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Burlington Flats Today
By the People, for the People
Young Trainer Kayla Lum Embraces Expanded Stable
Lum's second year in the sport brings more horses, more responsibility, and more opportunities to succeed.
Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:09am
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A young, ambitious harness racing trainer embraces the challenges and opportunities of expanding her stable, striving to reach new heights in the sport.Burlington Flats TodayIn her second year as a harness racing trainer, Kayla Lum has taken on a larger stable, which brings more horses and more responsibility. But the 26-year-old from Burlington Flats, New York is embracing the challenge, setting her sights on improving her stats and earning more wins. Lum, who got her start in the sport as a child thanks to her family's involvement, is driven to work hard and see her goals come to fruition.
Why it matters
Lum's story highlights the next generation of young, ambitious trainers entering the harness racing industry. As veteran horsemen retire, new talent like Lum is stepping up to carry the sport forward, bringing fresh energy, innovative approaches, and a lifelong passion for the animals.
The details
After a successful rookie season in 2025 that saw her win 5 races and finish in the top 3 in 21 of 57 starts, Lum has expanded her stable significantly for 2026. She is now overseeing many more horses, which requires longer hours and greater responsibility, but Lum is embracing the challenge. Her goals for this year include improving her statistics across the board - more wins, more top finishes, and continued growth. Lum credits her family's long history in the sport, dating back to her childhood, as the inspiration that led her to pursue training as a career.
- Lum began training in 2025, her rookie season.
- In 2026, Lum has taken on a much larger stable with many more horses under her care.
The players
Kayla Lum
A 26-year-old harness racing trainer from Burlington Flats, New York who is in her second year of training. She had a successful rookie season in 2025 and has now expanded her stable significantly for 2026.
Ann Yurenka
Lum's mother, who has longstanding ties to standardbred racing and co-owns horses with her daughter.
What they’re saying
“This year is my second official year of training. I did well my first year, but now we have many more horses in the barn. We grew substantially. Our goal is to always improve our stats. We want to set ourselves up to have more wins – just more of everything, really.”
— Kayla Lum, Trainer
“It will take lots of hard work. I am in the barn at least 10 hours every day, but I enjoy it. This is one of those industries where you need to work hard to see your goals happen.”
— Kayla Lum, Trainer
What’s next
Lum will look to continue her upward trajectory in the coming season, aiming to post even stronger statistics and earn more wins with her expanded stable.
The takeaway
Lum's story is an inspiring example of a young, passionate horseperson taking the reins of a growing training operation and embracing the hard work required to succeed in the competitive world of harness racing.