Calvin Nguyen

Calvin Nguyen grew up around animals on a farm in Vietnam. “I hung around the farm with livestock, but we didn’t have any horses,” he said. He would.

During the Vietnam War, Calvin’s father—a very religious Catholic—was a high-ranking officer working with the American forces stationed in Guam. “When he realized the South [Vietnam] was losing, he captained a ship to go back and get my mom and us,” Calvin said. “That’s how he was captured. He tried to get his family out. He was in prison for 10 years.”

Though he was only a child with three siblings, he felt the pressure of daily life of his family after Saigon fell, ending the war. “Vietnam was an oppressive country,” he said. “It was a Communist country, so my mom had arranged for us to get out for a better future.”

She did, but it took years.

Calvin’s mother tried to visit her husband. “She was denied many times,” Calvin said. “He was moved around a lot. She didn’t know if he was alive. Five, six years after his capture, she was allowed to visit him. He was in a labor camp. They tried to re-educate him to be a Communist.”

His father resisted.

Calvin was eight when his family came to America without Calvin’s imprisoned father. “The U.S. Catholic Church sponsored us, and we lived in Tallahassee, Florida,” Calvin said. “Then my uncle found out we had relatives in Southern California.” They settled in Anaheim.

Back in Vietnam, Calvin’s father’s health deteriorated so badly, they thought he was going to die. “They released him in 1985,” Calvin said. “He didn’t come to the U.S. for another five years.” When he did, his health returned. “Miraculously, he recovered,” Calvin said.

Calvin had seen pictures of his father, but meeting him was a whole different experience. “It was awkward,” Calvin said. “I really didn’t know him. I didn’t know who he was. I grew up in America and culturally, I was into certain things. My father was very religious. He had an interesting life. I was grateful to spend 30 years with him. He passed away a couple years ago. He was almost 80.”

Bob and Jackie and jockey Jose Valdivia Jr after winning the 2021 San Gabriel Stakes on opening day at Santa Anita Park

Calvin attended Western High School in Anaheim, and was two years ahead of classmate Tiger Woods. “I got to meet him,” Calvin said. “My best friend in high school was on the golf team. I don’t know if he remembers me. He was already a known figure.”

In Calvin’s senior year, he and a friend, Scott, wanted to go out on Friday night to see a California Angels’ game and watch one of the greatest pitchers of all-time, Nolan Ryan. “He was on his farewell tour,” Calvin said. “I was a big baseball fan,” Calvin said. “I loved Nolan Ryan.”

He had to love him from afar. The game sold out. “And back then, the Angels never sold out,” Calvin said. 

Now what? Scott said, “Let’s go to the racetrack.” Los Alamitos was just a few miles away. Calvin, who had never been to a track, was mesmerized: “I saw the horses. I saw the attention. A lot of people attended the races then. The roaring of the crowd, the disappointment when your horse lost, a lot of emotion. These majestic animals. I fell in love right there. I just fully enjoyed it. I liked all sports, boxing, basketball, football. Seeing these horses—they are so majestic in how they move.”

Owning a horse seemed highly unlikely. “I was 18. I grew up poor. But you dream.”

Calvin pursued his education, graduating from UCLA with a degree in economics and accounting. He considered becoming a doctor: “My intention was to go back to school and get my Master’s, but I never did it. I worked in insurance and in finance. I was just trying to find my way—something I was interested in.”

A single conversation changed his life. “I met a client who was buying nutrition products from Price Club and shipping it to China,” Calvin said. “I said, `You’re buying retail, and you can make money?’ He said, `Yes.’ I said, `What if I can source it out for you?’ He was buying 5,000 bottles of Vitamin C. I reached out to the manufacturer, and this guy’s volume was so high, they would deal directly with me. I was able to do that. If he was paying $10, I could get it for $6 and sell it to him for $7 or $8. Then I said, `What if we start making our products?’ We started to make products.”

Calvin founded and now serves as CEO of GMP Products, more than 25 years later. “I enjoy it, using my college tools and dealing with people,” he said. “It’s given me a good life.”

And disposable income.

Calvin, connections, and trainer Richie Baltas (far right) after Bob and Jackie’s San Gabriel win

Calvin was back at Los Alamitos, hanging out with George Baltas, whose brother Richie trains. When Calvin mentioned possibly buying a horse, George said, “You should talk to my brother.”

Calvin did, and on June 10, 1999, Calvin and Richie claimed a maiden, Freedom Crest, for $32,000. The gelding was second by a neck that day, then finished 5th, 10th, 2nd and 3rd before winning a maiden $40,000 claimer. He was on his way to 13 consecutive finishes in the money, capped by a three-length victory in the Gr. 2 San Pasqual Handicap, June 7, 2001. After Freedom Crest won the Gr. 2 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, Freedom Crest shipped to Belmont Park to contest the Gr. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was 13th by 33 lengths to two-time Horse of the Year Tiznow. Freedom Crest finished his career seven-for-31, eight seconds, four thirds and nearly $650,000 in earnings—not bad for a maiden $32,000 claimer.

Richie took a 4 ½ year hiatus from training on his own from 2008 through the middle of 2012. When he returned, the trainer who had Calvin’s horses, James Kasparoff, decided to take a job with Santa Anita. He’s now the stakes director there. Calvin reunited with Richie. “We got back together,” Richie said. “He’s pretty loyal, which I love about him. We got back together, and he’s spending a lot of money.”

Idol was worth his yearling purchase price of $375,000. Now five, Idol finished second by a half-length in the 2020 Gr. 2 San Antonio Stakes, then third in the Gr. 2 San Pasqual. Then, on March 7, 2021, Idol won the Gr. 1 Santa Anita Handicap by a half-length.

“It was a surreal moment,” Calvin said. “To win that type of race was an incredible feeling. I hadn’t been to a racetrack in more than a year because of COVID. That was the first weekend they allowed owners to attend. No fans. My wife and two daughters were there. They made it more special. I still can’t believe it.”

Idol was training for last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic when he strained a muscle in his butt. “We couldn’t put him like that in that kind of a race,” Calvin said. “We decided to give him time off. He started galloping two weeks ago.”

His absence was eased by Bob and Jackie—a $195,000 purchase who made an auspicious first dirt start last December 26th, capturing the Gr. 2 San Gabriel when it came off the turf. On grass, he had finished fourth, third and second in a Gr. 2 stakes and second in a Gr. 3.

Idol and Bob and Jackie are the stars of Calvin’s 12-horse stable. When asked his goals, he said, “Just to have fun, [we] try to compete at the highest level. We don’t win all the time, but it’s what I like to do. Hopefully, we have another moment like Idol winning the Big Cap. That’s what you’re in this for. It’s indescribable.”