Rebel-bound Rockport Harbor HEADLINE works p. 6 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2005 RAZOR SHARP JOHN GAINES DIES A field of seven headed by Sharp Lisa (Dixieland John R. Gaines, founder of the Breeders’ Cup and Band) will line up for Saturday’s feature at Santa Anita, former owner of Gainesway Farm, died yesterday from the GI Las Virgenes S. A 6 1/2- complications of diabetes at the age length maiden winner in her Cal- of 76. One of the true innovators of der debut last September, the the sport, Gaines was one of the chestnut filly just missed by a first to import stallions from Europe head in her second career start in on a major scale and to form stallion the GII Darley Alcibiades S. syndicates. He was honored with a Sharp Lisa disappointed with a Special Eclipse Award, as a Thor- Sharp Lisa sixth-place finish in the GI Breed- oughbred Club Honor Guest and was Benoit photo ers’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but re- the lone recipient of the Breeders’ bounded with a second-place Cup Special Award. It all began showing in the GI Hollywood Starlet when he took over the Standardbred S. Dec. 19. Backed at odds of 4-5 operation started by his grandfather in her sophomore debut, the Doug in 1925 and opened a Thoroughbred O’Neill trainee reported home a John Gaines division of Gainesway Farm in 1962 1 1/2-length victress in the seven Horsephotos with champions Oil Royalty and Bold furlong Santa Ynez S. Jan. 17. Bidder and former broodmare of the “We’re all kind of gung-ho for this year Cosmah. As a Gainesway stallion, Bold Bidder race,” O’Neill told Daily Racing sired two Kentucky Derby winners and led the world’s Form. “She should be tough, but sire list in 1974. Cosmah was the dam of three-time she’s got to run her race. I think it’s champion Tosmah and of Halo, the world’s leading sire a good opportunity.” The Bob and in 1983 and 1989. He managed 11 stallions who were Beverly Lewis colorbearer Classic Classic Elegance champion sires 23 times in North America, South Amer- Elegance (Carson City) flashed Adam Coglianese photo ica, England, Ireland and France. Gainesway stallions plenty of talent last summer notch- and their progeny include nine winners of the Prix de l’ ing the GIII Debutante S. and the GII Schuylerville S., Arc de Triomphe, six winners of the Kentucky Derby, but hasn’t done much since. After finishing seventh in seven winners of the Preakness S. and six winners of the GII Spinaway S., the bay filly was eased in the the Belmont S. Gainesway was one of the first farms to Alcibiades in her most recent outing. The $650,000 start multiple breeding sessions per day and had suc- KEESEP juvenile purchase adds Lasix for her three-year- cess with putting mares under lights before many farms old debut. began the practice. In 1989 Gaines sold Gainesway Farm to South African Graham Beck, but reemerged Saturday, Santa Anita, post time: 4:45 p.m. PST after the founding of John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds LAS VIRGENES S.-GI, $250,000, 3yo, f, 1m with his son Thomas and daughter Gloria along with PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY ODDS Olin Gentry in 1993. From 1993 to 2000, John R. 1 Charming Colleen Charismatic Valenzuela 20-1 Gaines Thoroughbreds was represented by 114 2 Pussycat Doll Real Quiet Douglas 5-2 broodmares. The broodmares and their progeny earned 3 On London Time Gilded Time Solis 8-1 over $70 million and include 15 champions. John R. 4 Sharp Lisa Dixieland Band Nakatani 7-5 Gaines Thoroughbreds also acquired significant inter- 5 Classic Elegance Carson City Gomez 9-2 ests in stallions, including Gilded Time and Southern 6 Memorette Memo (Chi) Desormeaux 7-2 Halo. 7 Hot Attraction Pulpit Espinoza 9-2 Gaines cont p2-3. www.coolmore.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 2/12/05 • PAGE 2 of 6 Sikura: Gaines Was “Peerless” John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm is one of many in John R. Gaines (1928-2005) the industry who feel privileged to have known John R. From the panel discussion “Legends of the Turf” Gaines. “My father and he were very dear friends,” Thoroughbred International Exposition & Conference Sikura recalled yesterday. “I met him in Kentucky and, June, 2003 after I moved to Lexington in the 1980s, he became a very dear friend to me. He was a supporter and a confi- Breeders’ Cup “The Breeders' Cup is a rather unwieldy dante.” organization. There are 50 directors and about an Sikura feels Gaines’s influence can be felt throughout eight-man executive committee, and it's not a very the entire Thoroughbred industry, from breeding to good structure for getting something done. I think racing. that we need to streamline the enterprise and we “He revolutionized the industry,” he said. “From the have to find better ways of marketing the sport than Breeders’ Cup, to the importation of European stallions, we have up to this point and time.” to syndicating stallions and selling weanlings. It’s just amazing that one man did so many things. "One thing that I am disappointed about is that is “The Breeders’ Cup is the event that still influences no recognition whatsoever in the racing Hall of Fame today,” Sikura continued. “It’s a true world champion- for all of the great breeders and owners. Horses that ship and it was the brain child of one man. He was able have run some of the most important and to travel through what was then a very competitive exhilarating races in the history of the sport -- environment. He traversed all these different groups of there's not even a mention in the racing Hall of Fame people to put the Breeders’ Cup together. It was a great about the Breeders' Cup. That's something that achievement.” should be resolved." Sikura also pointed to Gaines’s revolution of the breeding industry through his importation of European Racinos champions such as Blushing Groom, Riverman and “The simple truth of the situation is that in order Lyphard. to compete in today's world which is very “They were all breed-changing stallions,” Sikura re- competitive for the entertainment dollar, the sporting marked. “So, from a breeding point of view, that was dollar, racing without a subsidy such as the video very significant to the industry.” lottery terminal will have a very hard time of Gaines’s presence can also be felt in the sale’s ring. maintaining it’s position in pursuit of the gambling “He was the first to sell well-bred, expensive wean- dollar. Where VLTs have been implemented, there lings in that number,” Sikura explained. “That was a has been a miraculous turnaround, bringing a benefit new method of vending horses. to the horsemen and the industry that couldn't be “It’s amazing, when you look at his resume, to think achieved any other way. If we can't compete, like that one man did all of this--it’s just an amazing body of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, if we don't get work. He was peerless. It’s a sad day, not just for me VLTs at the tracks, the whole breeding industry will personally, but for the industry. He was a great man.” move from out of here to the states that do have the foresight, intelligence, and the political will to establish VLTs.” You can also pick up a copy of the TDN today at Courtesy The Blood-Horse. the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 2/12/05 • PAGE 3 of 6 An Innovator and an Educator... James Keogh of Grovendale Advisory Services Today’s Graded Stakes worked at Gainesway from 1982 until 1992, first in the brought to you by stallion barn and later in the office. “It was a serious education, let me tell you,” Keogh said. “I like to joke that I never went to college, but I learned all I needed to know from Mr. Gaines.” When Keogh went out on his own, Gaines was quick to lend a helping hand. “He spoke to several influential people and encouraged them to sell horses with me,” the Irishman said. “You can’t Click for TV believe how significant that was. He gave me several of 4:22p Appleton H.-GIII, GP brisnet.com PPs TRN the first important horses I had to sell and we had a lot 4:24p Silverbulletday S.-GIII, FG brisnet.com PPs TVG of successful pinhooks and made a lot of money selling 4:53p Mineshaft H.-GIII, FG brisnet.com PPs TVG mares over the years. But it wasn’t about the money 5:04p La Canada S.-GII, SA brisnet.com PPs TRN with Mr. Gaines, it was about the education. You could- 5:22p Risen Star S.-GIII, FG brisnet.com PPs TVG n’t put a price on it.” He added, “Mr. Gaines was al- 5:25p Suwanee River H.-GII, GP brisnet.com PPs TRN ways very insistent that anything worth doing was 6:02p Essex H.-GIII, OP brisnet.com PPs TRN worth doing well. He was constantly looking for ways 7:38p Las Virgenes H.-GI, SA brisnet.com PPs TRN to improve anything he undertook, whether it was All Times Eastern Standard Time stallion management or the Breeders’ Cup or KEEP.