The Horsemen's Newsletter
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The Horsemen’s Newsletter March 2016 Vol. 26 • Number 3 Backstretch Community Meetings Producing Positive Results Donna O’Connor has worked on the Maryland racetracks – Laurel Park and Pimli- backstretch at Laurel Park for 15 years and co Race Course. It came up with the monthly she has seen a lot of things, but when the forum to allow residents to constructively Harry Meyerhoff Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s As- participate in the process of improving the sociation started holding open forums with industry from the ground up. Owner of the backstretch community last summer Meetings have been held at Laurel Park and then actually followed up on things that but plans are in place to also have them at Spectacular Bid were discussed she was almost speechless. Pimlico as well. “I’ve lived here for a long time,” O’Connor “The backside community has always Passes At Age 86 says. “There have been years when you feel seemed to be a forgotten place,” Richardson Harry C. Meyerhoff, who campaigned three-time you don’t matter. I’ve had a long-standing says. “We’ve really made a concerted effort champion, 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness win- issue with people smoking in the barns. I to make improvements in people’s lives. We ner and 1980 Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid, died think it is ludicrous to be smoking in a barn set up this open forum for people to come in mid February at the University of Maryland Shore and I’ve tried for years to get it addressed, and started asking, ‘What can we do? What Medical center at Easton from complications of a but nothing ever got done. do you need?’” stroke. He was 86. “Then, last summer, they started hold- It was, in fact, a simple approach and, as ing these meetings. I went and the first time Marengo Road, a horse owned by Meyerhoff and O’Connor says, shocking to the backstretch I brought it up, one of the security guards his son Tom, won the $75,000 Miracle Wood Stakes employees who felt shut out and neglected stepped up and said, ‘I’m going to take care at Laurel Park a few days after his owner’s passing. for so long. Afterward, Marengo Road’s trainer, Mike Trombetta, of it.’ The next day in our barn those people [smoking] got written up. That guard was a On the first Thursday of every month at reflected on Meyerhoff’s death. 2 p.m., in the Laurel track kitchen, employ- “Racing really lost a hero,” Trombetta said. “He man of his word and we don’t have a smok- ing problem anymore. ees are invited to the open forum to speak was a wonderful man.” their minds about things they need and to Meyerhoff bought Spectacular Bid for $37,000 at “I feel they really listen and even if you bring up things that can’t be or haven’t been make suggestions for ways to improve living the 1977 Keeneland yearling sale. He was the major- conditions on the backstretch. ity owner, with his son Tom and his then-wife Teresa done yet, it just feels good to get it off your Richardson says if it is possible for the Meyerhoff owning minority shares. Spectacular Bid chest. David [MTHA Executive Director Da- MTHA to get something done, it will. raced under the stable name Hawksworth Farm, the vid Richardson] said ‘Tell us what you need One of the first issues brought to the MTHA’s Talbot County, Md., property where Meyerhoff lived and we will do our best to make sure it gets for more than 40 years. addressed quickly.’ I don’t think attention was resident’s mail situation. Under the care of trainer Bud Delp, Spectacular we knew what to say. Tell Backstretch workers weren’t Bid won 26 of 30 starts from 2 to 4. In 1978, he went you what we want? always getting their mail 7 for 9 and was named champion 2-year-old. His five We’d never heard because the stable stakes wins included the Grade 1 Champagne and that before.” gate functioned as Laurel Futurity. The MTHA everyone’s post He was named champion 3-year-old the next sea- had been – and office. When son after going 10 for 12, with his most important still is – look- it arrived at victories coming in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, ing for ways the racetracks Florida Derby, Flamingo, Blue Grass and Marlboro to improve it was thrown Cup. His run for the Triple Crown came to an end communica- in a cardboard when he finished third in tions and living box. the Belmont Stakes. conditions on the backstretch of its Dan MangumBoard Actions 410-802-5798 MTHA Board Meeting – January 25, 2016 – Phone Conference Members present: Timothy L. Keefe (President), Linda S. Gaudet (Vice President), R. Larry Johnson (Vice President), Michael F. Horning (Treasurer), Katharine M. Voss (Secretary), A. Ferris Allen, Chris tine E. Bricker, Dale Capuano, Ellen M. Charles, JoAnn Hayden, Robert T. Manfuso, H. Graham Motion, Lawrence E. Murray, Charles J. Reed and Michael J. Trombetta. Members absent: None. In Memoriam– 25% Raise Claiming Rule Jockey Scratches Alice Berney Hoffberger (above left), The Board endorsed the current claiming The Board voted unanimously to endorse philanthropist, arts patron and wife of rule by a vote of 12-3 that requires a claimed an immediate House Rule and eventual longtime horseman Jerold Hoffberger died horse to be raised 25% within 30 days of the regulation change that requires an automatic of Alzheimer’s disease in early February. original claim. scratch of a horse whose jockey deemed the Her husband and other members of the horse unfit to ride. Voting in favor: Ms. Bricker, Mrs. Hoffberger family became principal own- Charles, Mrs. Gaudet, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Keefe, ers of the Baltimore Orioles after the fran- Mrs. Hayden, Mr. Horning, Mr. Manfuso, chise returned to Baltimore in 1954. Mr. Motion Mr. Murray, Mr. Trombetta and In the early 1970s, the Hoffbergers pur- Ms. Voss. MTHA Golf chased a farm near Woodbine called Sun- Voting against: Mr. Allen, Mr. Capuano, Tournament: set Hill Farm, where they bred and raced and Mr. Reed. numerous runners. April 18 Maryland-based train- Allowance Conditions Spring is right around the corner er Hubert “Butch” Cave, The Board voted 8-6 to endorse current and that means one thing, the III passed away Feb. 17 allowance conditions with no changes in re- MTHA Golf Tournament is upon us. due to complications of gards to a proposal to have state restricted Sign up by calling MTHA Recreation race wins be included in the horse’s condi- cancer at the age of 59. Director Dan Mangum at Cave, a lifelong Maryland resident, was tions. (410) 802-5798. Voting in favor: Mr. Allen, Ms. Bricker, a retired sheet metal mechanic, in addition Mr. Capuano, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Keefe, Mr. to training and owning Thoroughbreds. Reed, Mr. Motion and Mr. Trombetta. Cave won his first race as a trainer in Voting against: Mrs. Charles, Mrs. Gaud- 1999 and went on to win 90 races in his ca- et, Mrs. Hayden, Mr. Horning, Mr. Manfuso reer. His horses generated purse earnings and Ms. Voss. of more than $1.7 million. He enjoyed his most productive year in 2009, when his charges won 14 of 67 Meyerhoff, continued from page 1 starts and earned $419,599. That was also Spectacular Bid, a son of Bold Bidder and ing horses together in the early 1960’s. Rob- the year he earned perhaps his most sig- the Promised Land mare Spectacular, was ert Meyerhoff, on his own, has campaigned nificant victory, when Sumacha’hot rallied unbeaten in nine starts at 4 and was named the top runners Broad Brush and Concern - from last to win the $200,000 Maryland champion older horse and Horse of the Year. a son of Broad Brush - in addition to Include Million Classic. He swept the Strub Series at Santa Anita that and recent Laurel stakes winner Candida H. winter and also won the Santa Anita Handi- Dr. Robert A. Leonard, a retired vet- cap. He concluded his career with a walkover Harry Meyerhoff’s wife Mary Jo preced- erinarian who co-owned Glade Valley Farm in the Grade 1 Woodward when nobody else ed him in death in 2013. In addition to his died of pneumonia Feb. 10. He was 92. entered to run against him. brother Robert and son Tom, Harry Meyer- Dr. Leonard was the Delp called Spectacular Bid, “The great- hoff is survived by a son, Jack; a stepson, farm’s managing partner est horse to ever look through a bridle.” David Williams; a daughter, Karen Sweet; and veterinarian until he re- Meyerhoff owned many other horses and eight grandchildren. tired in 1994 and is probably over the years, including Grade 1 Wood- Funeral services will be private. In lieu ward Handicap winner Dispersal and mul- best known for breeding, rac- of flowers, the family requests that dona- ing and standing Rollicking tiple graded stakes winner Sunny Sunrise, tions be made to the Foxie G. Foundation, who won 18 races and $1.3 million. — a top sprinter who once was the leading Meyerhoff was born and raised in Bal- which provides rescue, rehabilitation and thoroughbred stallion in Maryland. timore. He and his brother Robert E. Mey- home finding services for Thoroughbreds, In addition to Rollicking, the farm also erhoff found success in residential con- or the Talbot Special Riders Inc., which pro- counted Martinetta, Power Play, Skipper’s struction, developing numerous garden vides physical and emotional therapy using Mate and Frac Daddy among its notable apartments in Maryland.