Tag: People

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, scaling back his operations to California only, has transferred 29 of his horses at Monmouth Park to long-time assistant Dan Ward effective Saturday, July 1.

Ward has overseen Hollendorfer's division at Monmouth Park and Oaklawn Park for the past four years.

“I just want to concentrate on what I'm doing here in California,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan and I have discussed for a while that he wanted a chance to go out on his own. Now seems like a pretty good time to do that.”

Hollendorfer said he expects to keep “12 to 15 horses” to race at Los Alamitos and Del Mar.

Ward, 64, spent 22 years as an assistant to Hall of Famer Robert Frankel and has been Hollendorfer's assistant since 2007. He expects his official debut as the trainer of record to come next weekend at Monmouth Park. Entries have yet to be drawn for those Friday through Sunday cards.

“It's a great opportunity,” said Ward. “It's been a great experience working with Jerry. I'm grateful to be taking over for someone who has more than 7,700 wins. And I'm starting with 29 horses, not one or two, which you often do when you are on your own.

“It doesn't change what we do in the mornings with the horses. But now when I talk to owners they know the horses are in my name.”

Ward, a San Diego native, said he intends to remain on the Monmouth Park-Oaklawn circuit, saying, “We've established ourselves the past four years at both tracks. People know we're going to be there.”

He said “the timing is right – it's perfect timing” to go out on his own.

“It's been worth the wait,” he said.

Hollendorfer, who has a 6-6-7 line from 30 starts at Monmouth Park this year, said he is confident Ward is prepared for the opportunity he now has.

“When he came to work for me I wanted someone who would be able to offer a good opinion on what was going on,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan certainly has the foundation to do that. It certainly seemed to work out for us.

“I have no doubt he will be successful.”

The post Hollendorfer Turns Over Monmouth Horses To Dan Ward To Focus On California Stable appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

It is with great sadness that the Zent family share the news of the passing of Dr. Walter W. Zent, DVM on June 29.  He was 84 years old.

Born on April 11, 1939, in Buffalo N.Y., and raised in East Aurora, N.Y., Walter's love of horses began as a young child visiting family in Clinton, Ky.  In East Aurora, he grew up riding and began working with Standardbreds as a teenager.

Walter graduated from Cornell University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1963. Following an internship at Purdue University, he spent two years investigating infectious disease outbreaks and pathology at the University of Kentucky, Department of Veterinary Science.

Beginning in 1966, Dr. Zent practiced veterinary medicine at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee (now the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute).  For more than 50 years, Dr. Zent epitomized the very best as a veterinarian, a specialist in equine reproduction, a mentor, and a friend to so many in the industry he loved. Not only on a local level but on the national, and international stage as well.

Dr. Zent maintained strong ties with the Veterinary Science Department and the Gluck Equine Research Center and served as Chair for the Gluck Equine Research Foundation. As Chair of the Gluck Foundation, he made lasting contributions to the Department and played an important role in securing funding for facilities on the University's research farm. The mare reproduction facility is now named the “Walter W. Zent – Mare Reproductive Health Facility” in his honor.  Everyone who knew him has benefitted from the quiet, sage wisdom and endless patience of Dr. Zent as an amazing teacher.

Dr. Zent dedicated his career to advancing the field of equine reproduction and nurturing a passion for theriogenology among his peers. With a specific focus on Thoroughbreds, he played a pivotal role in revolutionizing mare management practices. He served as president of the Society for Theriogenology in 2005-'06. He was an active member and past officer or committee member of many other professional veterinary and equine organizations, including the American Association of Equine Practitioners.  He has delivered numerous presentations at national and international conferences, authored several book chapters and articles for publication.  He served on the committee for the Hagyard Bluegrass Equine Symposium as well as the committee for the International Symposium on Equine Reproduction.  Dr. Zent was an honorary Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, further attesting to his impact and influence in the realm of equine reproduction.

Walter and his wife June, in partnership with Tony and Susan Holmes enjoyed tremendous success with their small broodmare band.  Together they bred two Breeders Cup winners and multiple successful Standardbreds.

Walter leaves his wife June, daughter Megan Neelis (Trey), son, Drew Zent (Lisa), along with five grandchildren: Christine Neelis, Carter Zent, Harry Neelis, Emma Zent, and Maggie Zent, all of whom were by his side during the last few days.  He is also survived by his sister, Phyllis Shapiro and two nieces.

Dr. Zent's contributions have extended beyond his professional accomplishments. He was passionate about “paying it forward,” fostering collegiality, mentoring, and passing on the art of veterinary medicine to future generations of equine professionals.  To honor this commitment, please consider a donation to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Scholarship Endowment through The Foundation for the Horse and/or the Society for Theriogenology at https://www.theriofoundation.org/donation

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 6, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, 463 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507. A celebration of Walter's life and tremendous contributions will be held later this year at a time and location to be announced.

The post Dr. Walter W. Zent, Esteemed Reproduction Veterinarian, Passes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Peter Walder collected his 1000th career victory Friday at Gulfstream Park when Big Daddy Dave captured the Race 7 feature, a mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up on the main track.

Walder, watching from New York, hardly had to sweat out No. 1000, as Big Daddy Dave romped to an 11 ½-length victory under Miguel Vasquez as the 1-2 favorite.

“It feels awesome. We were 0-for-6 weeks when we were stuck on 997. Everyone knows I'm as streaky as all heck. We went 0-for-6 weeks and then we win three in a row,” Walder said. “I didn't think it was a big deal, then as it got closer, I started getting nervous. Like [Gulfstream announcer] Pete Aiello said, it's hard to win one let alone 1000. Now we'll have to work on 2000.”

Walder, a Montreal native, attended Niagara University on a baseball scholarship but went on to work as a groom for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield at Woodbine upon sustaining an injury that derailed his pitching career. After obtaining his training license, Walder notched his first victory with his fifth starter, Irish Gal, at Woodbine on Nov. 30, 1994.

The 54-year-old trainer, who has campaigned in the Mid-Atlantic and South Florida for many years, is currently splitting his time between South Florida, New York and the Mid-Atlantic.

“It was really nice to do it at Gulfstream. Gulfstream's my home track. It's forever in my heart,” Walder said. “I've supported that place as long as I've been training. I'm glad I got it there. It means a lot to me.”

Walder has distinguished himself as an astute claiming trainer, who has achieved considerable success in improving the performances of horses acquired via the claiming route. Perhaps more impressive than his career win total is the 22-percent winning percentage he has compiled from his 4468 starters.

The post ‘It Means A Lot To Me’: Peter Walder Wins 1,000th Race At Gulfstream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Melanie Giddings, the namesake of undefeated graded stakes winner Maple Leaf Mel, has taken over training duties of the likely favorite for next Saturday's Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride for sophomore fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park.

Maple Leaf Mel has not raced since an effortless victory in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course, which was her first graded effort as well as her first start outside of her native state of New York.

The sophomore bay daughter of Cross Traffic previously defeated her Empire State-bred counterparts in the Seeking the Ante in August at Saratoga Race Course and the East View on March 24 at Aqueduct.

Maple Leaf Mel is owned by retired Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Parcells' August Dawn Farm, and was previously trained by Jeremiah Englehart.

Giddings previously worked for Hall of Famers Mark Casse and Steve Asmussen as well as Al Stall, Jr. before spending roughly six years as Englehart's assistant. She commenced her training career in January and has now won two races, both on June 21 at Presque Isle Downs with Fight and Ready She Is.

“To me, it would be weird to not have Maple Leaf Mel in my barn. After having looked after her for so long, it would be more strange to not see her rather than to see her every day,” Giddings said. “Usually, when people name horses after people, it doesn't turn out the way it's turned out with her. I just hope we can continue to have success with her through the summer.”

Giddings, a native of Cobourg, Ontario, was based in South Florida when going out on her own, but moved her operation to Saratoga for the summer once business started picking up.

“I started this winter with just a couple horses. I didn't really plan on doing a whole lot, I just wanted a couple of my own,” Giddings said. “Then it turned out, I was getting a couple more, and a couple more and then I thought that I wanted to come up here. It's a little bit nicer up here than South Florida for the summer.”

Giddings spoke high volumes of Parcells.

“He's a good, genuine person and he's always wanting to help people. It's just his nature,” Giddings said. “I don't think anyone ever envisions naming a horse after somebody and it's turning out to really be something. We want every horse to be something, but this just happened to be the one.”

Giddings described Maple Leaf Mel as, “different and quirky in her own little way.”

“She's a nice filly to train, a high-spirited horse. She doesn't go anywhere without the pony,” Giddings said. “She's also highly intelligent. I feel like she's matured a lot turning three. I just hope that she can progressively get better from there.”

Giddings said Maple Leaf Mel breezed a half-mile in 49.40 seconds with Shaun Bridgmohan up on Friday at Saratoga.

“She's just a good feeling horse. She was dragging Shaun to the wire in a nice work. She was bucking on the way back home and that's just her,” Giddings said.

Despite already having her own barn, Giddings was still on hand for Maple Leaf Mel's Miss Preakness conquest and expressed pride in the winning effort.

“I was super proud of her. She had to run against a different group of horses for the first time that day,” Giddings recalled. “She had to ship from Florida to Pimlico. We shipped to New York to run and shipped her right back to Florida to train for her last race. There was a whole lot of excitement that day with walking up to the paddock with all the people cheering and clapping in the stands. It was a high intensity atmosphere and she handled herself well.”

Having worked for a handful of different trainers has given Giddings her own approach in terms of conditioning horses.

“I feel like I just try to learn things all the time from anyone that's around me,” Giddings said. “I've worked for some very good people that are very successful. I try to take little things here and there that have worked for them and maybe they are the kind of things that can work for me.”

Bred by Joe Fafone, Maple Leaf Mel is out of the dual winning City Place mare City Gift, who also produced the stakes-placed Eddie's Gift.

The post ‘It Would Be Weird To Not Have Maple Leaf Mel In My Barn’: Melanie Giddings Takes Over Training Duties For Namesake appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post