn’t been around horses for many years, until he went to a law firm function at Del Mar several years ago. “I was hooked almost instantly - the minute I walked in the paddock,” he said. A chance meeting with late trainer Doug Peterson set the hook. “We were chatting and he offered to buy me a drink, and I told him I didn’t drink. He offered me a cigar, and I told him I didn’t smoke. He asked if I wanted to make a bet, and I told him I didn’t gamble. He asked what I was doing there, and I told him I really wanted to visit his barn the next morning.”
Breeding/Racing Operation: Teel started out buying yearlings; then claimed a few; bought a number of stallion shares; and bred a few mares. “None of those methods were really my cup of tea. I decided I wanted to focus on owning stallion shares buying into proven race horses.” One of his favorite horses to date is Grinding It Out, whom he retired last year after the horse earned about “around $200,000,” Teel said. “He had had several surgeries, and always came back, but I decided it was time for him just to be a horse. I bred him at Ballena Vista Farm last year, but not commercially. We just breed him to a few mares for our own account. He is such a great horse - he had the heart of a champion. He’s an absolute gentleman too. One day, I just climbed up on him bareback, no bridle, no reins, no tack at all. I had just retired him from the track and I have to say that when he started galloping it was quite a thrill.”
Teel purchased part of Irish-bred Ferneley shortly after his second-place finish in the G1 Woodbine Mile in September. John Tyrrell of BBA Ireland and Warren Byrne’s Rancho Park Management acted as brokers. “Warren found him for me,” said Teel. “This will be my first horse with Ben Cecil, and I really like how he looks out for the welfare of the horse. I’ve met David O’Rourke , and we really hit it off. I have to give those guys credit - Ferneley wasn’t nominated to the Breeders’ Cup as a foal, so it’s a pretty steep price to supplement. Those guys knew I wanted to run, and they agreed to it.” Both Robert Teel and Silver Springs Stud Farm will be making their Breeders’ Cup debut with the five-year-old Irish-bred Ferneley, who earned a spot in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile via a Breeders' Cup Challenge victory in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. Tentative future plans for the son of Ishiguru include the G1 Hong Kong Mile and G1 Dubai Duty Free.
In early 2010 Teel purchased minority interests in 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) candidate Homeboykris and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Amen Hallelujah in two private transactions. Both horses were trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. Homeboykris won the Champagne Stakes (G1) on October 10 at Belmont Park and finished second in an allowance race on February 27 at Gulfstream Park for owners Louis Lazzinaro, Joseph Bulger, Jack Mandato, Joe Torre’s Diamond Pride, Brenda Tabraue, and Nick Sallusto, who are all retaining interests in the Roman Ruler gelding. Teel bought an interest in Amen Hallelujah after her second-place finish to Devil May Care in the Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) on March 20 at Gulfstream for owners IEAH Stables and Stan Whisenant’s Whizway Farms. Teel was quoted as saying “It’s very exciting to be heading to the world’s biggest stage in racing,” Teel said. “Everyone in this sport aspires to be in the Derby and I’m very fortunate and grateful to be connected with horses of this caliber.”
Teel purchased an interest in Del Mar Mile (G2) winner Ferneley in Oct. 2009. Ferneley one the 2009 Del Mar Mile (G2). Ferneley, an Irish-bred 5-year-old son of Ishiguru—Amber Tide, by Pursuit of Love, to ran a troubled seventh in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 7 at Santa Anita, followed by a fifth place finish in the grueling Hong Kong Mile (HK-I). Teel was quoted as saying, "He had another troubled trip, this time getting pinned inside, but I am so proud of this horse. He is the top finishing American horse of the entire Hong Kong meet and we are talking about some spectacular horses here."
Ferneley raced under the combined ownership of Teel and Silver Springs Stud Farm winning the Del Mar Mile in August 2009 and a close second to super filly Ventura in the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT). Ferneley remained in the care of trainer Ben Cecil until he was sold in September 2011. As of January 1, 2010 Ferneley had compiled a record of 6-3-6 from 27 starts and earnings of nearly $600,000.
"I am very excited to be involved with a horse heading towards the Breeders’ Cup and some of the world’s biggest races," said Teel.
In July 2010 Teel purchased an interest in Madman Diaries trained and co-owned by Wesley Ward. The Bring the Heat fellow was bred by trainer Wesley Ward in Florida and following a second place finish at Keeneland in his first lifetime start, Madman Diaries wrote a lethal comeback at Woodbine wiring a field of maidens by nine and three quarter lengths. The result was no anomaly as the speedy sort followed that winning entry with a nine and a half length romp in the Victoria Stakes. It is here where Robert Teel purchased a stake in the horse to share a one half interest with Ward. Teel purchased his interest in the Madman immediately prior to the Colin Stakes where he was upset by Glory Game. Teel's patience was rewarded when a determined Madman Diaries held off Vengeful Wildcat and Chipshot to win the Grade 3, $153,000 Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds on September 4, 2010 at Monmouth Park.

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