"I grew up on the farm, working with the broodmares and the babies."
That's what Webb told Amanda Duckworth during a 2008 interview for The Bloodhorse. He's the son of the late William W. Carroll, Sr., trainer of
Charlie Boy, who posted an impressive record
in 1960-61. Webb grew up doing it all; he went to the races with his father, broke horses for him, and he even drove the van.
When Webb would take off in the van, it was left to his mother to tell the local high school principal where his wayward student
was. His father died unexpectedly in 1972, and left Webb "the whole world to make a living in," as Webb puts it.
He tried his hand at different things, from farming, to a running his own trucking company, to managing a huge farm in his native
Calhoun County. None of these were very fulfilling for him, so he decided to go back to something he knew he could do, and do well.
In the early eighties, Webb Carroll Training Center was established. His return to the horse business was due in large part to help from
legendary trainer Odie Clellend. Clelland's winter home was in St. Matthews, and Webb, in addition to running a breeding
farm, began breaking horses for Odie. When Odie passed away, Webb bought his place, disbanded the breeding farm,
and went to work fulltime on his bread and butter: breaking and training yearlings.
Webb's wife Sarah retired from teaching and now works in the office at the farm, and travels with Webb to some of the sales.
He is the father of four children, Becky, Billy, Hallie, and Webb.
Webb enjoys working with driving mules and horses and has several carriages and buggies that he hitches to teams to go cruising the farm and the surrounding woods and trails.
On any given morning Webb can be found on Roscoe, his favorite mule, ponying horses to the track.
Travis grew up in the horse business. His family raced and trained quarter horses, and he took part in the family
business in his early childhood. At 12, he rode races on bush tracks in Georgia and North and South Carolina. As his family moved into
Thoroughbreds, he began breaking babies for his father and grandfather. His father died unexpectedly in 1995, and Travis shouldered
the responsibility of the family business himself.
When he was old enough, Travis spent two summers riding races in Texas. He began breaking horses in St. George, South Carolina, for
local clients. In 2007, he jumped at the chance to be a full-time member of the Webb Carroll Training Center team.
He is married to Ashley, and they have two sons, Brody and Mason.
With 11 starts, this filly has never finished out of the money. Incredibly, she's got 6 firsts, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds. She's earned $1,371,175.
That's impressive, and even more impressive is she's 3-for-3 in 2011. Three firsts in three tries, and all in graded stakes.
An amazing filly for owner Fox Hill Farm.
Watch Havre De Grace win the
Apple Blossom...
Owned by Augustin Stables, this Pennsylvania-bred filly, trained by Graham Motion, followed up this win in the Florida Oaks with another win in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3). So far in 2011, she's racked up an impressive 3 firsts in four tries. Here she is in the Herecomesthebride Stakes.