We run an intense operation focused on keeping horses fresh, sound and most importantly productive. With 24 stalls at Toronto’s Woodbine Racecourse, a farm just north of Toronto, and a new 28-stall barn on a racetrack in Ocala, Florida, the framework is in place for horses to thrive. "We’re an intense, small operation with very, very high attention to quality and detail," Day Phillips said. "We have a keen interest in buying and developing young horses. We are constantly trying to improve the quality of our stock."
Mother trained horses, father trains horses, now daughter trains horses. For Catherine Day Phillips, it was a natural progression to the racetrack. Following family tradition, Day Phillips competed in the show ring from a very early age and through her teenage years before going to college.
A graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, Day Phillips worked for her father, James Day, when he trained for the powerful Sam Son Farms. Home of the Sam Son stars during that era were Dance Smartly, Hangin on a Star, Regal Classic, Regal Intention and Sky Classic. Day Phillips’ mother, Dinny Day, was also a successful trainer, sending out Pax Nobiscum to win the Ohio Derby in 1983.
"With my father being an equestrian gold medalist in the 1968 Olympics, I’ve always had high standards to follow and I’ve always been exposed to a high quality of racing," Day Phillips said. "I try to learn from each aspect of the horse world that I’ve been exposed to, I am constantly trying to learn what makes each horse tick."
Day Phillips hung her own shingle in 1994 with support from her maternal grandmother, Janet Burns, who owned Kingfield Farms. Starting with just four home bred horses, her stable has grown steadily in numbers and strength, to include over 30 horses in training.
In 2004, Day Phillips just missed winning the Canadian Triple Crown with A Bit O’Gold. He lost the Queen’s Plate by a diminishing 3/4-length and then secured the next two legs. Day Phillips’ stable produced 15 wins from 88 starts in 2004 for over $1.6 million. In 2005, the stable sent out nineteen winners from 85 starts.
Day Phillips married Todd Phillips in 1999, and they have two sons, Blake and Colton. It’s a balancing act that Day Phillips faces with her husband and the help of her experienced loyal crew. At home, Dorothy Forrest and Nadia Jordine are instrumental in helping with the children.
"We went down to Ocala, two years ago, to prepare A Bit O’Gold for the Queen’s Plate. We rented a barn at Classic Mile, it was a great set-up," Day Phillips said. "We felt that Ocala was a great place for horses to grow up in the winter and prepare for Woodbine. Before we headed back to Canada, we decided to invest in a farm there."
On the advice of Mark Casse, and with the help of Tom Drier, Day Phillips has re-built a beautiful 10-acre property with 28 stalls, six paddocks, two round pens, and a free walker, all located on a 3/4-mile training center.
We run an intense operation focused on keeping horses fresh, sound and most importantly productive. With 24 stalls at Toronto’s Woodbine Racecourse, a farm just north of Toronto, and a new 28-stall barn on a racetrack in Ocala, Florida, the framework is in place for horses to thrive. "We’re an intense, small operation with very, very high attention to quality and detail," Day Phillips said. "We have a keen interest in buying and developing young horses. We are constantly trying to improve the quality of our stock."
Mother trained horses, father trains horses, now daughter trains horses. For Catherine Day Phillips, it was a natural progression to the racetrack. Following family tradition, Day Phillips competed in the show ring from a very early age and through her teenage years before going to college. 
In 2004, Day Phillips just missed winning the Canadian Triple Crown with A