DID MGM'S GRAND GESTURE SAVE PRESTIGE OF BIG 'CAP?
Noble Threewitt remembers the first Santa Anita Handicap.
"People came from all over to see that race," said the trainer, who will be 85 on Feb. 24. "They came by trains and busses and there was so much excitement. It was an event, no question."
The year was 1935. Threewitt had come down from old Tanforan race track in northern California, where they raced for $400 purses. "I came to Santa Anita because purses were worth twice as much," recalled Threewitt, whose mental and physical prowess is that of man 20 years younger.
A crowd of 34,269 saw the Santa Anita Handicap in 1935. The race drew as many as 85,527 in 1985, three years before satellite wagering was born. It was a birth that would bring death to on-track attendance records.
The Big 'Cap, as it came to be known, was the first race worth $100,000 when Azucar won it 61 years ago. Now it is one of a few races with a million-dollar pot. Even so, it has recently fallen on hard times. You might say it was between a rock and the Breeders' Cup.
Not since 1992, when Best Pal won, has a horse with marquee value won the Grade I race. Sir Beaufort (1993), Stuka (1994) and Urgent Request (1995) will not be voted into the Hall of Fame.
The Santa Anita Handicap suffered the ultimate disappointment last year when 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull, pointing for Arcadia's storied race, broke down in the Donn Handicap and was retired from racing.
But necessity, vision, cooperation, innovation and the infusion of $2 million could restore the Santa Anita Handicap to its former glory.
Here's the deal: last Thursday in the posh, Vegas-style Regency Room in Santa Anita's clubhouse, high rollers from the MGM Grand, Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), lit up cigars after a press conference at which they announced a $2 million bonus for any horse that sweeps the Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic, $1 million races all.
That's all Allen Paulson needed to hear at his end of a conference call. Faster than you can say, "Flick My Bic," Cigar's owner officially put the Santa Anita Handicap as the immediate goal after the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. No bonus, and the 1995 Horse of the Year would have stayed in Florida for the $500,000 Gulfstream Handicap on March 2, the same day as the Big 'Cap.
A sweep of the three races would generate a $3.8 million payoff comprised of $1.8 million in total purses, based on a 60 percent winner's share, and the MGM Grand bonus of $2 million.
"We're still planning on it (the Santa Anita Handicap)," Paulson said. "He's training well for the Donn. We'll see how he does, then send him to Santa Anita and go from there. Hopefully, he'll be able to run at Dubai (for $4 million on March 27), but you can only take it one at a time when you're in horse racing."
Paulson's intentions were music to Santa Anita's ears.
"I think it's very important, because since the Breeders' Cup came about, I think it's fairly clear that it has damaged the Santa Anita Handicap, to some extent," said Santa Anita's president and chief operating officer, Cliff Goodrich.
"Everybody points to the Breeders' Cup. If you're going to rest a horse, that's the summit meeting, so to speak, so you're going to rest him after the Breeders' Cup.
"With all the races being run, and all the money put up, it has become less of an incentive to crank a horse up in time for the Santa Anita Handicap. I think this bonus provides that incentive to just bring a horse back a little sooner than he might otherwise.
"I think clearly we wouldn't have gotten Cigar without this bonus, so it means a lot to us."
The series, to be called the MGM Grand Classic Crown, means a lot to the Hollywood Gold Cup (June 30) and the Pacific Classic (Aug. 10), as well. All are Grade I races at the distance of 1 1/4 miles.
As Cigar added to his winning streak, which stands at 12, an insurer for the series became tougher to find.
Gene Kivi, the MGM Grand's vice president of race and sports, said one company holds insurance on the bonus payoff. "It's confidential," Kivi said of the company and the cost of the premium. "The insurance company doesn't want to be known at this time." He added that the premium would not be any less next year, as long as Cigar is not running, "but it would be a lot more if a horse swept it this year." Kivi has made Cigar an 8-1 future book betting favorite to sweep the inaugural MGM Classic Crown.
Other conditions:
Horses will compete for a participation bonus of $500,000, in prizes of $250,000, $125,000, $75,000 and $50,000, the lesser bonus to be determined by point system to horses finishing second through fifth if there is a sweep, and to horses finishing first through fourth if there's no sweep.
Horses must run in all three races to be eligible for the $500,000 bonus and will accumulate points on a 10-7-5-3-1 basis if they finish in the first five in any race.
A total of $100,000 -- $50,000 each -- will be paid Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund and the Bill Shoemaker Foundation if a jockey wins all three races on the same horse.
If fewer than six horses run in any of the races, the insurance company would not be obligated to pay the $2 million for a sweep.
Kivi said the contract runs through the year 2000, a duration of five years, "hopefully longer."
The Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic are committed to ESPN this year, but Craig Fravel, Del Mar's executive VP, said they hope to work on a TV package for 1997.
So now, California has its own version of a Triple Crown, a venue that should provide rejuvenation to the state, and the Santa Anita Handicap, in particular. "California deserves its own Triple Crown," said TOC president Ed Friendly. Added Tom Robbins, the track's vice president-racing: "Our goal is to have the best possible field for the Santa Anita Handicap. Of course, we want Cigar to run."
"It wasn't easy," said Fravel, who directed the in-fighting from last June through fruition. "But it was worth the effort."
RACING WILL MISS ITS BEST PAL, AND BEST PAL WILL MISS RACING
"I've never seen it so bad. The drains downstairs are completely backed up," said a custodial type whose job it is know about such things.
On an un-Southern California-like Wednesday, more than three inches of rain would splash on Santa Anita this day, the last of January, 1996.
The sky over the San Gabriel Mountains was gray and overcast. Try though it may, the sun never got out of the starting gate. Water from the continuous downpour was ankle-deep in spots. Less than 4,300 live souls were at the track, and fewer than 30 scattered under the cover of the saddling area before the third race, where trainer Dick Mandella would send out two horses.
A reporter, interested in Mandella's reaction to Best Pal's retirement, beckoned the trainer and they shared an umbrella, oblivious to the pelting rain.
The formal retirement of thoroughbred racing's third all-time money winner and the all-time California-bred money earner was news to Mandella, and he trained the 8-year-old gelding.
"Has Mabee made an announcement yet? I haven't heard it," Mandella said. Told he had, and a release had been distributed in the press box, Mandella added: "Okay. My reaction as a trainer and as a fan is the same, but surely more as a trainer. All I can say is he was a great horse to work with. Few people in their lifetime get that chance. I'm just glad I got it, because he's a great horse. He's one in a million, or more."
Best Pal ruled his domain around the barn, as well.
"He was like the king of his castle," Mandella said, "never like your puppy dog pet. He didn't want anybody lovin' on him or babyin' him. He was a warrior, not a pet to play with. He lived to fight and race and do his job. He was such a tough guy.
"He'd walk around the barn and if you'd stop him to fix his equipment, he'd reach out and strike you with his front hoof. He always made you realize that he was the boss, although I don't think he ever really meant to hurt you. He just wanted you to know who he was.
"We will miss him greatly, because he's such a character. Despite his antics, we all knew him well enough that we didn't get in the way and get hurt . . . he'll be greatly missed because he was such a champion in every way."
Mandella's input on the decision to retire Best Pal was held in proper perspective by John and Betty Mabee, owners of Best Pal and Golden Eagle Farm, particularly since the horse was still healthy.
"He really is (still sound)," Mandella said. "I couldn't even find a reason why he didn't run the other day (eighth in the San Pasqual Handicap), whereas last summer he had sore feet. But hell, he's good right now. I couldn't find anything wrong out of this race. It was something we all agreed on, and the Mabees from the first day were the best sports about the whole thing. They treated me fantastic in that they never crowded me to make any decision.
"There was never the money goal that people talked about . . . it was just do the best you could, that's all. We never punished him, we never beat him."
For the record, Best Pal earned $5,668,245 in nearly six years of competition, to rank behind Alysheba ($6,679,242) and John Henry ($6,597,947). He won 18 of 47 races, including six Grade Is. He will make a farewell public appearance at Santa Anita on March 2, the day the Santa Anita Handicap will be run. He won that race in 1992 and was second, beaten a head, last year.
After that appearance, Best Pal will be sent to Golden Eagle Farm east of Ramona, where he was foaled and raised. A trust fund, for his lifetime care and maintenance, will be established by the Mabees to insure that he lives out his life in style.
While racing is certain to miss Best Pal, as popular a Cal-bred as there ever was, Mandella had a different spin on his hero's farewell.
"He is one of those horses who will really miss competing. We're keeping him around the barn over there (Hollywood Park) for a while and he's just cuttin' up and acting up terrible to do something. He'll be my guest until whenever he goes home. We're just happy to have him around a bit more to play with him.
"Sure, racing will miss him. But even more, I know he'll miss racing."
GOLDEN PICKS
STAR'S THEE LAW -- Heavy favorite lost gobs of ground when breaking from extreme outside post in field of nine going 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track, dropped back to dead last, closed well down the backstretch and rallied powerfully to finish second, beaten less than a length by Native Beat, who opened an insurmountable lead in mid-stretch. Makes amends with better draw vs. $25,000 claiming foes.
GOLDEN FALLS -- Chances were compromised before race started when he acted up in starting gate and got his bell rung before gates opened. Never showed any interest as 5-2 favorite, deserves another chance vs. $40,000 sprinters.
SERGEANT STICK -- Gelding lost six lengths when he reared severely at the start, still closed resolutely to finish third in first race vs. $32,000 maiden claimers. Reaches winners' circle with good getaway.
SHEZA VALENTINE -- Cal-bred daughter of Cause for Pause closed with courage at 25-1 when taking quantum leap from maiden $32,000 victory to allowance company. Second-place finish despite going wide vs. impressive winner Wide Eyed Wanderer indicates she's genuine.
FOREVER FONDRE -- Started lengths behind bulky field of 12, but Walter Greenman-trained mare ran her eyeballs out thereafter to win $35,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles, in an effort that to be seen to be believed. Next one should be consummately easier, providing she breaks with the pack.
THE HOMESTRETCH: How costly was Corey Nakatani's five-day
suspension for striking his mount, Tillie's Joy, after the finish of the sixth race last Dec.
29? The $500 fine was meaningless, but the five days could have cost him upwards of
$10,000. "Let's put it this way," said his agent, Bob Meldahl, "if he had ridden Lit De
Justice and won the ($200,000) Palos Verdes Handicap, his share would have been worth
$13,500 right there." Nakatani also had been scheduled to ride in two other added-money
races over the weekend, the $300,000 San Antonio Handicap (Patio De Naranjos) and the
$100,000 Santa Catalina Stakes (Odyle) His attempt to get a stay on his suspension was
denied by the California State Court of Appeals. He resumes riding Thursday . . . The
Bob Baffert barn enjoyed its most successful season in 1995 since going thoroughbred
full-time in 1990, its horses earning $2.57 million and winning 22 percent of its races.
With hard-hitting stakes winners such as Gundaghia, Cavonnier, Argolid, Batroyale,
Argonnier and High Stakes Player, and dedicated assistance from Eoin Harty and Jake
Vinci, it's little wonder the white-haired trainer's operation is in the black . . . Goncalino
Almeida, who turned 40 on Super Bowl Sunday, celebrated his birthday by hosting
friends, race track pals and family from his native Brazil at his home. "He went to his
doctor the day after and was healing so well, he had stitches removed from one of his
legs," agent Vince DeGregory reported. Almeida suffered fractures to both legs when his
mount, Rue de Fraise, broke his left shoulder in the second race on Jan. 20. Almeida said
he is comfortable and in no pain. For the record, Almeida had pins inserted in his legs to
promote healing, not a rod . . . Double takes -- Trevor Denman and Hugh Grant.
The Running Horse (https://www.isd1.com/alauck)