David E. Hofmans, trainer of 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Alphabet Soup and 1997 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Touch Gold, died July 3 at the age of 81.
Hofmans’ training statistics on Equibase date back to 1974. A native of Los Angeles, he has been a fixture on the Southern California racing scene for decades. He has won 1,085 races and has earned $53,335,405 in prize money.
Hofmans has two wins in 12 starts in 2024. His last win as a trainer came in a $25,000 race on May 11 at Santa Anita Park with Seventeen Black for long-time Amerman Racing customer.
For the Amerman family, the Hofmans trained Siphonic, winner of the 2001 Hollywood Futurity (G1), Adoration, winner of the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), and multiple Grade 1 and Millionaire winners. Balance among many other things.
Hofmans won the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, before the race was graded, with Desert Code for Tarabilla Farms. Richard Migliore rode Desert Code that day at Santa Anita.
“He’s one of the best horsemen I’ve ever known and he’s become a close friend,” Migliore said Wednesday night. “I enjoy our conversations because he has so much knowledge about so many things. He has so many layers to his personality that I feel honored that he let me in.”
David Hofmans and Touch Gold
Other Grade 1 winners trained by Hofmans include 1994 Hollywood Derby (G1T) winner River Flyer, 1995 Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Cat’s Cradle, 1996 Meadowlands Cup (G1) winner and $2.5 million Dramatic Gold, 2005 Bing Crosby Handicap (G1) winner Greg’s Gold, and 2010 Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner. JP’s Gusto and winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Gold Cup at the Santa Anita Stakes (G1) in 2016 Melatonin .
Hofmans trained Touch Gold for Stronach Stables and Stonerside Stables. After a hard-fought fourth place finish in the 1997 Preakness Stakes (G1), Hofmans, jockey Chris McCarron and Touch Gold won the Belmont by three-quarters of a length, holding off a Triple Crown bid from Bob Baffert trainee and Racing Hall of Fame member Silver Charm.
Touch Gold defeated Silver Charm in the 1997 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park
-Karen M. Johnson contributed to this article.
