Hollendorfer Ruled Off by The Stronach Group

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been ruled off from facilities owned by The Stronach Group, which released a brief statement June 22 in the wake of another equine fatality at Santa Anita Park.

"Individuals who do not embrace the new rules and safety measures that put horse and rider safety above all else will have no place at any Stronach Group racetrack," the statement said. "We regret that Mr. Hollendorfer's record in recent months at both Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields has become increasingly challenging and does not match the level of safety and accountability we demand. Effective immediately, Mr. Hollendorfer is no longer welcome to stable, race, or train his horses at any of our facilities."

Hollendorfer did not wish to elaborate when reached for comment Saturday afternoon. 

According to multiple reports, Hollendorfer trainee American Currency was euthanized Saturday morning after sustaining a fatal injury during a breeze on the Santa Anita training track. The 4-year-old gelding, a vet scratch June 16 from a $12,500 starter allowance at Santa Anita, was the 30th equine fatality during racing or training at the Southern California track since the current meet began Dec. 26. Four of those horses were trained by Hollendorfer. The others were Battle of Midway, Psychedelicat, and Kochees. 

The Santa Anita meet concludes June 23.

A California Horse Racing Board panel of veterinarians and stewards tasked with reviewing the race and veterinary records of horses entered to race at Santa Anita in the past two weeks scratched Hollendorfer's horses entered there for Saturday and Sunday.

"We are reviewing the situation with an abundance of caution, and the panel made the recommendation (to scratch Hollendorfer's horses)," said Dr. Rick Arthur, a member of the panel and the equine medical director for the state of California. "The Stronach Group took their action entirely separately from the CHRB. When we have an opportunity to discuss the next course of action, we'll decide how to do that. We've certainly in the past looked at stables; essentially, we examine all the horses and make a determination. How and when that will be done will depend on veterinary staffing."

Hollendorfer had three horses entered at Pleasanton Saturday that raced.



According to Steve Andersen of the Daily Racing Form, Hollendorfer has been given 72 hours to vacate 46 stalls on the Santa Anita backstretch. Andersen reported the trainer has 12 horses at Los Alamitos Race Course and a division at Belmont Park. 

Santa Anita vice president and racing secretary Steve Lym declined to discuss the specific case with BloodHorse beyond the statement from TSG but added, "Typically, if we ask a trainer to leave Santa Anita, they have 72 hours."

Late Saturday, Los Alamitos owner and chairman Edward Allred released the following statement:

"Los Alamitos will gladly provide stalls to Jerry Hollendorfer, a Hall of Fame trainer and an unexcelled horseman. Unless forbidden by the California Horse Racing Board, we intend to permit entries from Hollendorfer. We do not feel he should be a scapegoat for a problem which derives from a number of factors."