Famed Agent Says Stop Blaming Pro-Ride; Slams Special Interest Groups; Calls Team Harlow-Hammerle Inept; Says Time Has Come For For Diverse Alliance

2010-05-13T16:31:00.001-07:00

Famed Agent Says Stop Blaming Pro-Ride; Slams Special Interest Groups; Calls Team Harlow-Hammerle Inept; Says Time Has Come For For Diverse Alliance

By Harry ‘The Hat’ Hacek

I was fortunate to be a part of the glory years when California racing was the best in the world. The destruction we are seeing today is not coincidental or a sign of the times. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The hardship California racing now faces is man made.
Since I began working on the racetrack in 1960 at the age of thirteen I have nomadically traveled the country. Over those five decades I have worked in every major (some minor) racing jurisdiction in the country. I have worked steady in no less than 14 states. My keen observance of racing policies and procedures (good & bad) may be unmatched. I have also worked under a near 100 different racing secretaries and/or directors of racing. That is believed to be an unofficial all-time record. Never have I seen anything near close to the wrongful actions I now see in California racing.
California racing has tried to be self-reliant and has fallen right on its ass. All bogus excuses must stop and harsh realities realized. We cannot accept the racing surface (s) as an excuse. If the racing surfaces could shout back they would probably say “it is not my fault”. Yes, too often the racing surfaces are unfairly criticized. That is a universal fact.
We can not accept the fact California is without slots as an excuse. The last time I checked Kentucky, New York and California still have the largest annual purse distributions; none have slots. Our purses are plainly and unfairly distributed. Finally, we can not accept the bogus excuse used by administrators that California is an “island”; therefore we cannot get new horses in the state. Remember, California was never considered an “island” during its glory years when we had horses come from all points east. It is amazing how horses are currently getting off the “island” to run in so many different places; including as far away as Dubai.
Now California racing is using Arnold Schwarzenegger as a punching bag. It is not the fault of the Governor that only 2300 patrons visit the once Great Race Place (Santa Anita) on a beautiful sunny Wednesday afternoon. No, this is a long stemming problem.
The person I have come to admire most in California racing is Jerry Jamgotchian. His anti-establishment attack is warranted. He has often been called a troublemaker. Not to my way of thinking. I feel those who remain silent in the face of injustices are troublemakers. The point of when people should speak out in California has long past.
The several victories Jerry Jamgotchian has won in the courts over the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) speaks volumes of their arrogant and misguided ways. Horse racing in the state would be much better served if Mr. Jamgotchian himself were a CHRB chairman.
For more than 25-years I have been ringing an alarm; forecasting the current demise. It all began with the almost simultaneous loss of Jimmy Kilroe; the greatest racing administrator of my lifetime, and the start-up of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) as the bargaining agent for horsemen. If the TOC was a well functioning and purposeful organization its format would have been followed elsewhere. It has not been. The recent and quick resignation of Steve Schwartz as the executive director of the TOC speaks volumes of that group’s dysfunctional ways.
The structure of the aforementioned California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) over the said period has only compounded the matter. How often have they had to defend themselves against conflict of interest charges? Yet nothing has been done. This is one area where the politicians in Sacramento (including the Governor) can be faulted.
It is a wonderment how John Harris has been allowed to sit on the CHRB for such a long period of time. His self-interest is so obvious. He acted as a co-conspirator in the mandating of synthetic tracks; yet does not have one at his training facility. Is that not hypocritical? I will not forget how he tried to pass a rule to split same owner entries (his). I took an aggressive stand to defeat such lunacy.
John Harris would love to see his horses run in a match race for large purses. His shortcomings are well documented. How can anyone forget John Harris’ part in passing the ridiculous claiming rule (against counsel advice) that was eventually stricken down? He apparently loves to build walls around California and burn all the bridges to the east. Beyond coincidence he is probably the biggest benefactor of the recent Cal-Bred bonus program for maiden breakers. Mr. Harris seemingly always exploits the system to his benefit.
It was interesting to hear the new chairman of the CHRB interviewed on the Roger Stein radio show. There was not much substance in the conversation; just the same old expected rhetoric. He seems like the same-old-same-old; another horse owner whose horses are trained by John Harris’ trainer Carla Gaines. What I enjoyed most of the interview was hearing Mr. Brackpool’s English brogue. It may help to have someone with a broader vision beyond California racing sitting on the Board.
We have also seen a succession of poor (at best) racing administrators and executives.
In a nutshell California racing has lost all the ingredients that constitute good racing; they being, chemistry, balance and most importantly integrity. The racing is now tailored to but a select few of greedy and power hungry individuals.
The back scratching, intertwining and protectionism among the TOC, CHRB and various racing association executives could and should be considered criminal. Among the current personalities that adversely affect California racing is the aforementioned John Harris, Madelaine Auerbach, Marsha Naify, Ron Charles and a very small handful of favored trainers. In California we see many alphabetical groups. I proclaim the above named the Elitist Club of California Racing (ECCR). There are other obvious members of this club. In all they represent about 3% of California’s racing. They all take much more than their share.
The ECCR does not even have the common courtesy of including Frank Stronach into their membership. He and his investors are only expected to provide the playhouses for the private games of the ECCR.
On his recent visit Frank Stronach was treated with rudeness and ridicule. He was attacked as a rank outsider; with little consideration of his unmatched financial commitment to the state. It apparently rubbed people wrong when Mr. Stronach rightfully said, “the entire California model is broken”. I was not surprised by some of the ignorant comments I read and heard from horsemen against Frank Stronach.
It is A-typical for Californians to attack outside forces and divert the real blame. The Pro Ride (synthetic track) mess was not of Mr. Stronach’s doing. He only provided the funds. The whole ordeal of mandating synthetic tracks could have been a shady deal. Mr. Stronach could have been a man put in the middle. Frank Stronach’s frustration at California racing is apparent. How can he have confidence or trust in anyone in the state?
I bet Frank Stronach now has a better understanding of why a wise company like Churchill Downs, Inc ran away from California racing so quickly when selling-off Hollywood Park.
After screwing everything up many of our so-called leaders want government intervention; when divine intervention may not do. Here is a little tip: Revenue is not the problem. Why do I get the feeling even with slots we would only see a marginal improvement? The added revenue would most likely be added to the overall support of the ECCR.
There are some people around the nation who have long advocated for a national czar of racing. I do not know if that is necessary or possible. But I do know California could certainly use a czar; a single individual who could restore chemistry, balance and integrity to our racing.
Czars have become a very fashionable political tool of late. A czar could possibly be appointed by the Governor and be placed between himself and his appointees on the CHRB. A czar must have over riding power. His/her primary job description would be one of being on the scene and in contact with horsemen daily. The czar’s major responsibilities would include bringing the various racing associations (statewide) together for a more compatible and harmonic racing season (chemistry). The czar would also handle all stall allotments (balance) and oversee the functioning of the state’s racing departments (integrity). I would love to be an administrative assistant and consultant/advisor to the czar.
California would have a lot to offer a czar. Steve Schwartz would be an excellent candidate. Other candidates could include Terry Meyocks, Steve Sexton, Frank Gabriel and Pat Pope; all very well established and respected national figures. California could make an undeniable offer. The pool of candidates could be very impressive.
I have written Ron Charles nearly 10,000 words of what I see as specific problems and solutions (fix all). A preliminary plan to improve California racing was presented. The plan I call the “Golden Chance” projected purses to be increased from 30-40%.
The Golden Chance is designed to reverse the exodus of horses we now see from California; it will show how California can receive from 1,200-1,500 new horses (fit & ready) each season statewide; most going to local trainers.
I asked Ron Charles to share the Golden Chance with others of influence. I do not know if he did. Mr. Charles may be dragging his feet. I told him in early December it was never too soon to think of the 2011 season. I am afraid next year will be more of the same; only with fewer horses.
I refrain from saying more about the Golden Chance Plan at this time.
If could be considered a moral responsibility for Santa Anita to set the table for the entire year of racing in California (north & south). Jimmy Kilroe gladly accepted such responsibility; thus the then greatness of California racing. Because of Santa Anita’s winter dates they have the opportunity no other local track has to showcase the rich resources of the state.
In my writings to Ron Charles I make no secret of my desire to see Mike Harlow and Rick Hammerle terminated. They are in over their head; as were their immediate predecessors.
Mike Harlow and Rick Hammerle should have never been entrusted with the positions they hold. They were mere graduates and classmates of the University of Arizona Racetrack program; a program of very weak curriculum. Harlow’s only experience as a racing secretary was of a few months at Turf Paradise, and Hammerle had not even been an assistant racing secretary when being brought in from the east and assuming his role as Santa Anita’s racing secretary. Wow! Could anyone imagine the Dodgers getting a high school manager instead of Joe Torre or the Lakers getting a small-time college coach instead of Phil Jackson? The best franchises deserve the best chance to succeed. Does Santa Anita deserve less?
Today, the Harlow/Hammerle program is the most inefficient in the nation; policies and procedures are too often dictated by personalities, and predetermined guidelines do not exist, whatever serves the moment and particular individual is what is practiced; favoritism runs rampant. Too many races are unscrupously manufactured against the natural flow of how any entry system should operate. Many of the 5, 6, and 7-horse fields are put together for particular individuals. The same efforts are not made for some that are made for others. In a sense the way races are put together could be called race fixing.
Hammerle and Harlow are too arbitrary of how and when they write and use extra races. They are afforded the freedom to butter whoever’s bread they want. The Santa Anita racing department does not receive any oversight from the CHRB, stewards or upper management.
The ridiculous entry format in itself must be ended. When will logic ever again prevail at Santa Anita? How, if as Charlie Whittingham said, “horses spoil overnight” can Santa Anita expect horsemen to enter 120-hours (5-days) in advance? I do not care if its done everywhere else (its not) this makes no sense at Santa Anita. If we know anything horsemen in California are prudent and very conservative. They will not enter if a horse spikes a little fever or leaves an oat. To booth they will scratch at the first drop of rain. When every single entry matters what we are watching is crazy. I know the economics of double-entry days, but that should only be considered at the bush tracks. Somehow a few people must be inconvenienced for the good of the entire California racing industry. Santa Anita must get back to basic fundamentals.
The double-entry day exposes up to 28 races to be reduced to a card of only 16. Exposing so many races allows the racing office an unfair look before they start rearranging (manufacturing) the entries at their pleasure.
The proof of my discontent is in the pudding. Santa Anita now runs more 5 & 6-horse fields than the rest of the nation combined. In a 3-day period; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, March 3rd, 4th and 5th, Santa Anita only had a total of 156 horses perform (a pitiful average of 6.5 per race); many being “hustled” into races against the original will of their compromised connections. The Pro Ride was fast and the turf course firm. On Thursday, March 25th, only 53 horses competed; some being hustled. Again the Pro Ride was fast and the turf course firm. Such days are unacceptable under any condition; more so during wintertime racing in the South; when field sizes are expected to increase significantly.
The shoddy work put out by the Santa Anita racing department is beneath amateurish. In the face of a long forecasted and definite storm a combined seven turf races were carded for March 6th and March 7th. When the rains came the racing of March 6th had to be unfortunately canceled under the guise of safety. Some argue the day was axed too prematurely. I tend to agree. The final decision was probably based on the excessive number of scratches that were predictably requested. Keep in mind how difficult it was to put a program together the entire week. Was the Saturday card scrapped conveniently and prematurely in part so the entries could be used the following morning for double-entry day? How sad for those who have to depend on each and every day of racing.
Make no mistake about it; the horsemen have allowed themselves to be kept in the dark and fed B’S. It is a shame Santa Anita has an inherent right to its racing dates. When, and how can they ever be sanctioned for their overall incompetence?
A major responsibility for any racing secretary and director of racing should be to recruit and host new stables. Not a single stable has arrive from the east to make California their permanent home for more 20-years. The last of the horsemen to arrive and stay were Jack Van Berg, Brian Mayberry and Arnold & Randy Winick; prior to the last two administrations. Before that we saw stables like Bobby Frankel, Laz Barrera, Willard Proctor, John Sullivan, Steve Ippolito and other very competitive stables come. Their counterparts of today are there to be recruited. Why did southern California lose its charm? The importance of gaining additional horses can not be overstated. They give continuity to a program and help preserve the local inventory.
If local horsemen knew the beauty and benefits of an efficient program there would be a revolution. Its a shame their horses are taken for machines. Horses must be trained with precision. How can our trainers train or medicate their horses with any sense of intelligence; as they do in Kentucky, New York, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois and Louisiana, etc.
An inefficient program can be the cause of more injuries than any racing surface.
One must keep in mind Ron Charles is a spin off from, and still has close alliances to the TOC (intertwining). He also was the strongest advocator of mandating synthetic tracks; along with the then CHRB chairman Richard Shapiro and John Harris. I fail to see any successes from Ron Charles as a racing executive.
It is hard to imagine any other business having such a negative downturn, for such a prolong period; without any heads rolling.
I do not care if Santa Anita comes with the perfect racing surface; whether synthetic or dirt in nature, it alone will not right the sinking ship of California racing .A new racing surface alone won’t bring Santa Anita back to its glory days.
Jerry Moss may be naive when he says that within 5-years Santa Anita, with a new racing surface, will become the greatest track in the world. The way things are going there is a better chance Santa Anita won’t keep pace with the growth of Tampa Bay Downs and Sunland Park. It has already been shown Santa Anita now has fallen badly behind the other established winter racing centers of Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park and the Fair Grounds. With a new racing surface at Santa Anita must come a new racing department and program.
In a couple of weeks Santa Anita will pass the hot potato of an over used horse population to Hollywood Park. What can be expected of Hollywood Park? Very little! They are victimized by the ineptness of Santa Anita. Their (Hollywood Park) placement on the racing calendar is inopportune. So they are forced to a 4-day race week.
To exacerbate matters, on a recent visit to Santa Anita I heard trainers like Kristan Mulhall, Bob Hess, Peter Eurton, Ben Cecil and Mark Glatt are making plans to ship horses away. Even an ECCR member like Barry Abrams will send horses to the east. Can anyone blame them? Yet, the way trainers abandon California racing is troubling; all will be received with open arms on their return. In a sense Santa Anita will reserve their stalls with pad locks. This is an example (one of many) of how California racing associations do not work together and lack chemistry. This is one example of where a czar could step in and sternly say, “Hey what are you doing?”
The loss of any horses will have a substantial impact on Hollywood Park. Hopefully a new batch of maiden $25,000 horses will arrive by the Hollywood Park opening. They will also be heavily dependent on their two-year old program. But the addition of cheap maidens and two-year old’s will be offset by the fact that many horses will be freshened in anticipation of Del Mar; especially by the big stables who have multiple horses for most categories.
The major issue that hampers southern California racing is its auxiliary stabling program; in current form it only nurtures the big fish to eat the little. It must be noted when racing was at its best in California We only stabled at the track that was running. Now, utilizing both Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, we have double the amount of stalls and the racing has deteriorated. That is because we have allowed some trainers an unlimited amount of stalls. No jurisdiction in the world would survive what is happening in California; four or five trainers can not control 500-600 horses. The problem only becomes more profound during the racing of two-year old’s. The allowed dominance of the said four or five trainers is choking the life out of California racing. To allow this madness only serves the individual trainers. So many of these horses could and should be competing against each other. No trainer should have multiple horses for each and every category. Can anyone imagine the New York Yankees Having 120 players while their opponents all had far, far less? To protect against dominance every major sport has a salary and roster cap. California racing should consider such provisions.
To assure parity and regain a competitive spirit in California racing; a stall limit must be re-imposed. There was a time when a cap of 38 stalls (before auxiliary stabling) was the maximum number given any trainer. That number is too stringent today; just as an amount well over 100 is extreme. There must be a happy medium met. The Golden Chance Plan addresses this issue in detail.
The mega-stables of the east are not allowed to accumulate so many horses in one jurisdiction. The maximum number of stalls in any state is usually fifty (50). That is why Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen have stables in multiple states simultaneously.
If the Monmouth Park model of racing 3-day weeks is successful Californians can expect the same; only with much smaller purses. How many of the rank and file will become extinct? Keep in mind, a 3-day week will have little affect on the ECCR.
I have heard some misdirected and selfish people even call for the closing of racing in the north. In a sense the ECCR has already used Golden Gate as a sacrificial lamb. I thought the horse people of the north wise when they considered breaking away from the TOC. I do not know why the established people of the San Francisco area did not follow through. Maybe it is because there are a few token ECCR members there.
Yes, California racing needs to be turned upside down. It was recently said the Golden Gate program now resembles the Ferndale Fair, and Santa Anita’s program is looking more and more like Golden Gate of recent times. Truer words may never have been spoken. On his recent visit Mr. Stronach did not sound like a happy camper. Hopefully he will face the situations at Santa Anita. I have a feeling the rest would take care of itself in a trickled-down manner.
The Thoroughbred Trainers of California (TTC) is yet another alphabetical self-interest group and a joke. Their leadership consist of Darrell Vienna and John Sadler; both with their own agenda. Can any rank and file horsemen think they will get fair representation? John Sadler is a former director of the TOC. He is one of the four or five trainers with a number of unlimited stalls. It is safe to say John Sadler himself is a chartered member of the ECCR. I see no reason he would buck the status-quo. His role with the TTC only assures temperance of the rank and file.
During my 5-year idleness from racing I heard and read a lot about the California medication problems. What an unfair negative stigma California racing received. This came mostly from Richard Shapiro and his appointed equine director Rick Arthur. Did they not know the importance of image and the damage they were doing to California racing? If things were so terrible why was there no suspensions? A transplanted California trainer now training in the Midwest says “whenever the conversation of California racing arises it is call the drug capitol of racing”.
This bring me to another alphabet group; the California Horse Racing Alliance (CHRA). Talk about intertwining; the group is obviously an annex to the TOC. The disgraced former head of the CHRB Richard Shapiro is now a highly paid chief consultant for the CHRA. He has advocated for less racing in California since his beleaguered days at the CHRB. No, California does not need less racing. What California needs is a lot less people like Richard Shapiro.
I ask the media (Jay Privman, etc.) not to be so flippant with their support of less racing. I understand how their jobs are mostly directed toward the weekend. But please, take into account how many concessionaires, parking attendants, mutual clerk, backstretch employees, Jockeys, trainers and others that would be affected. Why shouldn’t California aspire for more racing? Why is regression the favorite word of our bureaucrats?
Bob Baffert was recently interviewed on radio (Roger Stein Show) and said all the alphabet groups drain $40 million that could be put into the purses. Mr. Baffert also said the California-Bred racing program should be abolished. Is that not a selfish statement? I feel the $40 million annually should be divided equally between the Cal-Bred breeding program, and an initiative program that would support a pension fund, real estate acquisitions for low rent housing for stable employees and their families, and retirement housing. These programs could be greatly subsidized by the government.
Saul Alinsky was considered the grandfather of labor and community organizing. He is the author of the best selling classic Rules For Radicals. Mr. Alinsky and I were born on the same city block in Chicago; albeit approximately 38 years apart. He became like a father figure. Our mutual love of racing further bonded us. I am a student of his teachings. Other practitioners of his teachings include President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Cesar Chavez. As a young man I often spoke to Saul about organizing the racetrack. He gave me a general outline that has improved with time. During my absence from racing I have contemplated using California as a pilot program for a diverse and wide ranging alliance. I have had preliminary talks with representatives from major unions and community groups.
The time may have come where a diverse alliance of horse owners, trainers, jockeys backstretch employees and others is needed. Within several weeks I project 8,000 members could be recruited in California. That alone would represent the largest organized group in racing. Our grievances would be directed toward the big conglomerate track owners (and independents), commissions and boards, and other special interest who depend on the sweat and blood of the membership for their revenue. It is time that racetrackers across the nation stand up and take back control of their livelihood.
I make myself available for debate, consultation, support and interviews. Knowing the politics of racing all correspondence will remain private upon request: harryhacek@yahoo.com
In closing I state: As a former top jockey agent it saddens me to think that the days of legendary jockeys in California are over. Never again may we see the likes of Johnny Longden, Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay, Chris McCarron, Eddie Delahoussaye and Gary Stevens. The support system simply is no longer there. Never have I seen so many top jockeys leave a jurisdiction as I have seen leave southern California in recent years.

Harry The Hat

West Coast Racing News and Views, Vol. 4

West Coast Racing News & Views, Volume 3

Editorial - Calling a Spade a Spade.

West Coast Racing News and Views, Vol. 2

West Coast Racing News and Views, Vol. 1

Famed Agent Says Stop Blaming Pro-Ride; Slams Special Interest Groups; Calls Team Harlow-Hammerle Inept; Says Time Has Come For For Diverse Alliance

Famed Agent Says Stop Blaming Pro-Ride; Slams Special Interest Groups; Calls Team Harlow-Hammerle Inept; Says Time Has Come For For Diverse Alliance