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Turf Writer Art Wilson Passes Away

Southern California News Group's veteran turf writer Art Wilson died early Sunday morning near his home in Victorville, California. He was 71. Wilson, who gallantly fought a form of blood cancer for more than 10 years, was scheduled to attend Sunday Winter Corgi Nationals at Santa Anita, but had to be transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Apple Valley late Saturday afternoon and subsequently passed away due to heart failure.

First introduced to racing by his late father, Wilson fell in love with the game as a railbird and relished the opportunity to cover the sport dating back to the mid-1980s and as recently as this past weekend, when he was at Santa Anita to cover the GIII Palos Verdes S. for the Southern California News Group, a consortium of newspapers that includes the LA Daily News, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach Independent, and many others.

In addition to covering stakes action and writing feature stories, Wilson wrote a weekly column for the So Cal News Group, with his final contribution, “Toby Keith's love for horse racing went beyond 'Beer for My Horses'” on the passing of the country music star running Feb. 16.

“Art was alert and coherent and then he went quickly this morning from heart failure,” said his brother and frequent racetrack confidant, Eddie Wilson. “He had stabilized and when I left to come back home last night at 10:30, he was watching the race replays on his cell phone.”

From the Santa Anita press box Sunday, FanDuel's Kurt Hoover said, “Art was a great guy and he loved this place. He paid attention and his last column on Toby Keith was, without a doubt, one of his best. He'll be sorely missed.”

Art Wilson was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his brother Eddie, sister Deborah Wills (Charles), nephew Cody Wills and his wife Kimberley, as well as cousins James Costa, Mark Costa and Heather McAvoy.

A memorial service will be held next month at Oakdale Mortuary in Glendora, with specific information to come in the next few days.

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Santa Anita, Cal Poly Pomona Partner on Internships

Students who are currently enrolled in the Cal Poly Pomona Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Equine Studies Minor program will have the opportunity to intern at Santa Anita in a partnership announced Sunday.

“We are truly excited about this new partnership with Cal Poly Pomona,” said Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager Nate Newby. “This is a tremendous way for us to introduce up-and-coming young professionals, as well a large group of highly motivated Cal Poly students, to our industry and best veterinary practices in Thoroughbred racing. We look forward to welcoming our new interns and we hope to make fans out of them as well.”

Fourth-year students Tina Kabbouche and Vanessa Cardenas have been selected as “debut” interns at Santa Anita from Feb. 18 through May 12.

Kabbouche, an Animal Science major with a Pre-Veterinary/ Graduate School option, plans to begin attending veterinary school next year. Her interests include the sports medicine aspects of the equine world.

Cardenas, an Animal Health Science major, intends to become a registered veterinary technician. Her goals include working within the equine industry, with an emphasis on the Thoroughbred racetrack industry.

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First Mare of 2024 Tests in Foal to Early Voting

Early Voting (Gun Runner), who was taken out of stud duties after one season at Ashford while suffering from Anejaculatory Syndrome, has had his first mare test in foal since resuming his stud career at Taylor Made Farm this year, according to a press release from the Early Voting Consortium and Taylor Made. Dr. Paddy O'Casaigh, who treated the 2022 GI Preakness S. winner, confirmed a heartbeat which he described as, “spot on, embryonic development.”

Early Voting stands at Taylor Made at a fee of $20,000.

“This attractive breeding opportunity has already seen 40 mares booked to him,” said Ben Taylor, president of Taylor Made Stallions. “Early Voting has already served five mares this 2024 breeding season.”

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Clement Duo Eye Gotham

St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable's Deterministic (Liam's Map), off since earning 'TDN Rising Star' status with a debut victory at Saratoga last August, could make his return to the races in the Mar. 2 GIII Gotham S., according to trainer Christophe Clement.

“He won very impressively as a 2-year-old. We put him aside and he's on his way back,” Clement said. “He's a very exciting horse to have, but the question is, where should we bring him back? He might come back in the Gotham. I will make my mind up later this week.”

Purchased for $625,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale, Deterministic has worked six times at Payson Park since mid-January. Most recently, he went five furlongs Saturday in 1:01.80 (1/8).

Clement is also considering Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Capital Idea (Classic Empire) for the Gotham. The bay colt romped to an 8 1/4-length maiden score going one mile at Aqueduct Jan. 28. He worked five furlongs in 1:02.90 (6/12) over the Belmont Park dirt training track Friday.

“He's doing well. If he works well next week, we'll go for the Gotham,” Clement said. “He's getting more mature and better. It's the right time of the year. He's learning his job.”

The Gotham offers Kentucky Derby qualifyng points of 50-25-15-10-5.

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