Daniel J. "Dan" Vella (born November 18, 1955 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian Champion Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Dan Vella was introduced to Thoroughbred horse racing by an uncle who owned horses and, after graduating from High School, went to work at a racetrack in his native Toronto. After an apprenticehip he worked as an assistant trainer with Patrick Collins and got his first win in 1985.