The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)FIELD OF 10 CAL-BRED MALES READY FOR DEL MAR'S GRADUATION STAKES
Ten California-bred males are set to vie in Wednesday's 45th running of the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar. If all 10 start, the purse will be $106,600 and the winner will get $66,600. For any scratches, deduct $600 from each figure.
Expected to be the favorite in the race is Red, owned by Jack Finley and trained by Henry Moreno. Red finished a flying second, beaten a head, to Swiss Yodeler in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship at Hollywood Park July 21.
GRACE BELCOUR TO RECEIVE DOMINION AWARD FOR WORK WITH CERF
Grace Belcour, founder of the California Equine Retirement Foundation, will be honored for her work with the Winchester, CA.-based program that finds homes or gives special aid to retired racehorses, when she receives Dogwood Stables' fourth annual Dominion Award at Saratoga Racecourse August 7.
The Dominion Award is given to those deemed by Dogwood Stables as "unsung heroes" of the Thoroughbred industry.
CERF, which for the third straight year will be the beneficiary of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's "2 Cents for CERF" program, has been in operation since 1986 and so far has provided homes or aid to more than 135 retired racehorses. Under Del Mar's program, two cents from every admission is earmarked for CERF, and so far the DMTC has contributed $21,281 to the foundation.
In naming Belcour the recipient of this year's Dominion Award, Dogwood President W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell said, "Grace's focus is clearly the horse, without which we would have no industry."
Belcour said horses usually come to the 10-acre Winchester ranch at the request of an owner or trainer. "We don't do any soliciting, any spying and we don't go to auctions," she said, adding that the program's reputation has been spread by word of mouth. "Our deep feeling is there's got to be some responsibility that goes back to the owner," Belcour said. "We do not want to be a dumping ground. We want to be an alternative.
"Part of our overall feeling is that there's no point in putting a horse out for retirement if he's going to be suffering. It's not a fair thing to do to a horse."
Belcour said that most often the horses that come to CERF have suffered some sort of injury, so, she said, "they have to go through what we call a pain period, a period of getting them off the drugs they often receive for their injuries. We don't have any of our horses on drugs." Currently, there are 22 horses permanently retired at the ranch.
The goal is to try to put the Thoroughbreds that come to CERF in new careers, such as steeplechase jumping or as riding horses, but, she said, "if that can't be done, we can at least retire him so that he is happy and out with his friends, becoming a horse again, and is free, to some degree, of pain." As for those that are placed in new careers and with new owners, the minimum price is a $500 donations, Belcour said. The price varies, she added, "depending on the horse's potential and the generosity of the people who are taking the horse."
Belcour said she is thrilled by being honored with the Dominion Award and will accept it in the name of the organization and the horses.
CIGAR, DRAMATIC GOLD POST WORKOUTS AS PREPS FOR PACIFIC CLASSIC
Cigar, owned by Allen Paulson and trained by W.I. "Bill" Mott, turned in another solid workout at Saratoga Racecourse as he continued preparation for the $1,000,000, Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday, August 10. The reigning Horse of the Year went 7 furlongs in 1:27 3/5 Wednesday morning, and Jenny Kellner of the New York Racing Association's publicity department reported that he "looked good" in the workout. Regular rider Jerry Bailey was in the irons.
One more work is on the schedule for the 6-year-old son of Palace Music before he ships to the seaside course on August 8, where he will try to set a modern- day record of 17 straight victories.
Dramatic Gold, owned by Golden Eagle Farm and trained by David Hofmans, went 7 furlongs at Del Mar Wednesday in an eye-opening 1:24 3/5. Hofmans exercise rider Martin de Rubin was up for the work. Hofmans said the decision on whether or not to run in the Pacific Classic now rests with Golden Eagle Farm's John and Betty Mabee.
TWO-DAY CLINIC FOR THOROUGHBRED OWNERS SET FOR DEL MAR
A Two-Day Owners' Clinic will be presented by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Saturday and Sunday at Del Mar. The clinic is designed for experienced owners, prior seminar participants and serious potential investors.
The clinic will focus on Thoroughbred racing, integrating classroom-style presentations with field experience. Topics include business issues, specifically tax matters and costs associated with racehorse ownership; racing issues, including responsibilities of the racing office, trainer selection and claiming strategies; common injuries and ailments of racehorses and the associated treatments; and pedigree analysis.
Field experience will include visits to the stable area with local owners during training hours, to Cedar Hills Farm for a round pen demonstration and tour, and to Rancho Paseana for a conformation workshop and tour of the training facility. The group will have lunch in the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's Il Palio restaurant Saturday and at Cedar Hills Farm Sunday.
Among those scheduled to speak or to act as panelists are owners Gary Burke and Marvin Malmuth, trainers Ian Jory and Mike Mitchell, veterinarian Skip Park, Del Mar Director of Racing Tom Robbins, and industry professionals Rollin Baugh, Suzanne Cardiff, Laura Cotter, Andy Havens, Jost Van Adelesberg and Gayle Van Leer. San Diego Tribune turf writer Jay Posner will moderate the speaking portion of the event.
NAKATANI, BAFFERT OFF TO GREAT STARTS IN RIDER, TRAINER RACES
Corey Nakatani and Bob Baffert have jumped out to big leads in the jockey and trainer standings after one week of Del Mar's 43-day summer race meeting. Nakatani has 10 riding victories and Baffert has five training wins.
Nakatani's fast start has been a boon to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund because he has registered three three-victory days during the first six days of the meet. Each time a jockey rides three or more winners in a day, the fund is enriched by a minimum of $250 donated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Further, the DMTC involvement means four wins brings $500, five brings $1,000, and on up to a possible nine-race sweep worth $50,000.
Since its multiple-win support of the MacBeth Fund began in 1992, Del Mar has written checks totaling $30,500. The fund is spearheaded by Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron and his wife, Judy, and comedian Tim Conway, and aids injured jockeys and exercise riders.
Tied for second in the rider standings, with six wins each, are Alex Solis, who won the Hollywood Park riding title with 69 victories, and Patrick Valenzuela.
Baffert's lead was boosted by two double-win days. Tied for second in the trainer standings with three wins are Jenine Sahadi, Walter Greenman and five- time Del Mar leading trainer Mike Mitchell.
SHORE LINES: Noble Threewit and his wife, Beryl, who, Threewit said, heard her father warn that "it will never last," celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary Monday. The anniversary was duly noted by Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg Monday night as he served as master of ceremonies for the roast of training legend Willard Proctor at Morgan Run Golf Club. Proctor and the large audience on hand to pay tribute to the big, raw-boned, 81-year-old Texan heard a multitude of stories about the trainer and his ways - in training, living and helping others .... Happy Birthday to trainers John Sadler, Wallace Dollase and Caesar Dominguez and to jockey John Atherton. Sadler was 40 Tuesday and on Thursday Dollase will be 59, Dominguez 47 and Atherton 25 .... Owner Marvin Malmuth really wasn't trying to get his trainer, Ian Jory, more clients when he named a horse Try Jory. According to Jory, Malmuth tried to name the Irish-bred son of Sharp Victor Hung Jury. When he was told by Irish racing officials that the name was already taken he told them to try Jory [in place of Jury]. And the rest is history. Try Jory won last Monday's fourth race .... Local riders Rene Douglas and Chris Antley will be riding stakes elsewhere on Sunday. Douglas will be trying to reprise his Belmont Stakes victory aboard Editor's Note in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga and Antley is to ride Raintrap in the Arlington Handicap at Arlington International Racecourse.
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com)