GOLDEN GLIMPSES #32
ALLEN PAULSON'S LONGEST (AND GREATEST) DAY
Allen Paulson is much more comfortable posing in the
winners' circle with the world champion race horse he owns
and bred, Cigar, than he is standing in front of a microphone
addressing thousands of people who are honoring him for being
a humanitarian.
On Saturday, July 13, 1996, Allen Paulson's longest day,
he did both.
Paulson's day began at sunrise on a midwestern morn,
where Cigar was about to earn $750,000 for his 16th straight
victory in a contrived contest that proved no contest called
the Arlington Citation Challenge.
It ended near midnight on the make-believe New York
street backlot of Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, where the
74-year-old Paulson and his wife, Madeleine, were feted by
Concern Foundation and Concern II for helping to raise an
organization record of more than $650,000 for cancer
research.
Flying in a private jet will allow you to cover 2,000
miles in three hours.
Paulson managed some brief comments about his favorite
topic, Cigar, between bites on a roast beef sandwich and
congratulations from well-wishers in the throng of 2,000.
"His victory in Dubai was great because he had to
travel half-way around the world and overcame a hoof injury
which forced us to condense his training schedule,"
Paulson said of the most popular equine hero since
Secretariat.
"But the race that convinced me he was legitimate
was the Oaklawn Handicap (April 15, 1995), because he beat
such a great field. To me, that was the turning
point."
Long days are nothing new for Paulson, presently chairman
emeritus of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. He has had
many, to wit:
* The day in 1939, when, while working as a janitor at
the Clinton Hotel in Iowa, he won $33.33 in a bingo game. He
invested his winnings in a bus ticket to California, where he
began working as an airplane mechanic at Hughes Aircraft
Corporation.
* The day in 1941, when he began work as a mechanic at
TWA for 30 cents an hour.
* The day he began purchasing B-29 engines and selling
their parts around the world, eventually acquiring $52
million to buy a subsidiary that built corporate jets.
* The day in 1981, when he purchased his first horse and
winner, Cardell.
* The day his brother, Marvin, died from cancer, and the
day his mother-in-law, Laura Baker, succumbed from the
disease.
Allen Paulson has had many long days, and July 13, 1996,
was another, with one notable exception.
It was also his greatest.
GOLDEN PICKS
CALL ME WILD -- Front-runner couldn't
gain lead when breaking from outside with short run to first
turn in 1 1/2-mile turf race. Was rushed to challenge
thereafter but could never overtake eventual winner, who led
throughout. Call Me Wild faded after a mile and was not
persevered with. Can surprise vs. paceless cast of $62,500
grass routers.
CURIOUS VALUE -- First-time starter ran too good
to lose but was compromised by inside post and odds-on
winner. Should handle maiden claimers next time.
GENEVE -- Ran winning race in defeat and closed
resolutely, despite racing greenly through the lane. Tab
against maiden claimers.
THE HOMESTRETCH: One of several congratulatory messages
sent to Paulson was from a fellow chairman: Frank Sinatra and
his wife, Barbara . . . It was no accident that Paulson bred
Cigar. He studies his bloodlines seriously before his
stallions and mares get together, which they did 180 times
last season . . . Among the many celebrities at the Concern
bash was KCBS-TV newswoman Michele Gillen, who donated her
time as a celebrity bartender. Asked by one unknowing reveler
if she was a soap opera star, Michele quipped, "No, but
my life is a soap opera." . . . Has there ever been a
more talented horse who has been more mismanaged than
Unbridled's Song? What would Bill Mott have accomplished with
him? . . . Jerry Bailey again displayed why he is a fail-safe
rider. Another jock might have panicked from the extreme
outside post and tried to get to the rail where Cigar could
have been consumed by a wall of horses. But Bailey knew he
was on the best horse, elected to keep him out of trouble
despite having to go wide the entire race, and still won with
authority . . . Michael Wrona's call of Cigar's victory was
accurate, exciting and epic, more than befitting the
occassion. The same cannot be said for CBS-TV's on-air hosts,
inexperienced and ill-prepared in the ways of thoroughbred
racing to the point that their uneasiness penetrated the TV
monitors . . . Racing secretary Martin Panza expects Serena's
Song, Twice The Vice and Jewel's Princess to battle in the
Vanity Handicap, one of four major races to be decided on
Super Sunday, July 21, the day before the Hollywood meet
ends. Wayne Lukas could send out Boston Harbor, Prairie
Junction and Wrightwood against Mike Harrington's undefeated
Swiss Yodeler and Big Cowboy in the Hollywood Juvenile
Championship, while Hesabull, Semoran, Prince of Thieves,
Slews Royal Son and Devil's Honor are expected to meet in the
$500,000 Swaps Stakes. Caesars Palace Invitational winner
Sandpit won't collect a bonus for winning that race unless he
wins and at least six start in the Caesars Palace Turf
Championship. Only Sandpit, Awad, Lassigny and Windsharp were
considered definite, stakes coordinator Don Bredar said . . .
Bob Meldahl was unconcerned that Corey Nakatani won't win the
Hollywood Park riding title. "He's leading in money won,
and that's more important," the agent said. "Plus,
he's already won a Hollywood title." Meldahl feels the
25-year-old rider, who had accepted some 60 less mounts than
leader Alex Solis, has yet to peak. "I think 1997 will
be his year to become a national presence," Meldahl said
. . . Ed's Holy Cow, a half-sister to 1994 Horse of the Year
Holy Bull, has been sold for $70,000 to New York interests.
The New York-bred, formerly trained by Bob Marshall, will be
trained by Tom Skiffington . . . Eddie Gregson on his success
this meet (nearly 53 percent winners): "I stable at
Hollywood year-round, so my young horses are used to this
track, and maybe that's a bit of an advantage. But I'm sort
of blessed with sound, fresh horses with conditions, so it's
worked out. I have a small stable (14 head) and it's hard to
keep it going without replacements (Gregson doesn't claim
horses. His owners either bought horses as yearlings or bred
them). The owners (such as Vincent Kanowsky, Sandy Power,
Jerry Frankel, John Harris and Lonnie Pendleton) have been
patient, and that's the answer, basically. I haven't been
raising any hell over here the last four or five years, so
I'm glad they've been loyal."
***
Send e-mail to Ed Golden 
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)