New Jersey Horseman John Forbes ‘Embodied Everything Good About This Business,’ Passes At Age 73

John Forbes, a longtime trainer and president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, passed away on Sunday at age 73.

Born in Maryland, Forbes spent his entire career in the racing industry, following both of his parents into the training game. He moved his operations to New Jersey in the late 1970s and has been a Garden State mainstay ever since.

“John was New Jersey racing,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park Racetrack. “He was a tireless advocate for the industry, for the horsemen and for Monmouth Park.

“With a boundless capacity for kindness, John embodied everything good about this business – honor, integrity, compassion and selflessness. More than that, John had an infectious energy for racing. I will forever cherish our many years working together and appreciate not just our friendship but our collective effort on behalf of the horsemen to better this industry and the lives of those who work in it.”

From more than 14,000 starters, Forbes won over 2,100 races as a trainer. Among his long list of accomplished runners were graded stakes winners Peanut Butter Onit, Pukka Princess, Jess C's Whirl, Boyce, Amarillo, Get Serious and Tale of the Cat, who went on to be a leading sire.

Forbes gave up training on a daily basis in 2012, but was certainly no stranger to the Monmouth Park grounds. That year he embarked on a new project, Bluegrass Mini Golf, which he oversaw the construction and operation and was instrumental in delivering the US Mini Golf Open in 2014 and again in 2017. His work earned him a spot in the US ProMiniGolf Hall of Fame.

Upon giving up his trainer's license in 2012, Forbes turned the operation over to his longtime assistant Pat McBurney.

“John and I spent decades together experiencing all the highs and lows that this business has to offer,” McBurney said. “It was always a team effort with John. Even after he stopped training on a day-to-day basis he was equally involved as an owner, advisor and most importantly a friend. It's hard to imagine Monmouth Park without John, but Monmouth Park will forever be better because of John.”

Forbes leaves behind his wife Vicki, son John T. Forbes (Director of Operations at Monmouth Park), two daughters, Anne and Carrie, and two grandchildren.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Forbes's name to the Backstretch Community Assistance Program (BCAP), whose address is 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, NJ 07757. BCAP assists New Jersey horse racing stable employees in the areas of counseling, health, education, recreation and benevolence.

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‘It Makes You Appreciate What You Have’: Cancer Survivor Gonzalez Readies For First Pegasus Starter

Claudio Gonzalez has come a long way since first arriving in the United States more than 25 years ago without a job and barely able to speak the language. He has steadily climbed the ladder, beating cancer along the way, and established himself as the dominant trainer in his home base of Maryland.

Not surprisingly, the affable and easy-going 44-year-old native of Santiago, Chile is careful not to take his success – on or off the track – for granted.

“For sure, it makes you appreciate what you have,” Gonzalez said. “You're always working hard. This job is not easy, and every day is a new day. One day you might win three races, the next day you might not win any. You don't know. You have to keep working hard every day.”

Gonzalez will be chasing his biggest prize to date when he sends out Harpers First Ride for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park. Last fall, the 5-year-old gelding provided the trainer with his third and most prestigious career graded-stakes triumph in the historic Pimlico Special (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

GMP Stables, Arnold Bennewith and Cypress Creek Equine's Harpers First Ride was among the original dozen invitees to the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus for 4-year-olds and up, coming off a 2020 campaign in which he won seven of 11 starts, four stakes and close to $500,000 in purse earnings. The son of Grade 1 winner Paynter arrived in South Florida Jan. 11, and Gonzalez followed two days later.

“Not only for me but for any trainer, it's special. It's a big race and everybody pays attention. Maybe they can know a little bit more about Claudio Gonzalez,” Gonzalez said. “No matter what, it's good for any trainer to be here for a race like that. Everybody is watching.”

Maryland's leading trainer the past four years, Gonzalez has reached triple digits in each of the past three, even with live racing paused in the state for 2 ½ months last year amid the coronavirus pandemic. He swept all four meets in 2020, has won 11 of the last 14 dating back to Laurel's 2017 fall stand, and owns or shares 15 titles overall.

Gonzalez is also a two-time leading trainer during the Maryland State Fair meet at Timonium that typically bridges Laurel's summer and calendar year-ending fall stands but was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“It is not just me. I have a good team. I have very good assistants, riders, hotwalkers, grooms, everything. We are one team and they do a great job,” Gonzalez said. “All my owners understand, if you put the horse in the right spot you have a great chance to win the race. That is the key for me. If they're in the right race, then they can win.”

Gonzalez came to the U.S. in November 1995, a teenager in search of a job, eventually landing work galloping for Juan Serey, a fellow Chilean and the leading trainer in New Jersey at the time.

“Nobody in my family had anything to do with the horses. Only my uncle, who liked to bet the horses and would take me with him,” Gonzalez said. “When I saw the horses I decided I wanted to be a jockey. I started out trying to be a jockey, but I got too big. I ate too much.

“My father [Francisco] was in New York and brought me here. I went to see Juan at that time and he gave me the chance to gallop for him,” he added. “Because Juan is from Chile, too, people told me about him and I just went to him and asked if he had a job.”

Gonzazlez stayed with Serey until 2002 and had a short stint under trainer Gary Contessa before becoming an exercise rider for trainer Ben Perkins Jr. at Monmouth Park. Among the top horses that came along during their time together were multiple graded-stakes winners Wildcat Heir and Wild Gams, Grade 3 winner Max Forever and popular local 12-time stakes-winning millionaire Joey P.

“He always galloped Joey P. When he would say, 'Joey's ready,' we knew he would win. Everybody knew and loved Joey P. around here,” Perkins said. “Looking back on it, some of the horses he got on for me he would say, 'This horse is ready today,' and he was always spot-on with his evaluation.

“Claudio's just a super, super person. He's a hard-working guy and he was an excellent rider. He always went the extra mile,” he added. “He wasn't like, 'OK, I'm done with my horses and I'm going home.' He paid attention to everything going on and we had a lot of success with Claudio. You could see then he was interested in becoming a trainer, and he put in all the work necessary to do it.”

Gonzalez was married with two young children when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008. He had surgery to remove a testicle and underwent chemotherapy, leaving him unable to work for six months.

“It was a shock when I went into the doctor and he told me it was cancer. When they say cancer, you think 'Oh no, I'm going to die,'” Gonzalez said. “Right away, I said that when I was finished with the chemo I was going to be OK. I put it in my mind. I told my kids and my wife that I was going to be OK. I didn't know if I was, but I had it in my mind I was going to be OK … and that's what happened.”

In addition to the support he received from family and friends, Gonzalez is especially grateful for the compassion shown him by Perkins, who allowed Gonzalez to focus on his treatment and convalescence.

“At the time I was sick … Ben told me, 'No matter what, we'll take care of you.' He paid me every single week when I was out. There's not too many people that would do that,” Gonzalez said. “He was there for me when I needed somebody. I owe my life, really, to Benny Perkins. If it wasn't for him, I'm not here.”

Perkins, a multiple Grade 1-winning trainer including Delaware Township and Wildcat Heir in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash in 2001 and 2004, respectively, said there was never a hesitation from he or his clients that they would step in to help Gonzalez.

“A lot of my owners are hands-on guys and they're around the barn. A lot of them are people that had been with us for a while,” Perkins said. “They knew what Claudio was putting into the operation and they were all willing to help out when he needed help. It was a full group thing.

“Everybody pitched in,” he added. “The guys knew him and they knew the kind of person he was. He's a good family man. He's got a great wife and kids, and everybody was glad to help.”

Gonzalez was still working for Perkins when he got his first horses, a small string he would tend to before and after his regular job. He won with his second career starter, Quiet Tiara, Nov. 14, 2012 at Laurel, earning his first stakes win the following September with Princess Perfect in Monmouth's Jersey Girl Handicap.

“At the start when I was in New Jersey, I had five horses. At 3 o'clock I would take care of my horses over there and then at 5:30 I would go to Benny and gallop eight horses for him and then I came back to take care of my horses after that,” Gonzalez said. “When I got my first win as a trainer, in the picture Benny Perkins is there. He ran in the same race and was fourth. He said, 'This is the first of many, many more.' It was a great day.”

According to Equibase statistics, Gonzalez has compiled 883 wins and $24.9 million in purse earnings from 4,191 starters through mid-January. He set career highs with 756 starters and 174 winners in 2019 and $5.2 million in purses earned in 2020

“It's a dream. You can only dream that. I never thought that I would be able to win that many races in such a short time,” Gonzalez said. “It's amazing. All the time I look and see where I was and where I am now, and I think it's like a dream,” he added. “Where I come from, it was very hard. Nobody gives you nothing. You always have to work hard and I appreciate every day I have to be able to do this. Now I can take care of my family and be happy. It's very good.”

Prior to Harpers First Ride, Gonzalez's best horse was Afleet Willy, a gelding he claimed for $25,000 Dec. 27, 2015 and turned into a multiple stakes winner of more than $555,000 in purses. Four of his five stakes wins came at Laurel Park.

Gonzalez claimed Harpers First Ride, bred in Maryland by Sagamore Farm, for $30,000 out of a Sept. 14, 2019 win at Churchill Downs. Together they have won nine of 14 starts with two seconds and a third and $549,995 in purses.

“The last year was really big for him. He ran in the Pimlico Special and he won. He won three more stakes and he looked better and better every race,” Gonzalez said. “After every race he looked better, that's why we decide to take this step. It will be the best horses in the country.”

Harpers First Ride has breezed twice since his latest win, the most recent coming Jan. 16 at Gulfstream. Gonzalez won 10 stakes in Maryland in 2020 as well as the Charles Town Oaks (G3) with Fly On Angel.

“When I came [to the U.S.] I didn't know anybody, but when they first took my picture I said, 'I know I can do it anywhere,'” he said. “I am proof that if you work hard, and if you believe it, you can make it.”

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Maryland-Bred Owner Program Launches ‘Developer Bonus’

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Maryland Jockey Club have announced changes to the Maryland-Bred Owner Bonus Program to accommodate a new Developer Bonus Program, beginning in phases with the Jan. 22 racing program at Laurel Park.

A 15 percent bonus will be paid to the developer—the owner or owners of a horse when it makes its first career start—for any Maryland-bred that finishes first, second or third in an open overnight race at a Maryland track. The Developer Bonus only applies to a horse still owned continuously by the original owner of the horse as of Jan. 22, 2021, or the owner of a horse that makes its first career start after Jan. 22, 2021.

The Developer Bonus is not part of the purse and will not be included in a horse's earnings. The bonuses will be paid monthly once the testing of samples is completed and the races are released by the stewards. It will be the responsibility of the developer to provide the Horsemen's Bookkeeper with a W-9 if they do not already have a horsemen's account.

The Maryland-Bred Owner Bonus will continue to be paid to all Maryland-bred horses that finish first, second or third in an open overnight race in Maryland and will continue to be part of the purse. However, in order to provide a grace period for owners who currently own Maryland-breds but are not the developer, and for those who have recently claimed a Maryland-bred with expectation of receiving the full 30 percent bonus, all horses will continue to earn the 30 percent Owner Bonus through May 31, 2021—unless the horse is claimed or sold.

If a horse is claimed prior to May 31, the Owner Bonus for the new owner will drop to 15 percent for the horse's next start. If that horse was owned by a developer at the time of the claim, the 15 percent Developer Bonus will begin for the horse's next start.

The Developer Bonus concept, offered by MJC President Sal Sinatra, has been discussed by the MTHA Board of Directors and MJC racing officials over at least the last six months. It is designed to provide additional incentives for owners to support the Maryland racing program through the development of weanlings, yearlings and 2-year-olds, thus increasing the number of horses available to fill races.

The national Thoroughbred foal crop is about half that of the early 1990s, while the Maryland foal crop began to grow in 2013 and in recent years has held steady for the most part. It costs far more now to develop a horse—either bred or purchased at auction—and get it to the races. On top of that, a Maryland-bred that can't compete at higher levels when it begins its racing career could very well be claimed, leaving the owner with no further return on investment on that particular horse. The idea is to shift the balance to try to compensate individuals who invest heavily to get a horse to the races.

In approving the Developer Bonus Program, the MTHA Board agreed to analyze the program after one year to assess whether the objectives have been met and assess whether changes to the program are necessary.

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‘He Surprises Me Every Day’: Maryland-Bred Harpers First Ride Headed To Pegasus World Cup

MCA Racing Stable's Harpers First Ride, a four-time stakes winner in 2020 including the historic Pimlico Special (G3), is set to launch his 5-year-old season in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Saturday, Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Based at Laurel Park with trainer Claudio Gonzalez, Harpers First Ride was among the invitees to the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus for 4-year-olds and up, being held for the fifth consecutive year. Also on the list is another Maryland-bred, 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Knicks Go.

Harpers First Ride ended 2020 with back-to-back stakes victories at Laurel in the 1 1/16-mile Richard W. Small Nov. 28 and 1 1/8-mile Native Dancer Dec. 26.

“He came back really good after the last race, that's why we try to go to the Pegasus,” Gonzalez said. “It's a big race. It all depends. If he continues like how he's doing, we're going to go.”

The Pegasus will be the third time in graded-stakes company and first against Grade 1 competition for Harpers First Ride, who Gonzalez claimed for $30,000 out of a Sept. 14, 2019 win at Churchill Downs.

“The first time he ran over there he ran good, and he was a Maryland-bred. Why not bring him here?” Gonzalez said of the reason behind claiming the gelded son of Grade 1 winner Paynter. “What's he doing over there? So, we decide to claim the horse.”

Harpers First Ride won seven of 11 races in 2020 with two seconds, one third and $495,623 in purse earnings, growing his career bankroll to $573,055. He won the 1 1/16-mile Deputed Testamony Sept. 5 at Laurel as a prep for the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special, where he dueled up front with favored Owendale to win by two lengths.

“He surprises me every day. Every day he goes better,” Gonzalez said. “He comes back from the races like nothing. He's easy to train. He's a classy horse. He does everything right.”

Gonzalez said the plans call for Harpers First Ride to breeze at Gulfstream and have regular rider Angel Cruz aboard for the Pegasus. Cruz has been up for each of Harpers First Ride's last five wins and all four stakes.

“He knows the horse really good. And for me it's better that he rides, and I think that he will,” Gonzalez said. “The plan is to go 10 days before the race to give him a breeze over there and let him get to know the racetrack and get used to the weather change. Here it's cold and over there it's going to be hot. That's why we plan that. It gives him a couple of days to adjust.”

Claimed by Gonzalez for $30,000 out of a Sept. 14, 2019 win at Churchill Downs, MCA Racing Stable's Harpers First Ride won for the seventh time in 11 starts in 2020, four of those wins coming in stakes – the Deputed Testamony, Richard W. Small and Native Dancer at Laurel and Pimlico Special at Pimlico Race Course.

A gelded 4-year-old son of Grade 1 winner Paynter, Harpers First Ride has earned $495,623 this year, growing his career bankroll to $573,055. He will figure in the conversation for Maryland-bred Horse of the Year along with Knicks Go, who went three-for-three in the Midwest this year topped by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

“The horse surprises me every race he runs. Every race he runs better and better. He walked today and he walked like he knows he won. It's really good when you see that,” Gonzalez said. “He won four stakes, he won the Pimlico Special, and all the stakes he won he won good. It's the first time I've had a horse like that. With Harpers, every day is special. From the day we claimed him, he started doing good.”

Among the early 2021 stakes for 4-year-olds and up going a route of ground at Laurel are the $75,000 Jennings for Maryland-bred/sired horses at one mile Jan. 16, the $100,000 John B. Campbell at about 1 1/16 miles Feb. 13 and $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial at 1 1/8 miles March 13. Gonzalez said the connections will keep all their options open for the soon-to-be 5-year-old.

“He proved that he won his races easy and maybe he has to take the next step and race with the big guys and see how he does,” he said.

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