GOLDEN GLIMPSES #179

August 31, 1999

By ED GOLDEN

Well, Greed has reared its ugly head again.

What racing does not need is:

More $1 million races with four-horse fields.

More cheap maiden races.

More breakdowns from over-racing.

And more on-track crowds of 4,000 or less on rainy days and Mondays.

Recognizing that, the beancounters in Sacramento recently approved a racing calendar in California for the year 2000 that has four more racing days than 1999.

This came about after the California Horse Racing Board had trimmed 10 racing dates this year from 1998 and had said it would continue down that encouraging path.

But avarice is the tale that wags racing�s dog, and that insatiable vulture is what led to the reversal of what had been a welcome and necessary trend--reduction of racing dates.

"We tried to hold them to the same number of dates as this year, but we couldn�t do it," CHRB chairman Ralph Scurfield was quoted as saying at the Aug. 20 meeting at Del Mar. "We did what we thought was best for the industry and for the state of California."

Huh?

Anyone who would believe more racing is best for the state of California would believe they can lose weight by cutting their finger nails.

Most horsemen were perplexed by the increased racing schedule, among them Eddie Gregson, a graduate of that bastion of knowledge, Stanford University. Gregson is one of the circuit�s most erudite spokespersons.

"They�ve taken a completely short-term view," lamented Gregson, who saddled Gato del Sol to a 21-1 upset victory in the 1982 Kentucky Derby.

"As everyone knows, we obviously need less racing," said Gregson, who was 61 on Aug. 7. "We�re ruining the product by having too much cheap racing. It�s like going to a restaurant, and all of a sudden, the food isn�t the quality it has been. Are you going to want to come to that restaurant more often? Even though the food is cheaper, it�s just not the same quality. The quality of racing is diminishing, and it�s going to diminish further by there being more of it."

We�ve said this countless times: more isn�t more; less is more.

What can horsemen do about this quandary? Band together? Go on strike?

"All we can do," said Gregson, an outspoken advocate of less racing, "is present our feelings through the media when we get an opportunity, just keep giving our opinions and maybe it will finally sink in. I mean, the idea of racing right through Christmas Eve. . . who the hell is going to be at the races on Christmas Eve? It�s hard to understand."

Meanwhile, here�s the deal for Southern California in 2000: Santa Anita, 87 days, from Dec. 26 through April 24; Hollywood Park, 66 days, April 28 through July 24; Del Mar, 43 days, July 26-Sept. 13; Fairplex Park, 18 days, Sept. 14-Oct. 1; Oak Tree at Santa Anita, 27 days, Oct. 4-Nov. 6; and Hollywood again, Nov. 8-Dec. 24.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good plight.

THE HOMESTRETCH: The CHRB in September will review the Southern California racing schedule, and it�s a good bet there soon will be changes in the calendar as we�ve come to know it, with Fairplex in Pomona the most effected track. "The rumor is that Pomona would be offered racing in July," Gregson said. "Hollywood Park would be split into three meets instead of two. It would race into July at least through July 4 and Pomona would race beginning sometime after July 4 until Del Mar opened. Racing would then go from Del Mar back to Hollywood, then to Oak Tree after Hollywood. I understand Fairplex is quite interested and would be happy to accept the change, because kids are out of school and the weather might not be as hot, so it might create greater attendance. It would also allow more time to prepare for the Breeders� Cup. Under the new schedule, we could have Breeders� Cup prep races in September as opposed to now, where Oak Tree has to jam everything into its first week. This might be a positive move. It seems like everyone�s for it, including the TOC (Thoroughbred Owners of California). If the CHRB buys it, I guess it will get approved." Gregson is high on one of his 3-year-olds by the name of Ron Ton, who is scheduled to run on Sept. 3. . . Wally Dollase, fired as private trainer by The Thoroughbred Corp�s Prince Ahmed Salman and partners early this year, is back in action as a public trainer with 28 horses--"90 percent of them 2-year-olds." Dollase, who was 62 on Aug. 1, has 12 at Del Mar and 16 at Santa Anita. He added that the litigation settlement from the suit which resulted from his dismissal could be imminent. While there was no official reason given for Dollase�s firing, word is he wanted to exercise patience with The Thoroughbred Corp.�s young horses, while the Prince and his partners were struck by Derby Fever . . . Trainer Ted West says Emerald Downs Mile winner Budroyale will be pointed to Oak Tree�s Goodwood Handicap and if all goes well, to the Breeders� Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 6. The former claiming horse is Breeders� Cup eligible. One horse who may not make it to the Breeders� Cup is the Bill Spawr-trained filly, Enjoy The Moment. The Rancho Bernardo Handicap winner is not BC eligible and her owners would have to pay $120,000 to run her in the six furlong Sprint. An option would be the Safely Kept Handicap at Gulfstream the day after the Breeders� Cup . . . Cowboy Jack Kaenel, his weight up to 124 pounds, is working with the Del Mar starting gate crew in an effort to get himself into riding shape again . . . Veteran valet Bobby Marcus, who calls it a career at the end of the Del Mar meet on Sept. 8, was given a trip to his native Australia as a retirement gift by a few of the more generous jockeys, among them Corey Black, Corey Nakatani and Isaias Enriquez.

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