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December 1, 1998 By ED GOLDEN
STEVENS SAYS MERRY OLD ENGLAND WILL HAVE TO WAIT Gary Stevens will not be riding in jolly old England next year. Despite the lead story in the Nov. 20 Daily Racing Form stating that Stevens "has set in motion plans for a possible move to England that could take place as early as the start of the British flat season on March 25," Stevens says he will ride in the United States through 1999. "That’s something you should clarify," said the 35-year-old Hall of Fame rider, who could win his first Eclipse Award when honors are announced next month. "There was a lot of stuff read into that article. I felt a little bit like I was reading the National Enquirer. "I did a five-minute interview and it made headlines in the Racing Form. Although there was nothing printed that wasn’t true, there were some things that weren’t said that were said, as far as saying I had no statement regarding (riding for) Godolphin (the internationally prominent stable of Sheik Maktoum). "I did have a statement that I had had absolutely no conversations with any members of Godolphin, and as far as I’m concerned, Frankie Dettori (Godolphin’s regular jockey) is still their No. 1 rider, and that’s pure speculation on Alan Shubeck’s part on when I would be going to Europe, IF I go to Europe (Shubeck’s byline was on the Daily Racing Form story). "I made the statement that before my career ends, I would like to ride a couple of seasons in England, but I don’t know whether that’s going to be at the end of 1999 or if that’s going to be at the end of the year 2005. "I asked Steve Anderson (Daily Racing Form Southern California correspondent) to print something in the Form to clarify that a little bit, and that wasn’t done. As a matter of fact, the following day (actually, Nov. 22) there was another article printed by Alan Shubeck referring to Wayne Lukas (contemplating racing a string in Europe), and it went on to lead on that I may be coming to Europe as early as March next year. That’s TOTAL speculation on his part. "I can tell (you) that it’s total falsehood that I would be there in March of next year. (In the Nov. 22 article, it did not specifically say when Stevens might go to Europe. Shubeck wrote, "As the ace jockey maps out a course of action which could soon find him plying his trade in Great Britain . . . " with "soon" being the operative word). Asked to clarify his present status on any permanent move to ride in England, Stevens said: "I’m based here in the United States and I plan to be here in the United States for 1999." Happy New Year everyone. GOLDEN PICKS BOLDINI--Irish-bred turf specialist was not persevered with after encountering traffic on inside. Deserves another chance for hot Ron McAnally barn. SPANISH FERN--Victory in U.S. debut was more impressive than it seemed since filly overcame serious logjam in deep stretch. Follow up the ladder on turf. THE HOMESTRETCH: Stevens, completing his first year as president of The Jockeys’ Guild, said the organization’s annual meeting will take place in Las Vegas on Dec. 7-8 at the MGM Grand. "We’ve got our elections coming up," Stevens said, "not only for president, but for board of directors and the executive board. We’re bringing in a speaker to educate us a little better on medication. We have concerns about the new use of clenbuterol, and just not clenbuterol, but all the drugs in general." Administering of clenbuterol by some trainers sparked a California Horse Racing Board investigation earlier this year . . . Stevens on Best Pal, who died suddenly at age 10 of a heart attack on Nov. 24: "I don’t feel he ever got the national recognition he should have, say like Cigar, Silver Charm or Skip Away. But he definitely got his due in California. He had a great following. People really loved to come out and watch him run." Best Pal, the all-time California-bred money winner with more than $5.6 million, was second in the 1991 Kentucky Derby and won 18 of 47 races before his retirement in February of 1996. Chris McCarron, who rode Best Pal in his final 13 races, acknowledged his significance. "Having a popular, well-liked horse that is extremely competitive at the upper levels is very important to our business," McCarron said. "That’s what draws crowds to the track and that’s what people talk about and write about. Unfortunately, the problem is that it’s fleeting, it’s too brief. We got to enjoy Cigar’s run for two years; we got to enjoy Skip Away for a couple of years. When he was a 3-year-old, nobody really talked about him, and he was a good 3-year-old, too. But once he got in that streak and started shipping around, winning at tracks all over the place, he gathered a much greater following. It’s the horses that bring people to the track. Jockeys like Shoe (Bill Shoemaker) and (Laffit) Pincay would draw crowds to other tracks when they visited them, but they didn’t necessarily draw extra crowds to Southern California tracks. But the big horses do. John Henry was the extreme exception (in his racing longevity) in that he was very popular for at least four years. Kelso and Forego, too. But horses are not like athletes in baseball and basketball, where they can compete for 12 or 15 years." . . . One insider’s view on Frank Stronach’s purchase of Santa Anita: "I have heard only positive comments, although anyone short of Saddam Hussein buying Santa Anita would be an improvement over a health care company (Meditrust). I have to think the financial officer at Meditrust is now looking for new work after making such a bone-headed decision (the giant real estate investment trust bought Santa Anita a year ago for a reported $386 million; Stronach’s recent deal cost him a reported $126 million). The only question about Stronach’s plans concerns changing Santa Anita’s racing surface. No doubt the turf course could use some of Woodbine’s expertise."
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GOLDEN GLIMPSES #143
