2002: two-year-old season At age two, Empire Maker made two starts, winning his maiden debut in October 2002 at
Belmont Park then taking third in the
Remsen Stakes, some 5½ lengths back of the winner
Toccet. As a three-year-old, he would make six starts, winning three and finishing second three times.
2003: three-year-old season In February 2003, Empire Maker began his three-year-old season with a second-place finish in the
Sham Stakes at
Santa Anita Park in
California. For his next start, trainer
Bobby Frankel put blinkers on the colt in an effort to make him concentrate and he responded with a nine and three quarter length win in the
Grade I Florida Derby. He followed this up with another important win in the Grade I
Wood Memorial Stakes. These two performances resulted in Empire Maker being made the solid
betting favorite in the
2003 Kentucky Derby. Under his regular rider, the
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey,
Jerry Bailey, Empire Maker ran second in the Kentucky Derby to
Funny Cide whom he had beaten by a half-length in the Wood Memorial. Trainer Bobby Frankel believed that if he did not go light on Empire Maker's training before the Derby because of his feet issues, then Empire Maker would have won the Derby. His handlers then chose to rest the colt and did not run him in the
Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the
U.S. Triple Crown series, which has become a common racing tactic when a horse does not win the first leg. Funny Cide won the Preakness Stakes by more than nine lengths and headed to
New York's Belmont Park favored to become the first Triple Crown champion in twenty-five years. Heavy rains left the racetrack at Belmont Park officially rated as sloppy for the
2003 Belmont Stakes. In an attempt to control the pace, Funny Cide's handlers changed his racing tactics and he took the lead early. Empire Maker was running a length back to the outside when at the mile mark, jockey Jerry Bailey made his move. The fresh Empire Maker won the race with
Ten Most Wanted a strong second and Funny Cide finishing third, more than five lengths back. In what would be Empire Maker's final race, as a 3-10 favorite he ran second by a neck in the
Jim Dandy Stakes at
Saratoga Race Course. ==Stud career==