mr. and mrs. larry williams | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Words Matter’: Owner Changes Horse’s Name From Royal Trump To Peaceful Transfer

When Thoroughbred owner Steven McCanne partnered with trainer Bob Hess Jr. to claim a 5-year-old California-bred gelding for $40,000 at Del Mar last Nov. 27, he said he was taken aback somewhat by the horse's name: Royal Trump.

McCanne assumed breeders Larry and Marianne Williams named the son of Ministers Wild Cat after Donald J. Trump, the 45^th president of the United States. The horse, produced from a mare named Royal Woodman, was foaled on May 8, 2015, a month before Trump announced his candidacy for president. He would have been named at a later date.

“I didn't want to make a political statement, but it just felt controversial,” said McCanne. “The election had just happened. Trump is a character, but I thought, 'It's a little like Covfefe” – a reference to the LNJ Foxwoods-owned runner named after a Trump late night Tweet. Covfefe, would go on to win six of eight starts including the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and be named champion female sprinter of 2019.

Royal Trump hasn't been quite as successful, though he won six of 24 starts, earning over $200,000, when McCanne and Hess claimed him last November.

Then the insurrection of Jan. 6 happened, when thousands of Trump supporters who refused to accept the fact that Joe Biden defeated Trump in the election, stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

At that moment, McCanne said, he wanted nothing to do with a horse connecting the term “royal” with “Trump.”

“He probably would like to be king,” McCanne said of the former president.

McCanne called Hess, asking if they could change the name. “I'm not that experienced as an owner,” said McCanne, a Northern California software entrepreneur who bought his first horses a few years ago. “Bob said, 'You have to make a request to The Jockey Club. So I sent an email.”

McCanne came up with an appropriate substitute: Peaceful Transfer. That name is a reference to what is supposed to occur between the time of the presidential election in November and inauguration day in January when a new president is sworn into office. The Trump-Biden transfer of power was a rocky one.

McCanne emailed The Jockey Club on Jan. 8.

Dear Jockey Club,

I am writing to request a name change for the racehorse “Royal Trump,” claimed by me and Robert Hess, Jr. at Del Mar this past November.

At that time, I understood the name had a controversial connotation but it seemed to me a harmless joke.

Unfortunately, things are different now. After the events of this week, I feel the name has become critically controversial. No matter what one's politics are, there are many strong emotions around the name “Trump.”

Names and words matter and their meaning and implications can evolve. I feel that the name “Trump” is now controversial enough that it may detract from the spirit and positivity of the racing culture. The last thing the sport (and the horse) need are loud boos from (some in) the crowd because “Royal Trump” enters the winner's circle.

For these reasons, I humbly submit to the Jockey Club this proposal to change Royal Trump's name to “Peaceful Transfer.”

Thank you for your consideration. Bob and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

According to The Jockey Club's Rule Book, names can be changed at any time prior to a horse's first race. “Ordinarily,” the rule continues, “no name change will be permitted after a horse has started in its first race or has been used for breeding (mating) purposes. However, in the event a name must be changed after a horse has started in its first race, both the old and new names should be used until the horse has raced three times following the name change.”

Royal Trump ran on Jan. 16, one week after McCanne's request, then again on March 21 and on May 9 – all under his original name.

After the most recent start, McCanne was curious why the name hadn't changed and sent another email to The Jockey Club. This time, he said, he received a response from The Jockey Club saying the change was approved.

Peaceful Transfer will be running under his new name for the first time on Saturday at Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif., carrying a $40,000 claiming tag in an allowance race/optional claiming event.

This, incidentally, wasn't the first Royal Trump in American horse racing. A Nebraska-bred Thoroughbred by that name, born in 1993, was a seven-time winner from 57 starts over six racing seasons.

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Puype Has Marathoner Ward ‘n Jerry Primed For Upcoming San Juan Capistrano

Ward 'n Jerry has yet to see a turf marathon he didn't fancy.

The 8-year-old gelded son of Lucky Pulpit – bred in California by long-time successful proponents of racing in the Golden State, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams – seeks his third straight victory next Saturday when he runs in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¾ miles on turf at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

“This has been my destination race for him and he's ready to roll,” trainer Mike Puype said.

Ward 'n Jerry, a committed closer in a career of 27 races, of which he has won eight and earned $468,259, turned in an uncharacteristic performance in last year's San Juan, setting the pace before finishing third, beaten five lengths.

“He's doing good,” said Puype, enjoying a typically solid meet with 27 victories from 124 starts, a 22 percent winning average, with earnings of $1,201,884.

“The horse ran off a little bit in the race last year but he's not doing that anymore, so he should be all right this time around.”

Ward 'n Jerry worked five furlongs on the main track Saturday morning in 1:02 flat.

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Ward ‘n Jerry Making Quick Turnaround For San Juan Capistrano

There's an old saying in racing about a horse that “can run all day,” and it applies wholeheartedly to Ward 'n Jerry, a 7-year-old California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit whose forte is marathon turf races.

That's why the gelding owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams is coming back on a quick turnaround in next Sunday's traditional closing day feature, the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at a mile and three-quarters on turf.

One might say Ward 'n Jerry tuned up for the race in his last start on June 6 when he made a mild rally to finish fifth in the one-mile Crystal Water Stakes under 126 pounds.

“That wasn't quite his distance,” said Mike Puype, who sent out Ward 'n Jerry to win the G3 San Luis Rey Stakes at a mile and a half on grass March 21 at Santa Anita. “There's not really anything at Del Mar at a distance he likes so we have nothing to lose coming back here in just two weeks.

“Looking at the field, there's not that many horses of quality that can run that far, either. It's a good spot. … He's going to be pretty tough to beat in there.”

In 21 career races, Ward 'n Jerry has won six, with two seconds and three thirds for earnings of $375,579. All but his first three races–all sprints–have come on turf, the last 18 in a row at a mile or longer.

Puype, 53, a native of Phoenix, has been training since 1986, and has the utmost respect for Mr. and Mrs. Williams. “I've been with them a long time,” he said. “They're great clients.”

They live in Boise, Idaho, and in 1979 Williams founded the Idaho Timber Corporation, which grew into one of the top 10 private corporations in Idaho.

Should Puype capture the San Juan, it would still leave him in pursuit of a record that will never be broken, established by Charlie Whittingham, who won the race a remarkable 14 times.

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