California Gov. Gavin Newsome has reappointed Oscar Gonzales, of Davis, to the California Horse Racing Board, where he has served since 2019 and currently is vice chairman.
Gonzales has been Vice President for Strategy at Golden State Renewable Energy since 2023. He served in the Biden Administration as Assistant Secretary of Administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was also a Senior Advisor on Immigration from 2021 to 2023. He was Vice President of Government Relations for Western States at Goldman Sachs from 2020 to 2021 and was Vice President of Government and Community Relations at Aura Financial Corporation from 2017 to 2020. He also was a Consultant for the Cal State Los Angeles Dreamers Resource Center in 2017.
Gonzales served as an Obama appointee in multiple roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2009 to 2017, including State Executive Director at the Farm Service Agency, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was Associate Director of the United Farm Workers Foundation from 2007 to 2009 and was a cofounder and member of Rural Forward.
The CHRB position requires state Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gonzales is a Democrat.
Race caller Trevor Denman, who came to Del Mar in 1984 and has been the track's voice ever since, has been named the 19th recipient of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award. He'll be honored in that role at the California racetrack on Saturday, August 19.
The Pincay Award, named for, and presented by, the Hall of Fame rider, goes to those who have served the sport of racing “with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction.”
Denman, 70, was born in South Africa and first called races as a teenager in his native land. He came to the United States in 1983 and impressed officials at Santa Anita and Del Mar with his distinctive style, so much so that he was soon working at those racetracks and rising to the top of the race announcer ranks in the United States.
He worked at Santa Anita from 1983 to 2015. He has called at Del Mar from 1984 to today, his 38th season at the seaside oval, missing only the 2020 season due to the COVID pandemic. Additionally, he called five seasons at the now defunct Hollywood Park, along with race meets at Golden Gate Fields, Pomona, Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park, and Atlantic City Race Course.
“Trevor is my favorite announcer,” said Pincay. “He called many of the races I rode and when I was winning a big stakes race, it was always good to hear his exciting call in the stretch.”
Pincay retired in 2003 as racing's winningest jockey with 9,530 victories.
When Denman came to the United States and began his unique style of calling, he caused a revolution in the American announcer ranks. Previously, callers in the country would note horses strictly by their positions in the race and their distance ahead of the horse behind them. But Denman instead used the race to tell a story, eschewing the “by a length” style to instead call out horses moving inside, outside, around and about in a quick tale that in effect painted a picture. He would often spot horses making a move from far back in the pack and alert his listeners to what was unfolding, giving them a preview of possible things to come.
His catch phrases became part of racetrack lore: His out-of-the-gate call of “And away they go” was a far cry from the standard “And they're off.” His others would include the likes of “They would need to sprout wings to catch…..”; “Soooo impressive;” “Moving like a winner” and “Coming like an express train… .”
He also was popular in other media. He was the caller in many racing movies – notably “Let It Ride” and “Beverly Hills Cop I and Beverly Hills Cop II” – as well as around 30 other TV and movie spots. In particular, he was the main focus of TV's long-running “The Simpsons” in one of their 2,000 shows.
He was the voice of the Breeders' Cup during its run on ESPN. In 2009 in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), he cut loose one of the most classic calls in racing annals. The mighty mare Zenyatta took on the boys in the big race and, despite being far back early, Denman picked her up making her signature moved coming into the stretch and finished up her winning run with a perfect “This-is-un-believe-able” in faultless rhythm with her final strides.
Denman and his wife of 35 years, Robin, live 10 miles outside of Wabasha, Minnesota (population 2,500) in a lovely farmhouse they had built from scratch on their 110-acre farm. They love the solace of the countryside and both are voracious readers who use all the quiet that surrounds them to their advantage.
Pincay rode for 39 seasons, including 27 summers at Del Mar, earning five Eclipse Awards as the nation's foremost rider. He also led the country in earnings on seven different occasions while compiling his exceptional win mark. Now 76-years-old, the native of Panama lives in Arcadia near Santa Anita and continues to maintain a close connection to the game.
Previous Pincay Award winners:
2022 – Ron McAnally 2021 – Dr. Gregory Ferraro 2019 – Julie Krone 2018 – Martine Bellocq 2017 – Mike Smith 2016 – Chris McCarron 2015 – Victor Espinoza 2014 – Art Sherman 2013 – Eddie Delahoussaye 2012 – John Harris 2011 – Jerry/Ann Moss 2010 – Oak Tree Racing Assn. 2009 – Merlin Volzke 2008 – Pete Pedersen 2007 – Elwood (Bud) Johnston 2006 – Mel/Warren Stute 2005 – Noble Threewitt 2004 – Bob Benoit
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced winners, finalists and official sponsors for the 38th annual TOBA National Awards.
The TOBA National Awards will consist of two days of presentations. The National Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Ky., and the National Awards Luncheon that honors breeders from 20 states and Canada will be held on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at WinStar Farm.
The finalists for the National Owner of the Year are Peter M. Brant, Godolphin, Hronis Racing, Klaravich Stables, and Winchell Thoroughbreds. The three finalists for the National Breeder of the Year are Godolphin, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC., and Summer Wind Equine.
Other TOBA national award winners include Dreaming of Julia, dam of Malathaat, who has been named as the National Broodmare of the Year; Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing who will be presented with the Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year Award; Invaluable, who will be honored as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA, and Michael Blowen who will be presented with the Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award.
The Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year will go to Satins Angel, owned by Alexa Lee while Greg Goodman will receive the Robert N. Clay Award, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use.
In addition to the winners announced today, three awards will be announced live at the dinner on Saturday evening. The three awards that will be announced live are the National Owner of the Year, National Breeder of the Year and Small Breeder of the Year.
A complete list of state winners is as follows:
State Breeders of the Year:
Arkansas: John E. Anthony Arizona: Marvin Fleming California: Nick Alexander
Canada: Adena Springs and Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Bennett
Florida: Arindel Indiana: Greg Justice Iowa: Allen Poindexter Kentucky: Godolphin
Louisiana: Allied Racing Stables LLC Maryland: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman Minnesota: Lothenbach Stables, Inc.
New Jersey: Christine Connelly
New Mexico: Robert M. and DelRae Driggers New York: Chester and Mary Broman
North Carolina: Nancy Shuford Oregon: Lisa Baze
Pennsylvania: Elizabeth M. Merryman South Carolina: Franklin G. Smith Sr. Texas: Ronald (posthumously) and Margaret Ellerbee
Virginia: Amy Moore Washington: John Parker
TOBA National Awards sponsors are Platinum level sponsors Jackson Family Wines and FanDuel. Gold level sponsors The Jockey Club & BloodHorse, NTRA, Castle & Key Distillery, and WinStar Farm. Silver level sponsors National HBPA, Stoll Keenon Ogden, Godolphin and White Birch Farm.
“We are honored to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the finalists and winners at the 2022 TOBA National Awards,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “They have distinguished themselves in Thoroughbred racing and breeding and we look forward to a wonderful weekend at WinStar Farm and Fasig-Tipton.”
The emcee of the TOBA National Awards Dinner will be Jesse Ullery of Fasig-Tipton. There will be a silent auction which will open the week of the event and close on Saturday night, as well as a live auction during the awards dinner ceremony.
Tickets are available to the public for both the luncheon and the dinner, with a discounted price for TOBA members. Registration for both events is due by August 19 and available online here: www.toba.org/awards.
It isn't always success on the biggest stage that keeps horsemen enjoying the task of waking up in the earliest hours of the morning. For 60-year-old Kathleen DeMasi, the first female trainer inducted into the Parx Hall of Fame, it's something much less tangible that keeps her love of the sport alive.
There's a moment that happens over the course of training a racehorse, she explained, when everything just starts to come together.
“When the light comes on and they really figure it out, and they start doing well for you, that's a big thrill,” DeMasi said. “When you finally get a horse to click, he's finally figured it out and is starting to do things right, and then he starts to show himself in the afternoon, that's probably the thing that really keeps me going.”
That moment isn't the same for every horse, of course, and sometimes it happens more by chance than by some grand design. All That Magic, winner of Monmouth's $104,000 Incredible Revenge by a nose in her first stakes try, was definitely the latter.
“I couldn't get a dirt race for her to go, so I decided, 'Why not try her on the turf?'” said DeMasi. “As we have found out, she's a different horse on the grass. It was a fun surprise!”
Now four-for-four in turf sprints, All That Magic's win in the 5 ½-furlong Incredible Revenge came nine days after a six-length romp at Monmouth against allowance company at five furlongs on the grass.
“I wasn't really worried about the added distance (her previous three wins were at five furlongs on the grass) because she has been drawing away in her wins lately,” the trainer continued. “My biggest concern was having just nine days rest. But she is just very good right now.”
It's hardly the first time DeMasi has had a filly step forward on the grass. The best horse she has trained, at least in terms of career earnings, was a filly named Joya Real.
All That Magic #2 (R) with Nik Juarez riding battles Train To Artemus #4 and Paco Lopez to win the $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth Park
“She was a horse that we had been running on the dirt, and she had knocked out a few conditions,” DeMasi said. “There was no race that I could find for her, but there was a race on the turf at Parx, and she won!”
Joya Real went on to win three stakes on the turf, and might have won a few more were it not for the rise of a tough female turf sprinter named Lady Shipman in the Mid-Atlantic around the same time. Overall, Joyal Real won 10 of her 30 career starts for earnings of over $450,000.
“Maybe I'm more apt to try a horse on the grass than some folks,” DeMasi posited. “People seem to think I do well with turf horses, especially turf fillies, and maybe it's just because I've been a little more experimental with them.”
That willingness to experiment has paid off over the course of her career: DeMasi has saddled a total of 1,744 winners thus far, including 465 under the Pewter Stable banner she launched with her husband, Greg.
Many of those Pewter Stable winners have been homebreds, the couple taking advantage of the Pennsylvania breeding program for both their own runners and a few sales yearlings. The DeMasis also stand their own stallion in the state, Winchill, a stakes-winning son of Tapit they owned and trained.
“We all know that the breeding business can be so emotionally up and down, so my hat's off to anyone who breeds a horse,” DeMasi said. “It's a good way of keeping around a quality mare rather than just selling her, but when you add up all the money and the time and the loss… We've been through it ourselves, and I've heard the stories, so to see one of those babies go on and do well is just an unbelievable feeling.
“It was really gratifying when (homebred) Winning Time won the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes last year. He was a baby who took all summer to get ready, because he was very immature, but then he peaked at the right time and won the Nursery. Standing there in the winner's circle, it was like watching some movie made for Disney! My groom actually rubbed both the stallion and the mare, and then the baby!”
Greg DeMasi also enjoys picking horses out at the sales.
“He knows pedigrees, and I know physicals,” Kathleen DeMasi quipped. “My husband, he's such a huge sports fan, and he knows all the numbers. I think he would have made a great scout for baseball, and that's part of why he enjoys the 2-year-old sales so much. He loves trying to find the right potential in horses, and seeing them mature just like rookies in baseball.”
All That Magic was one of those picked out at the OBS Sale, purchased for $40,000. Though the filly made just one start as a 2-year-old, she's clearly blossoming in her new home on the grass.
“It's hard to win four in a row in any kind of race,” said DeMasi. “I think right now I will probably look at a race in Maryland in early September at Pimlico; I think she'll like that course. Now that she's established herself as a turf horse, we kind of can map out where we're going with her. We've always been big believers in letting the horse tell you when they're ready. They don't always have to be racing year-round.”
It's a mantra that's served DeMasi well throughout her career, dating back to 1984. It likely stems from her time spent working under Rick Dutrow Sr.; DeMasi had grown up in Pony Club, and her parents owned a few cheap racehorses, but it was nothing like the education she got in the elder Dutrow's barn.
“He was just a really great guy to work for and you learned a lot and listened and watched,” she said. “He was the kind of guy where if you make a mistake, he'd explain why you made the mistake and tell you how to fix it.”
DeMasi reflected on those early days in the racing game, looking back fondly at her time spent all over the Mid-Atlantic region.
“Back then, there was a different group of people working at the track, more families and generational horsemen,” DeMasi said. “When I was a groom, I think I had one horse that went over to the paddock with a lip chain, but now they almost all do. I question sometimes in my mind: Is it the way we're brought up in this industry, or is it the way we're breeding the horses now?
“Is that part of the reason that HISA was needed? It used to be that you apprenticed under somebody, worked under somebody, and I just think today that the old-school theory of putting in time and learning from the ground up isn't as common.
“But you have to grow with the times. I've been a board member of the Pennsylvania horsemen's association for over 15 years, which is also part of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; when all this change was coming around with HISA, our organization was already sort of already doing a lot of stuff that they're doing now.”
For example, DeMasi was instrumental in getting Pennsylvania's first Thoroughbred aftercare program off the ground. Turning From Home was launched in 2008, and has provided over 3,650 former racehorses with a safe retirement.
“That's been one of the big changes I've seen in the industry,” DeMasi said. “But the whole world is changing, really. I've sort of been just quietly doing my thing in the Mid-Atlantic, so it's not like you're going to see my name all over the place. But this is what I love to do. Even though you might be tired or whatnot, just being around the horses is so enjoyable.”
