Tag: People

Barry Pearl, president of Jockeys and Jeans, an annual event that has raised $3.1 million for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund in its nine-year history, has retired.

Pearl, 76, is a former jockey who rode mostly in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida.  After retiring, Pearl became the track photographer at Penn National Racetrack and then a top salesperson for West Publishing, a leading publisher of books on law. He retired in 2009 and moved to Juno Beach, Fla., with his wife Dee.

Under Pearl's leadership the group's annual fundraiser became the most successful charity event in racing.

“As I ride off into the sunset,” Pearl said, “I would like to thank the great folks that make up our committee: Eddie Donnally, Maureen and Darrell Brown, Sandy and Karou Hawley, Jayme LaRocca, Roger Blanco, Michele Pearl, Len Eckhaus, Randy Sampson, Suzie Picou Oldham, Kenny Katz, Harvey Kacer, Allan Monet, GR Carter and PDJF Director Nancy LaSala.”

“We would never have had this level of success without him at the helm,” said Jockeys and Jeans vice president Eddie Donnally, also a former rider. “He embraced the cause for aiding disabled former jockeys and for him Jockeys and Jeans was a full-time job for at least six months out of the last nine years.”  Donnally said he will stay on for the immediate future.

In December 2014, Donnally called Pearl, a friend from their days in racing, asking him to join three other fellow jockeys at Tampa Bay Downs for an old-timer's reunion. Three weeks before the January 2015 event, it became a PDJF fundraiser they named Jockey and Jeans. It raised $23,000. Pearl was unanimously elected president the following year.

At the first event Pearl met Brian Elmore, who then headed Indiana Grand racetrack, which became the site of the second event that raised $220,000. “Elmore was my mentor and showed me how to put on a successful event,” Pearl said. “I will be forever indebted to Brian for his friendship and support.”

Pearl also thanks event hosts Tampa Bay Downs, Horseshoe Indianapolis (formerly Indiana Grand), Gulfstream Park, Parx Racing, Canterbury Park, Santa Anita, Monmouth Park, Churchill Downs, and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas where the June 24 event raised a record of over $400,000.

Pearl said he informed PDJF Director Nancy LaSala that he would remain as an advisor and help with any transition.

“I hope the PDJF will embrace Jockeys and Jeans and keep it going,” said Pearl. “In the last nine years I have met so many great people, fallen riders, Hall of Fame members and folks that truly care about jockeys who are now riding wheelchairs. It's been a good run, but it's time for me to hang up my tack.”

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As much as Matthew Ciamei would have preferred not having to endure six months before his first career winner as a trainer, the fact that it happened at Monmouth Park for the Berkeley Heights, N.J., native made the wait worthwhile,

Ciamei, 25, broke through as a trainer when Runnin' Block prevailed by a neck at Monmouth Park on June 25. The only other two horses in his stable, Never and Burning Man, are entered in separate races on Friday's eight-race card at the Jersey Shore track.

“It's pretty cool that my first win came at Monmouth Park, the track I grew up at, with my grandparents there to see it,” said Ciamei. “It was exhilarating but it was also a relief to get that first one.”

Ciamei said he has been coming to Monmouth Park “since I was in a stroller,” influenced by his grandfather, Richard T. Woll, who owned horses.

“I used to come to the track with my grandfather all the time,” said Ciamei. “My grandparents lived at the Jersey Shore so I would be at the track with them the whole summer. I really loved it. I've wanted to be a trainer for as long as I can remember.”

But there was a catch before Ciamei could pursue his dream: His family insisted he get a college degree first. He did that, getting both his undergraduate degree and a Master's degree in accounting from Manhattan College.

“That was the deal with my family, to finish college, get my degree and then I could go after my dream, which was training,” he said. “I have no intentions of using those degrees but it puts my parents at ease to know I have them.”

Ciamei, who attended Oratory Prep in Summit, N.J., took out his trainer's license in January, starting at Palm Meadows in Florida.

He finished fifth with Never in his first career start at Gulfstream on Jan. 5, shifting his small stable to Monmouth Park in May. After starting 0-for-9, Runnin' Block delivered his first career win.

“I didn't expect it to be easy or smooth sailing so it has been what I expected – a learning curve with ups and downs,” said Ciamei, who started out working for Anthony Margotta. “I only have the three horses now but I am looking to claim. I have people who want to claim and I have empty stalls. We have money in the box. We're trying to claim but we're also trying to be smart about it so we're being patient.”

On Friday, Never goes in the first race, a maiden $40,000 claimer at five furlongs on the turf. Two races later Burning Man tries a $22,000 claimer at a mile and an eighth on the grass for Ciamei, who is 1-for-10 in his young career.

The post ‘I’ve Wanted To Be A Trainer For As Long As I Can Remember’: Matthew Ciamei Breaks Through At Monmouth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Flavien Prat celebrated Independence Day by posting five wins from eight mounts on Tuesday's 10-race card at Belmont Park.

The 30-year-old native of Melun, Seine-et-Marne, France, said he was pleased to deliver victories for five separate trainers Tuesday as the final weekend at Belmont approaches before live racing moves upstate to Saratoga Race Course for the 40-day summer meet.

“I had good mounts today and thought I could have a good day,” Prat said. “It's great to have some confidence and some opportunities from trainers to ride good horses. It's great, going into Saratoga, to have some momentum.”

Prat kicked off the card with a stakes victory, taking the featured $125,000 Port Washington with Whatlovelookslike [No. 5, $6.10] for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Whatlovelookslike withstood the challenge of heavy favorite Runaway Rumour and the inside charge of Golden Rocket to win her stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for older New York-bred fillies and mares.

Prat said he felt confident of a good effort from Whatlovelookslike.

“She had some good runs prior to that and I thought she was a filly that was improving race after race. Today was a bit of a step up and she reacted the right way,” Prat said.

He returned to the winner's circle in Race 4 with a prominent score aboard Frat Pack [No. 4, $4.30*] topping a Chad Brown-trained exacta over Magico in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up.

Prat guided the Brendan Walsh-trained Heaven Street [No. 6, $8.90] to victory in Race 6, a seven-furlong Widener turf allowance optional-claimer for older horses; and returned three races later to guide the George Weaver-conditioned King Moonracer [No. 9, $19.80] to an upset score in a six-furlong Widener turf sprint for state-breds 3-years-old and up.

The four-time Breeders' Cup winning rider secured his fifth win in the Race 10 finale with a deep-stretch surge aboard Highland Grace [No. 5, $8.20], a promising American Pharoah bay trained by Barclay Tagg, to capture the 10-furlong inner turf test for fillies and mares.

“She really gave me a good run down the lane and she should have a bright future,” Prat said.

Live racing resumes Friday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card featuring the Grade 3, $250,000 Manila in Race 9. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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Indiana Derby week at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., is filled with all types of activities leading up to Central Indiana's biggest summer sporting event on Saturday, July 8. The events lineup features several philanthropic initiatives, including a $10,000 donation to Dakich Cycles for the City.

Dan and Leigh Dakich created the not-for-profit foundation a few years ago and have already provided hundreds of bikes to less fortunate kids in Central Indiana. As a result of the partnership with Horseshoe Indianapolis, Dakich Cycles for the City donated 12 bicycles and one tricycle to kids in need in Shelby County. A special check presentation to Dan and Leigh Dakich was recently held at the track during live racing as the bicycles were delivered and ready for their new owners.

“This project started off to help out a couple of kids that needed a bike, and this has just grown from there to include hundreds of bicycles every year for kids that need a bike,” said Dan Dakich, former Indiana basketball legend and sportscaster. “Every kid should be able to have a bike. I had a bike when I was growing up, so I know how invaluable it is. We try to assist as many kids as we can each year, and this project is especially important to my wife, Leigh. We are so happy to include these kids in Shelby County. Leigh and I appreciate this donation from Horseshoe Indianapolis, which will go a long way to help a lot of kids down the road.”

The Shelby County CASA program (Court Appointed State Advocates) was contacted to get sizes and types of bikes needed. Bikes are then coordinated by Indy Sports Corp through the Dakich organization and Dick's Sporting Goods assembles the bikes. Each kid also received a helmet and lock to go along with their new bicycle. The bicycles are in the process of being delivered to area children, ranging in ages from one to 18 for both boys and girls.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to do something positive for the youth of our local community,” said Trent McIntosh, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Horseshoe Indianapolis. “Providing these bikes to area kids that otherwise do not have one is a great gesture, and we are proud and honored to be included in this project that will make such an impact to 13 kids in Shelby County.”

The 21^st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing is held Tuesday through Thursday with Saturday racing added in during the summer months. First post Tuesday and Wednesday is 2:30 p.m. Thursday racing begins at 2:10 p.m. The Summer Saturday Racing Series includes five all-Quarter Horse dates July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana's featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for 12 p.m. Saturday, July 8. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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