BY SARAH WELK BAYNUM

Eli Soued is a generational horseman in the horse racing world. From the moment he could speak, he expressed what has proven to be a lifelong love for horses.

“Horses have been my passion for as long as I can remember,” Eli Soued said. “My dad says my first word was ‘caba’—my toddler version of caballo, Spanish for horse. When I was five, he took me to the track one Saturday morning to watch his horses work out, which lit a fire in me. Over 40 years later, that fire’s still burning. My dad’s been in the racing world for over 55 years—starting in Venezuela and continuing here in the U.S. since 1997—and I’m proud to follow in his footsteps.”

Soued eagerly joined the family horse racing business early in life. 

“With my very first savings, I claimed a horse in partnership with my dad,” Soued said. “His name was Three Miracles—and it was almost like it was meant to be. He won three races in a row for us. He may have been just a claimer, but to me, he was extraordinary. Three Miracles was my first horse, and the one who truly started it all.”

Then came a horse named Sabi Sabi—his first stakes horse.

“He was full of energy and had a huge heart. I used to say he could run all day. He never made things easy, but he had serious talent and was a thrill to watch,” Soued said. 

 

However, his most meaningful horse was his first stakes-winning horse, Ocean Safari.

“We bought Ocean Safari at the OBS April Sale, and she truly delivered,” Soued said. “Later, we sold her as a broodmare prospect, and she became a sale topper at Keeneland. That journey—from finding her, watching her shine on the track, to seeing her top the sales ring—was unforgettable.”
(Ocean Safari’s Under Tack Video)

In 2023, the Soued family had another successful horse in Amstrong, whom they purchased at Keeneland as a yearling.

“He truly made a name for himself, winning three stakes races in one season and being named Tapeta Horse of the Year at Gulfstream. He’s consistent, versatile and all class—and still in training.”

Most recently, Soued and his father campaigned Gabaldon, who gave them an incredible moment as racehorse owners. 

“He won his debut in the Royal Palm Stakes and qualified for Royal Ascot,” Soued said. “Racing at Ascot was a dream come true and Gabaldon made it even more special by finishing second out of 27 horses. Competing there with a $9,000 Florida-bred horse was truly unforgettable. Even though Gabaldon was officially owned by my dad, being there with him, sharing that experience with our family and friends and feeling the energy of the race was indescribable. The atmosphere, the level of competition, the emotion of it all was surreal, and something I’ll never forget.”

 

Today, Soued and his father continue to race under two stable names—Soldi Stables and Ohana Racing. “I chose the name Ohana, which means ‘family’ in Hawaiian, because I wanted to involve my daughters in the sport, just like my dad did for me,” Soued said. “I’m proud to say it’s working—every Saturday morning, we head to Palm Meadows to watch the horses train, spend time with them and connect as a family.”

Soued is still involved as an owner and breeder, racing primarily in Florida with trainer José D’Angelo.

“His team always makes my family feel truly welcome at the barn. I’m also active as a breeder, working in partnership with the Azpurua family at Shangri-La Farm in Morriston, near Ocala,” Soued said. 

For Soued, one of his favorite aspects of horse racing is that even an underdog can become a champion.

“What I love most about horse racing is that everyone has a chance—a good horse can come from anywhere,” Soued said. “Horses don’t know how much they cost. A cheap horse can become a star, while an expensive one doesn’t always meet expectations. The heart and will to compete? You can’t measure or predict that when buying a yearling or breeding a horse.”

“I’ve been living in Florida since 2002, but I started coming here for the races in 1997, attending meets at Hialeah, the old Gulfstream and Calder. While the landscape of Florida racing has changed over the years, there is still something special about being part of this community. Living close to Gulfstream has allowed me to be present for most of my horses’ races, and I love traveling regularly to Ocala to watch them grow and develop. It is a connection to the sport beyond race day—it’s a part of my everyday life,” Soued added.

Return to the April 17 issue of Wire to Wire