From Underperforming Horses to Champions
Inspired by family tradition, Orlando and his brother Jonathan trained their first horses in 2012 and raced them under their father's name.
Photo by Barbara D. Livingston.
Orlando Noda, a 35-year-old trainer, born in Miami FL Cuban parents, has rapidly risen in the NYRA circuit with his small stable co-owned with his brother Jonathan. Since debuting at Aqueduct in March 2019, he has won five out of 24 starts and placed in half of them, including three victories at Saratoga 2019.
Noda's passion for horse racing was inherited from his father, Jose Noda-Fernandez. He and his brother began by purchasing horses in New Jersey in 2012, racing in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Charles Town.
Their first mare, Bfit, was bred in Ocala, where Orlando worked with top trainers to hone his skills.
In 2019, the brothers officially launched Noda Racing with four horses, including G. T. Sonia, who broke her maiden at the Spa. Their biggest success, T Loves a Fight, was claimed for $10,000 and won multiple races, showcasing Noda's ability to improve underperforming horses.
​
​After he began his career, he gained new owners like Zilla Racing Stables and Final Turn Racing Stables, who remain part of the team to this day. He has achieved numerous wins with both partners, including standout performances from Jackson Heights for Zilla RS and Montauk Daddy for Final Turn RS.
