Horse Racing

Hollendorfer, Team Stronach ready to fight in court


Complaint for damages filed by coach Jerry Hollendorfer against Stronach Corporation and its owned subsidiaries Santa Anita . Park and Golden Gate Field is set to appear for a jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court on February 14 following a pre-trial conference on Monday.

Hollendorfer was barred from TSG’s California races on June 22, 2019 after six horses died in his care between November 18, 2018 and the day the trainer was expelled.

Four of those deaths occurred in Santa Anita, beginning with Psychedelicat gel in a race for benefits on December 30, 2018, four days after the winter meeting began. Following his catastrophic incident at Santa Anita by the Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in 2017 and the Battle of Midway classified multi-stakes winner during training on February 23, 2019; Kochees, a gelding, in a race for rights on May 25; and American Currency, a gelding that ran in claim races, during training on June 22. At Golden Gate, the River of Doubt light mare was the first of six mares. couldn’t resist, and the racing veteran fell on January 6. Both were training at the time.

Battle of Midway won the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile on November 3, 2017.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Battle of Midway Wins Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2017 at Del Mar

Hollendorfer is expected to try to prove at trial that his deportation by TSG was a public relations excuse made in an attempt to distance himself from what some say are problems with the surface. Santa Anita’s track and was accused by race management of doing wrong over a period of more than 30 horse deaths, and that, among other causes of action, he was not provided with due process. , a creature of California law.

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A trial summary issued by Hollendorfer’s attorney, Drew Couto, said that Hollendorfer was denied due process on the day American Currency collapsed before and during a so-called hasty 10-minute meeting with the chief executive. TSG’s executive at that time was Tim Ritvo. According to Hollendorfer, Ritvo said, “Belinda (Stronach) wants you out of here” after not being informed of the contents of the meeting. He has 72 hours to clear his horses, property and staff from behind.

TSG, in a pre-trial summary signed by attorney Matthew Macdonald, argued that the requirements of due process were met both on June 22 and the following September. Hollendorfer, when given the opportunity to discuss his position in June, “provided no explanation for the hasty of horse deaths and did not even acknowledge the need for improvement,” according to the summary. Turn off.

TSG said it went a step further, in September holding a “due process hearing” where Holledorfer was present with an attorney and as officials watched, according to the summary, “unlimited presented by (him) and encouraged him to present all evidence he wanted (TSG) to consider “in the presence of many witnesses. According to the synopsis, Hollendorfer “was not responsible … showed no remorse … (and) offered nothing to indicate that he understood that horse racing was entering a new era where horse racing that the safety of riders and riders would come first. Instead, he blamed others for dying in his barn.”

In terms of track conditions, there was no doubt that the area had rain and cold weather that was far beyond the norm that winter. Hollendorfer’s future witnesses include coaches and others frequently exposed to racetrack conditions. Unless constrained by judge Maurice Leiter, they can express negative opinions about how management handles environmental conditions. However, according to the TSG summary, Hollendorfer said he never ran a horse on a bad track.

TSG said Hollendorfer’s “key expert witness”, Dr Wayne McIlwraith, rejected the notion that Santa Anita management was to blame for the track conditions. In his sworn testimony, McIlwraith, an equine orthopedic surgeon, said “I don’t blame anyone” before adding that he does not form an opinion “on anything.” what is done in relation to the maintenance of the track.”

According to the TSG brief, Dr Mick Peterson is expected to testify that based on on-site and laboratory testing of dirt samples, ground-penetrating radar and surface inspection with test equipment After testing the biomechanical nail, he could not find a defect on the track.

TSG said it would provide evidence it did not wait for in the course of events. “Defendants have invested millions of dollars in advanced imaging technology to aid in injury detection – equipment that no other racecourse in North America has in place,” according to the summary, and “has been hired more veterinarians… (and) imposed a new set of restrictions on the use of riding crops and medications.”

The second point refers to the ban on Lasix use and the “increased ban on legally therapeutic NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), joint injections, shockwave therapy, and anabolic steroids,” announced in a statement. Media report in March 2019 by Belinda Stronach amid a string of breakdowns.

A joint filing made by attorneys general last week showed that as many as 60 witnesses could be called at the trial, 54 of whom were listed by Hollendorfer’s attorney. The defendant has the right to call any of the 54. Lawyers estimate 88 hours of testimony if everyone on the witness list testifies, which is unlikely. However, it’s likely that six hours of testimony a day would consume three weeks of trial, and that doesn’t include serious sound (jury’s choice), opening statement, and closing argument.

In addition to Ritvo and Belinda Stronach, Hollendorfer also listed among his witnesses familiar names in the industry such as Dr. Rick Arthur, Greg Avioli, Rick Baedeker, Jeff Blea, Russell Baze, Craig Fravel, Peter Miller, Doug O’ Neill, Mike Puhich, Dr. Rick Sams, Art Sherman, Mike Smith, Frank Stronach, Darrell Vienna and Dan Ward. Four members of the pitch media were also listed by Hollendorfer as potential witnesses. In alphabetical order, they are Jeremy Balan, John Cherwa, Jay Hovdey and Jay Privman.

Hollendorfer’s case no longer includes an attempt to be routed to the track. His plea for relief was denied by the High Court in September 2019, February 2020 and November 2021.



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