PETER BARANA

    Leo and Peter Barana have a strong history in the publishing industry but they're relative newcomers to the Arabian racing industry. Yet, this hasn't stopped them from becoming one of the most top Arabian horsemen at Los Alamitos.
     This is the third year that Leo, 31, has held a trainer's license. In previous years, he worked under trainer Bryan Braithwaite, learning the ropes. Prior to that he was the editor of Arabian Racing Illustrated, a magazine published by his brother, Peter. The Baranas publish a total of four magazines, including Arabian Racing Illustrated.
    However, it was actually through their sport fishing magazine that they got involved in Arabian racing.
   "One of the gentlemen who works for our sport fishing magazine, his father-in-law actually had Arabians," added Peter Barana. "He said, 'Why don't you come out to the track with us?' And that's kind of how we got involved."
    That father-in-law was Roger Lang, one of the biggest breeders in the Arabian racing industry. Lang helped Peter become a race-horse owner, which in turn helped Leo as a trainer.
   "We had always wanted to get into Thoroughbreds, but the cost there is just astronomical" said Leo. "[Lang) introduced us to Arabians, which is a little bit more of an economical way of going. And I actually fell in love with the breed. l iust love their durability."
    "Our background was in publishing, not Arabians or horses or anything like that," Peter added. "When we first started we had this dream that we would buy cheap horses and, because we were so smart, we'd turn them into winners. The reality is it doesn't work that way."