NYRA Blocks Hollendorfer From Entering Horses

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer says he has been informed that any horses entered under his name at New York Racing Association tracks will be scratched and not allowed to run.

The June 29 action, first reported by Daily Racing Form, comes about a week after Hollendorfer was ruled off by The Stronach Group at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. A day later, NYRA said it would allow Hollendorfer to stable and race at its tracks.

"This has more or less been brewing for a few days, but today it was suggested by attorneys that if we entered horses under my name (at NYRA), they will be scratched," Hollendorfer said.

Patrick McKenna, NYRA's director of communications and public affairs, and Martin Panza, senior vice president of racing operations, had no comment when asked about the changes to Hollendorfer's status at NYRA tracks.

Hollendorfer has six horses stabled in New York with assistant trainer Don Chatlos Jr. and said he was told they will be allowed to run under Chatlos' name at Belmont Park | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Belmont Park. Included in that group are Brill in the $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) July 5 and Rowayton, who is expected to start in the $250,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3) July 6. Both horses are owned by Larry Best of OXO Equine.

"We have to change all the horses (in New York) to Don's name and have him as the trainer," Hollendorfer said. "They certainly will be running in the stakes. I was going to ship some horses to Saratoga, mostly for Larry Best, who has been very supportive, but I have to talk to all the owners about what we'll do."

TSG announced June 22 that Hollendorfer could no longer race or be stabled at Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields, saying in a statement, "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."

Of the 30 equine fatalities at Santa Anita since Dec. 26, four were trained by Hollendorfer.

On June 23, NYRA issued a statement that read, "Mr. Hollendorfer is currently utilizing stall space at Belmont Park and was approved for stalls at Saratoga Race Course for the 2019 summer meet. NYRA will honor those agreements, and he will be permitted to stable and enter horses at both Belmont and Saratoga."

Hollendorfer is allowed to race and train at Los Alamitos Race Course but said he is still waiting to hear whether he will be welcome at Del Mar, which opens July 17.

"Del Mar has not made a decision," Hollendorfer said. "At Los Alamitos, they have a big sign out there that says, 'Welcome, Jerry Hollendorfer.'"

The 73-year-old Hollendorfer said he was "disappointed" by the decisions to block him from entering horses.

"I'm disappointed with the whole situation. I'm trying to face it head-on. Get my facts and do what I can do," Hollendorfer said. "My grooms and people working for me have remained loyal to me. We moved into Los Alamitos and lost some customers, which is too bad, but everybody has a different idea about what's happening."

Hollendorfer has retained attorney Drew J. Couto to represent him but would not say whether he planned any legal action against TSG or NYRA.

"When you have problems, it's always wise to have people represent you," Hollendorfer said. "There are a lot of emotions tied into this, and attorneys are unemotional, for the most part."

Hollendorfer has 7,619 wins through June 29, with earnings of $199.7 million.