Bert S. Michell

Bernard S. "Bert" Michell (c.1882 - October 21, 1938) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer best known for winning the 1928 Kentucky Derby with American Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, Reigh Count.

In 1927, Michell was the trainer for Green Briar Stable when owner by Frank D. Shea of Winnipeg, Manitoba liquidated his racing operations. Michell was then hired by Chicago businessman John D. Hertz and his wife Fannie, owners of Leona Farm, near Cary, Illinois. That year he trained the Hertz's filly Anita Peabody, retrospectively voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honors and whose wins included the Belmont Futurity Stakes and the Churchill Downs Debutante Stakes. However, it would be future Hall of Fame inductee Reigh Count who would bring Michell his greatest success. Reigh Count not only earned American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors, but at age three won several prestigious races including the Kentucky Derby and was voted American Horse of the Year. In 1929, Mr. & Mrs. Hertz brought Michell and Reigh Count to race in England where he raced on turf, winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs Racecourse then finished second in the Ascot Gold Cup at Ascot Racecourse.

In the fall of 1929 Michell left the Hertz stable to take over as trainer for the racing operations of Emil and Jennie Denemark of Chicago. Bert Michell raced at various tracks on the East Coast of the United States. He made his home in Miami, Florida where he met with considerable success with the Denemark's runners at Hialeah Park and Tropical Park racetracks.

Bert Michell died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1938 at age fifty-six.

References

• October 22, 1938 New York Times obituary for Bernard S. Michell
• December 1, 1928 New York Times article on Bert Michell and Reigh Count traveling to race in England