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Bay Area Trainer Delia Passes Away

Longtime west coast trainer and former jockey William 'Bill' Delia died Thursday due to the complications of COVID-19. He was 75 years old.

Born Dec. 5, 1946, he began his apprenticeship as a jockey in 1966. After a race-riding career in which he piloted 304 winners, Delia switched to training. Beginning in 1985, his career spanned over four decades, winning 975 races from 7,952 starters, with his runners amassing purse earnings of $16,735,424.

The Bay area native was honored with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) Trainer of the Year award in 2019.

Delia's last winner came at Golden Gate Fields Dec. 10 with Hands Off. His final two starters raced this past Friday, Jan. 21.

“As you can imagine, our racing family here at Golden Gate is deeply saddened,” said Golden Gate Fields General Manager David Duggan. “He was one guy you looked forward to seeing every morning. He was a hard worker that loved horses and racing. He had fantastic stories to share and a great sense of humor. With the news of Bill's passing comes a dark shadow that has been cast on our backstretch this morning.”

Jockey William Antongeorgi III, who rode for Delia in recent years, posted on social media Thursday evening.

“Not only was he great to ride for…but he was also just a great guy to be around,” said Antongeorgi. “[Delia was] always laughing and having a good time. This one hurts. I'll miss you.”

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Popular Bay Area Trainer Bill Delia Dies At Age 75

The Bay Area horse racing community is mourning the loss of popular longtime trainer and former jockey William “Bill” Delia, who passed away on Thursday due to complications of COVID-19. Delia was 75 years old.

Delia, born on December 5, 1946, began his apprenticeship as a jockey in 1966. After a race-riding career in which he piloted 304 horses to the wire first, Delia switched to training winners. Starting in 1985 and completing a career that spanned over four decades, Delia won 975 races from 7,952 starters, with his runners amassing purse earnings of $16,735,424.

A recent accolade for Delia came when, after a stellar year for his barn in 2019, the Bay Area native was honored with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) Trainer of the Year award.

“It's a real honor to win an award like this,” said Delia. “I am very appreciative of all the support from my owners and help back at the barn.”

Delia's last winner came at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 10, 2021 with the Thoroughbred gelding Hands Off. His final two starters raced this past Friday, Jan. 21.

Jockey William Antongeorgi III, who guided some of Delia's best stock in recent years, took to social media to express his condolences Thursday evening.

“Not only was he great to ride for…but he was also just a great guy to be around,” said Antongeorgi. “[Delia was] always laughing and having a good time. This one hurts. I'll miss you.”

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Golden Gate Fields Winter Meet Gets Purse Boost For Claiming, Maiden Claiming, Starter Allowance Races

Golden Gate Fields officials announced Friday that, beginning Sunday, Dec. 26, all starter allowance, maiden claiming and claiming races at at the Bay Area track in Albany, Calif., will receive purse increases of $3,000. For most of these races, the increase ranges from 20% to, at the highest, 30%.

“We're really pleased to be able to deliver this purse increase to the horsemen at the most appropriate time,” said David Duggan, vice president and general manager of Golden Gate Fields. “We appreciate our owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and all of the people who work for them who continue to support our racing product.”

Lower level claiming conditions will see the highest increase, ranging from a 25% to 30% increase per level. Most mid-level claiming purses, both winners and maidens running for a tag, are improving at a 15% to 25% rate. Higher claiming conditions are also set for the same $3,000 purse increase as the lower level races. $40,000 claimers-the highest claiming condition currently offered in Northern California-will elevate from the current $25,000 purse to $28,000. “Non-winners of 2” starter allowance races will bump up an additional $3,000, too (from $19,000 to $22,000), as will all other starter allowance conditions.

Dec. 26, 2021 is opening day of the Winter/Spring meet of 2021/2022 at Golden Gate Fields. The Winter/Spring meet commencing the day after Christmas and runs through mid-June.

The post Golden Gate Fields Winter Meet Gets Purse Boost For Claiming, Maiden Claiming, Starter Allowance Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Golden Gate Fields To Guarantee $200,000 Late Pick 4 Pools On Gold Rush Weekend April 24-25

Golden Gate Fields racing officials announced the bayside racecourse in Albany, Calif.,will guarantee the Late Pick 4 pools on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, at $200,000. The Late Pick 4 sequence consists of the last four races every day and is a 50-cent minimum bet. Gold Rush Weekend, a two-day festival, features eight stakes races; a half dozen on Saturday and two more on Sunday.

“We are expecting a terrific weekend of racing all around,” said Golden Gate Fields General Manager and Vice President David Duggan. “We truly appreciate the support of our horseplayers worldwide and very much look forward to providing them with an excellent product to watch and wager on next weekend. With that, we have guaranteed our Late Pick 4 pools on Saturday [April 24] and Sunday [April 25] at $200,000. Our inaugural Gold Rush Weekend in 2019 was a success and we are equally excited about this year's event.”

The marquee race of the weekend, the Grade 3 $250,000 San Francisco Mile on Saturday, attracted 19 nominations led by Grade 1 winners Hit the Road, Keeper Ofthe Stars and Ohio, Grade 2 winners Smooth like Strait and Brown Storm and Grade 3 winner Sombeyay. Other stakes races on Saturday: the Camilla Urso on turf for filly and mare sprinters (28 nominations), the Golden Poppy for filly and mare grass routers (21), the California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies (16), the Lost in the Fog for main-track sprinters (16) and the California Derby for 3-year-olds (12).

On Sunday, California-breds take center stage in co-featured, turf-mile stakes races. The Silky Sullivan, for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds, attracted 18 nominations. The Campanile, for California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies, received 19 nominations. Entries for Gold Rush Weekend Saturday will be drawn on Wednesday, with entries for the Sunday card to be taken on Thursday.

Currently, Golden Gate Fields offers fans the chance to watch races on-site at a limited capacity. Those who wish to attend Gold Rush Weekend, or any live race day at Golden Gate, can visit Goldengatefields.com and purchase tickets through the website. General Admission and walk-ups are not permitted at this time.

The post Golden Gate Fields To Guarantee $200,000 Late Pick 4 Pools On Gold Rush Weekend April 24-25 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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