Veteran trainer Tom Amoss is stepping away from day-to-day training operations, with longtime assistant Kinnon LaRose set to assume responsibility for the stable. The move marks a major transition for one of the most established barns on the Fair Grounds circuit and brings to a close a training career that has lasted nearly four decades.

Career Overview

Amoss began training in 1987 and built a long and consistent career that produced more than 4,200 wins and over $130 million in purse earnings. Over the years, his stable became a regular presence at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, and Oaklawn Park, while also competing successfully at a variety of levels from claiming races to graded stakes company.

He developed a reputation as a dependable high-percentage trainer whose runners were often well placed and prepared. That consistency allowed him to remain a significant force year after year, particularly on the Kentucky and Louisiana circuits, where his barn became one of the most familiar and productive operations on the grounds.

Notable Horses

Among the best horses Amoss trained was Serengeti Empress, the Kentucky Oaks winner who went on to become one of the most recognizable fillies of her generation. Her success represented one of the top accomplishments of his career and highlighted his ability to develop a horse into a Grade 1 performer on the national stage.

While major stakes victories helped define parts of his resume, Amoss was also known for the overall depth of his operation. His barn consistently turned out allowance horses, stakes horses, and hard-knocking runners who held their form over time, which is often what separates long-running stables from short-term success stories.

Transition to Kinnon LaRose

The stable will now transition to Kinnon LaRose, who has worked alongside Amoss for several years and has been closely involved in the day-to-day operation of the barn. That familiarity should provide continuity for owners and horses already under the program, as LaRose has had direct involvement in race placement, preparation, and development.

Rather than representing a sudden break, the shift appears to be a structured handoff within an established operation. Amoss is expected to remain involved in an advisory role, assisting with broader decisions and client relationships while stepping back from the daily demands of active training.

Impact at Fair Grounds

Amoss has been one of the most recognizable trainers at Fair Grounds for many years, and his name has consistently appeared near the top of the standings by both wins and earnings during the winter meet. His departure from active training changes part of the landscape there, particularly for a circuit where continuity and local presence often matter as much as national reputation.

The transition will be watched closely in future meets to see how the stable performs under LaRose, but the foundation being handed over is a strong one. Few trainers remain tied to Fair Grounds in the way Amoss has been over the years, and his absence from that day-to-day role will be noticeable.

Continued Presence in Racing

In addition to his training career, Amoss has also remained visible through racing media work, where he has provided analysis and commentary on televised broadcasts. That role is expected to continue, allowing him to remain connected to the sport even as he steps back from active stable management.

For many in racing, Amoss has long represented a steady and familiar presence. This transition does not remove him from the sport entirely, but it does mark the end of a significant chapter in a career that has had a lasting impact across multiple circuits.

Amoss leaves active training with a resume that includes decades of success, thousands of wins, major stakes accomplishments, and a long-running presence at some of the country’s most important meets. The stable now moves forward under Kinnon LaRose, while Amoss remains involved in a supporting capacity. For Fair Grounds and for the broader racing community, it is a notable transition involving one of the sport’s most established trainers.