Court Decision Keeps Hollendorfer Out at Santa Anita

A California court Nov. 19 denied a motion for a preliminary injunction by Jerry Hollendorfer that would have allowed the Racing Hall of Fame trainer to start horses at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields while his civil case alleging he has been improperly banned by the owner of those tracks, The Stronach Group, plays out.

In a ruling from the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, the court denied the injunction, noting that it does not believe Hollendorfer will suffer irreparable harm if such action is not taken ahead of the Santa Anita meet that begins Dec. 26. It noted that the trial is scheduled to begin in mid-February.

"Plaintiff (Hollendorfer) argues that the upcoming 2021-22 winter/spring race (meeting) at SAP 'is likely his last chance to salvage his profession, reputation, and hard-fought goodwill.' But plaintiff has been banned from SAP since June 2019. This action has been pending for more than two years and is set for trial on Feb. 14, 2022. 

"Plaintiff waited until Sept. 29, 2021, to file this motion for an injunction to allow him to race at SAP. Plaintiff's delay in pursuing injunctive relief undercuts his claim that interim relief is necessary to avoid irreparable harm."

The court noted that Hollendorfer can seek any damages through his lawsuit.

"Plaintiff declares he will not be able to earn a living, he will lose clients, and he will be prevented from participating in unique races. The court is unpersuaded that plaintiff's harm cannot be addressed through monetary damages and declaratory relief at the end of the action, should plaintiff prevail."

Hollendorfer was barred from racing or training at tracks owned by The Stronach Group after the trainer had a series of equine fatalities at TSG-owned tracks Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields in early 2019.

CROSBY: Hollendorfer Ruled Off by The Stronach Group

Previously in October 2019, a Los Angeles judge denied the Hall of Fame trainer's attempt for a temporary restraining order that could have allowed him to race at Santa Anita Park while litigation played out. That action followed the trainer winning an injunction that summer that allowed him to participate at Del Mar, which initially followed suit from Santa Anita and barred him. Later, he was denied a temporary restraining order by an Alameda County judge in September 2019 that would have allowed him to run at Golden Gate.

In seeking the injunction, Hollendorfer, 75, said in his declaration that he currently has approximately 38 horses in his barn, down from about 120 he trained before his TSG banishment. He argues that over the past 10 years, his rate of equine fatality per starter is lower than other trainers permitted to race and stable at Santa Anita. He further claims that he was banned without "any prior notice from them to me, discussion, identification of its factual basis, purpose, rationale, or invitation to defend myself." 

In legal documents, attorneys for TSG write that their action was warranted, claiming Hollendorfer was offered two opportunities to present his side to them, one in June 2019 and another when represented by counsel that September.