Hollendorfer Not Allowed to Race in Breeders' Cup

Saying it has chosen to honor Santa Anita Park's house rule that bans Jerry Hollendorfer from training or racing at the track, Breeders' Cup announced Oct. 18 that it will not allow the Hall of Fame trainer to compete at this year's event scheduled Nov. 1-2 at the Arcadia, Calif., track.

Track owner The Stronach Group barred Hollendorfer from its tracks, which in California include Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields, after the trainer had four horses suffer catastrophic injuries during the Santa Anita winter/spring meet.

"First of all, I don’t know (many) details. I guess they had some kind of vote," Hollendorfer said of the Breeders' Cup. "I asked how many people voted, and they said they wouldn’t disclose that. First I asked them what the score was on the voting, and they wouldn’t tell me that. I guess some people were recused from voting. I really don’t know any more."

Breeders' Cup has the ability to determine which horses and connections can compete in its event.

"Breeders' Cup leads by example in the conduct of Thoroughbred racing at the highest levels of safety and integrity for its athletes," Breeders' Cup said in a release. "We have partnered with Santa Anita to implement extensive reforms related to medication practices, testing protocols, veterinary exams, injury management, on-site requirements, and racing surface testing in preparation for the 2019 World Championships.

"Earlier this year, The Stronach Group made the decision to prohibit Jerry Hollendorfer from participating at all TSG-owned tracks, including Santa Anita. As announced by the (Breeders' Cup) chairman of the board, Fred Hertrich, and consistent with Santa Anita's position as host of this year's World Championships, we will honor their house rule, and Jerry Hollendorfer will not be permitted to enter horses at this year's event."

Hollendorfer hoped to run Vasilika and Danuska's My Girl in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) and Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), respectively, both Nov. 2. The horses worked at Los Alamitos Oct. 14. Pre-entries for all Breeders' Cup races are Oct. 21.

It is unclear whether either horse will be able to start in the Breeders' Cup for another trainer. Longtime assistant Dan Ward has run horses trained by Hollendorfer at the current Santa Anita meeting. Vasilika is owned by All Schlaich Stables, Gatto Racing, George Todaro, and Hollendorfer. Kelly Mitchell's Bad Boy Racing is the owner of Danuska's My Girl.

"I guess I would have to divest myself of Vasilika," Hollendorfer said of the possibility of Ward having Breeders' Cup starters. "If Kelly Mitchell wants to hire him to train that horse and run in the Breeders’ Cup, I’m certainly not going to object to that." 

When asked about these possibilities, Breeders' Cup spokesman Jim Gluckson said the organization would have no comment beyond its statement. 

Hollendorfer is a three-time Breeders' Cup winner, scoring with Battle of Midway in the 2017 Las Vegas Dirt Mile (G1), Dakota Phone in the 2010 Dirt Mile, and Songbird in the 2015 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Battle of Midway was euthanized Feb. 23 after breaking down while training at Santa Anita, which had a spike in equine fatalities during racing and training at its winter/spring meet. The track was closed for a portion of March while the surface was evaluated.

Hollendorfer and TSG have been at odds since June 22, when it excluded him after the death of American Currency. Since then, the dispute has played out in the California court system, with a Los Angeles County judge most recently denying Hollendorfer's motion for a temporary restraining order Oct. 16 that could have allowed him to race. His attorney, Drew Couto, said on Wednesday he would file a preliminary injunction motion.

This summer, a San Diego County judicial officer granted Hollendorfer an injunction that allowed him to train horses at Del Mar after that track initially banned him, following suit from Santa Anita.

There are no California Horse Racing Board rulings against Hollendorfer that prevent him from training.