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Santa Anita Renames Stakes To Honor 100-Year-Old Retired Paddock Captain John Shear

On Oct. 1, the day Santa Anita unveiled a plaque commemorating six decades of dedicated service to its recently retired 100-year-old Paddock Captain John Shear, the Arcadia, Calif., track also announced it will further honor him by renaming the Santana Mile the “John Shear Mile.”

For older horses, the $75,000 John Shear Mile will be run on Sunday, April 10.

Employed by Santa Anita since 1961, Shear, who retired this past June, gained national recognition when on March 12, 2011, he sustained life threatening injuries as he threw himself between an on-rushing loose horse and a 5-year-old girl just outside Santa Anita's Seabiscuit Walking Ring.

“John Shear is a legend among all of us here at Santa Anita, – fans, jockeys, horsemen and employees,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita's Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “We are proud to rename this race in his honor and to help share his legacy of kindness, compassion and dedication to the well being of our sport with many generations of future racegoers.”

Orphaned at a young age in his native England, Shear aspired to be a jockey as a young man but emigrated to Canada as an exercise rider who later worked as an assistant trainer. Asked in the fall of 1954 if he'd like to accompany a group of horses from Vancouver, B.C., to Santa Anita, Shear leapt at the chance and the rest as could be said, is history.

“I was exercising horses for a guy in Vancouver and he asked me if I'd like to go with him to Santa Anita that fall,” said Shear in an interview prior to his 99th birthday in January 2020. “I said 'Sure,' and as soon as I stepped off that van in the Stable Area here, I said 'Lord, this is where I want to be.' The place was so incredibly beautiful and I've never gotten tired of it.”

A diminutive five feet, four inches, Shear checks in at about 115 pounds. “I'm gonna get to 120,” he quipped in the Paddock ceremony in which posed with many fellow employees, fans and Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

With birthday number 101 looming on Jan. 17, Shear, who still participates in a daily exercise regimen that includes push-ups, will certainly hope to be on hand to present the John Shear Mile trophy on April 10.

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Battle Is On Between Hernandez Jr., Gaffalione For Churchill Meet Title

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. entered Sunday's closing day program of the September Meet in pursuit of his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs and held a two-win margin, 14-12, over five-time titlist Tyler Gaffalione.

Hernandez, who recorded his 700th career win beneath the Twin Spires Thursday and winner of the 2018 Spring Meet title, had mounts in Races 8-10 while five-time local leader Gaffalione had calls in Races 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

Jockey Joe Talamo entered Sunday in third with 10 wins but would have to win with all five of his mounts (Races 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10) to surpass Hernandez.

In the leading trainer standings, Kenny McPeek held an 8-7 win lead over Steve Asmussen. McPeek, a three-time Churchill Downs leading trainer, had four horses entered across three races (7, 8 and 10) while record 24-time leading trainer Asmussen had six runners in four races (6, 7, 9 and 10). Dale Romans, a 14-time Churchill Downs top trainer, was third in the standings with six wins and could tie McPeek with two entries (8 and 10).

The partnership of WinStar Farm (2018 September Meet co-leading owners) and Siena Farm led all owners with three wins but does not have any entries Sunday. Columbine Stable and Lothenbach Stables were both one win behind. Columbine Stable, winner of the 2019 Fall Meet title, had one entry in Race 6 while Lothenbach Stables had runners in Races 3 and 10. Courtlandt Farms could tie WinStar Farm and Siena Farm with entrants in Races 9 and 10.

All presentations for the September Meet champions will take place in the Woodford Reserve Winner's Circle immediately after the final race of the meet.

Racing in Kentucky will transition to Keeneland for their Fall Meet beginning on Oct. 8. The Churchill Downs Fall Meet will begin Sunday, Oct. 31 with “Stars of Tomorrow I” featuring all 2-year-old races. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

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Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award Renamed For ‘Doc’ Richardson

In conjunction with the sixth annual Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards presented by Godolphin, this year's Community Award has been renamed the Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award presented by Churchill Downs.

The announcement was made following the sixth race Saturday at Churchill Downs as the track hosted a Celebration of Life for Richardson, the distinguished Louisville surgeon who was an owner, breeder and widely-respected leader in the horse racing industry. He died Sept. 7 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., from complications due to a breakthrough COVID infection at the age of 76.

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which will take place Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. in the Keeneland Entertainment Center, recognize and reward the outstanding talent, diligence and commitment of the farm and racing stable staff who are at the heart of the sport.

The Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award presented by Churchill Downs recognizes those who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Thoroughbred industry, and in particular, to the greater good of the sport. This could include those who support the breeding and racing staff or have made an outstanding contribution to the wider Thoroughbred community.

Dr. Richardson chaired the Community Award committee and helped select this year's winner and runner-up by the first panel which met in August: Nicholas Caras of the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy and Diana Pinones of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, respectively. The winner will receive $7,500 and $2,500 to their charity of choice. The runner-up will be awarded with $2,500.

Ideal candidates for the Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award should work either for or with a charitable organization, or as part of the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred business for which they work. Nominees for this award do not need to be directly employed in the Thoroughbred industry.

Qualities for nominees include

· Commitment, dedication and enthusiasm

· Propensity to work hard

· Evidence of a desire to improve and progress skills and knowledge

· Team spirit approach in the workplace

· Willingness to learn with examples of involvement in industry events and activities

Eligible candidates include, but are not limited to, those employed in Thoroughbred aftercare; backstretch programs; education related initiatives; racetrack or farm chaplaincy; etc.

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Asmussen First Trainer To Win 800 Races At Churchill Downs

In the midst of a milestone-filled 2021, Steve Asmussen became the first trainer in Churchill Downs history to saddle 800 winners beneath the Twin Spires when promising 2-year-old Dr. Perry won Saturday's sixth race at the Louisville, Ky., track.

Asmussen, who scored his record-breaking 9,446th career win on Aug. 6, is the all-time leading trainer in races won at Churchill Downs.

The record 24-time training champion at Churchill Downs, won his first race at the Louisville oval on May 16, 1993, with Snake Eyes. He won his 100th local race in June 2003; 200th in June 2006; 300th in July 2008; 400th in May 2011; and 500th in May 2014; 600th in May 2017; and 700th in June 2019.

Among Asmussen's 800 Churchill Downs wins are 83 local stakes triumphs, including two victories in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1): Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014. He also won 2008 Stephen Foster (G1) with Curlin and the 2016 Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) and 2017 Stephen Foster (G1 with Gun Runner.

His longtime Churchill Downs assistant is Scott Blasi.

Overall, Asmussen, 55, has won 9,503 races and his horses have amassed $368.2 million from 46,252 starts during a 35-year training career that began at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs in 1986. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer (2008-09) was enshrined in horse racing's Hall of Fame in 2016.

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