Haskell and History a Big Part of Mandella’s Life
Dick Mandella has won two Haskell Stakes 23 years apart and both experiences were totally different. This story is not just about Haskell winner Geaux Rocket Ride, it is also a look back more than two decades to Mandella’s unexpected journey into an earlier era in racing history. We also will discuss Forte’s victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes and yet another overly aggressive ride from Irad Ortiz Jr. ~ Steve Haskin
Haskell and History a Big Part of Mandella’s Life
By Steve Haskin
It was 23 years ago that Dick Mandella came to New Jersey to run Dixie Union in the Haskell Invitational. When he left New Jersey he was a different person, having experienced a trip back in time that nearly changed his entire life. And it had nothing to do with his Haskell victory in 2000, as special as that was.
So you can imagine how he felt when he realized this year he was going to return more than two decades later with a very special colt named Geaux Rocket Ride, who like Dixie Union came away with a victory in New Jersey’s biggest race. But this visit would be a quick one with no time for history. Before we get into Geaux Rocket Ride and this year’s Haskell, and a look at this past Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes, let’s go back to Mandella’s first trip to the Jersey Shore and a surreal moment he will never forget.
Prior to the draw of the 2000 Haskell, Mandella, a huge history buff, happened to be discussing that he was reading a book about the legendary trainer Sam Hildreth for the second time. Hildreth had co-written a history of American racing called, “The Spell of the Turf,” published in 1926. Hildreth, who trained such greats as Zev, Grey Lag, and Mad Play, was the trainer for Harry Sinclair, who owned the famed Rancocas Stud in New Jersey, previously the birthplace of Iroquois, the first U.S.-bred to win the English Derby in 1881. Founded by Pierre Lorillard in the 1870s, Rancocas was first farm to breed and raise a Kentucky Derby winner and English Derby winner.
Hildreth turned Rancocas Stud into the showplace of American breeding; the most lavish, innovative stud farm in the country, complete with indoor and outdoor training track, magnificent and ornate rooftops and cupolas, and an entrance gate that looked more like the entrance to the palace of Versailles.
So successful was Rancocas Stable, it set a record for earnings in 1923 that stood until 1941 when it was broken by Calumet Farm, which won the Triple Crown that year with Whirlaway. Hildreth also won the Belmont Stakes seven times – three for Rancocas with Zev, Grey Lag, and Mad Play and two for August Belmont Jr. with Hourless and Friar Rock. He won it with Jean Bereaud in 1899 and with Joe Madden, who he owned, in 1909. Hildreth was the leading money-winning trainer in the country nine times, a record that stood for more than 60 years until broken by D. Wayne Lukas in 1992. To demonstrate just how unique a horseman Hildreth was, he was also the leading owner in the country for three consecutive years from 1909-11.
There was no doubt that Hildreth was Mandella’s hero and he couldn’t read enough about him. Mandella had been turned on to books, especially racing history books, by his mentor, trainer V.J. “Lefty” Nickerson. In no time, Mandella, who had never read a book in its entirety before meeting Nickerson, began absorbing the old-time tales of the Turf, including jockeys like Tod Sloan and Fred Archer, like a sponge.
Now that Mandella was in New Jersey, the home of Rancocas Stud and the ghost of Sam Hildreth, the heck with the Haskell. Somewhere there was hallowed ground on which he wanted, maybe even needed, to stand. He realized that Rancocas probably was long gone, but that didn’t matter.
“I wish I knew exactly where it was located,” Mandella said. “Even if it’s now a shopping center or condos, I just want to stand on that ground. I don’t care how far away it is.”
I told him to sit down. “Well, you’ll be interested to know that not only do I know where Rancocas Stud was located, it’s still there,” I said. Mandella the veteran horse trainer suddenly turned into 9-year-old Ralphie, who was just given a Red Ryder Range Model Air Rifle BB gun, the “Holy Grail” of all Christmas presents.
I explained that it was now called Helis Stock Farm, home of the Helis family that used to own horses, including the top-class Helioscope, who stood at Darby Dan Farm. The farm was located in the tiny hamlet of Jobstown, only about 20 minutes from my house, which consisted of about 10 old buildings and a church. The farm was sprawled out as far as the eye could see, covering over 1,300 acres. The stunning front gate was still there, as was the training track, although overgrown, and trainer’s stand, and several of the barns. It had been converted by the family of the late William Helis into a cattle, produce, and tobacco farm, but you could still feel the history all around you.
Mandella quickly made arrangements to visit the farm and the following morning I met him at Monmouth where Mandella, his wife Randi, and I got in their rented Explorer, hit the New Jersey back roads, and headed back about a hundred years. On the way, he kept pointing out houses in which he would love to live.
We drove into the farm, and in no time, there was Mandella with a look of awe and wonder on his face and disposable camera in hand, standing on that same hallowed ground he had been reading about. When he looked out on the one-mile training track, the thought hit him like the proverbial ton of bricks that he would love to make an offer on the farm and convert it back into a working Thoroughbred training facility. The barns, although still ornate with their striking cupolas, needed a good deal of repair. Was Dick Mandella, a legend in Southern California for so many years, actually considering moving cross-country to New Jersey?
After all, this was where 1923 Kentucky Derby winner Zev, who won a historical match race against the European champion Papyrus, once worked and galloped. Mandella continued on through the indoor training track and barns and could envision their one-time elegance and charm and what they must have looked like back in the glory days of the farm. He looked out over fields of corn and soybeans where the legendary Iroquois once frolicked as a youngster. The history books were coming alive. Words like “amazing” and “unbelievable” flowed freely for the next two and a half hours.
You would never guess that Mandella was running a horse in the Haskell the next day, who was schooling in the paddock as he toured the farm. The present was on hold for the time being and thoughts of Dixie Union would have to wait.
After profusely thanking farm manager Ed Lovenduski, Mandella reluctantly departed, with visions of what it would be like to restore this farm to something resembling its former glory and train there. But reality soon set in. The Helis family had no desire to sell or turn it back into a horse farm. As for Mandella, he won the Haskell the next day, and went back to California, taking with him a special piece of history he believed no longer existed. The pipedream was over, but for a brief moment in time he was able to escape into a magical world that had existed only in books and in the imagination.
Three years after Dixie Union’s Haskell victory, Mandella would become the first trainer to win four Breeders’ Cup races on one card at a time when all the races were run in a single day. And he did it at his home track of Santa Anita.
Returning to the Haskell this year, Mandella hadn’t forgotten our memorable day together. I kiddingly texted him after Geaux Rocket Ride’s impressive 1 3/4-length victory over Kentucky Derby winner Mage saying, “If I knew you were coming I would have taken you back to Rancocas Stud for your 23-year visit.” Believing I was serious and not knowing I now live in Connecticut, he replied. “Sorry, I got so busy I forget to call you. I came in there close to the race. I wish I would have had time to go out and see it again.” It was so great to know the magic still had not worn off after all these years.
This year, the Breeders’ Cup will again be run at Santa Anita, and it looks as if Mandella could have a big shot to win his second Classic with Geaux Rocket Ride, who has two Grade 1 preps, the Pacific Classic and the Awesome Again Stakes, on his agenda.
With Geaux Rocket Ride’s win in the Haskell, it was a deja vu moment for Mandella, once again sending out a Grade 1 winner, this time wearing the famed blue and gray striped silks of Pin Oak Stud, built by Josephine Abercrombie and and her father in 1952. Abercrombie died in 2022 at age 95 and Pin Oak was purchased by new owner Jim Bernhard, who retained the name and storied silks.
In 2021, Jim, knowing his wife Dana had been involved with horses since she was a little girl, decided to buy a horse for her birthday. While at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale they met Matt Wiseman of Equine Analysis Systems, whose team had been buying horses for their clients for years. Bernhard told Wiseman he was looking to buy one horse for his wife, and after thorough scrutiny by the team they bought him a Candy Ride colt, out of the Uncle Mo mare Beyond Grace, for $350,000. Bernhard also hired Wiseman to be his racing manager and bloodstock advisor.
“My team and I were working the sale like we usually do, using our technology and data to measure physiology along with traditional horsemanship to find the best prospects,” Wiseman said.” Geaux Rocket Ride came up on our system as horse with a high statistical likelihood of success. He had just enough size and strength so we went for it. We knew we had a pretty special horse if he grew up and filled out.”
The following January Wiseman went to see the newly turned 2-year-old colt at Keith Asmussen’s training center in Laredo, Texas where he was being broke and loved what he saw. “When I arrived Keith told me right away I had a pretty nice horse,” Wiseman said. “My team measured his physiology again and he had grown and filled out into a lovely horse. I called Jim and Dana and told them, ‘I think we have something pretty special down in Texas.’
Wiseman contacted Dick Mandella and told him he had a really nice colt he wanted to send to him, and Mandella agreed to take him.
“I called Richard and said I was sending him a Candy Ride colt that reminded me of Shared Belief,” Wiseman said. “I’m sure he’s heard stuff like that from a lot of racing managers so I doubt he believed me. But he liked him from the start and told me we just needed to be patient with him while he developed, so we targeted a big 3-year-old campaign with him rather than rushing him to the races at 2. I fell in love with horse racing as a teenager and both Richard Mandella and Mike Smith were two people I idolized. To win the Haskell with both of them doesn’t get much cooler than that.”
Geaux Rocket Ride had shown he could be something special when he finished a strong second in the San Felipe Stakes to the leading California 3-year-old Practical Move in only his second career start. He had broken his maiden by almost six lengths on January 29 blazing six furlongs in 1:09 2/5. The Santa Anita Derby was next, but he came down with a 103-degree fever the morning of the race and had to be scratched.
“When that happened we knew we wouldn’t have enough points to make the Kentucky Derby so we regrouped and circled the Haskell on our calendar as the main target for the summer,” Wiseman said.
So Richard Mandella returned to New Jersey where 23 years earlier history had come alive right before his eyes as he stood on the hallowed grounds of the old Rancocas Stud and witnessed the sights he had been reading about and imagining in his mind. When he departed New Jersey last weekend he had left his own mark in the history books, and judging from Geaux Rocket Ride’s emphatic Haskell victory there likely is more history to come.
Forte Needs Better PR from his Rider
First let me say I am not one who continuously spits into the wind, so to come out and again say what I think of Irad Ortiz Jr.’s riding tactics and his no-touch relationship with the NYRA stewards would leave me with yet another wet face. This isn’t the place to spout off on what has become the routine in New York, so just listen to the Fox commentators after Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga and read Twitter and Indian Charlie and leave it at that.
Finally, we’ll see what the stewards do in the aftermath of Forte’s nose victory over Saudi Crown when they watch Ortiz aboard, after coming out and plowing into Angel of Empire, go to a left-handed whip and come out into him again. What I will focus on is Forte, and I must admit I was rooting for him and always have and was glad in a way he was saved from suffering yet another indignity, for he deserved the victory and was the best horse in the race. The champ is still the champ who wants to win and knows how to win.
Forget the Belmont Stakes except to say he had to overcome a great deal to get second at a distance that no longer can be used to discredit a horse’s reputation. Forte is a champion in the truest sense of the word and when he targets a horse his aim is dead-on no matter how he gets it done. Regardless of how big a lead you have on him he will find a way to get you. So I will say the stewards, right or wrong, left the best horse up.
I just hope Todd Pletcher has a talk with Ortiz before the Travers and enlightens the talented but sometimes controversial rider to the fact that there will come a day when he is not going to benefit from the stewards’ good graces and to make sure Oritz doesn’t put them on the hot seat in the Travers when the pressure will be on them after the Jim Dandy.
Getting back to Forte, it’s been a wild and crazy journey. He was criticized after his so-called unimpressive victory in the Florida Derby when he looked lethargic on the far turn and had to run his guts out in the stretch to beat Mage. Then his speed figures, which weren’t Derby caliber and never improved from 2 to 3, pointed to him as a beatable Kentucky Derby favorite and many handicappers jumped off the bandwagon. His works leading up to the Derby were fairly mediocre and there was little buzz surrounding him. Then one morning at Churchill Downs he stumbled while in a routine gallop and the warning flares went up.
Then came reports of a foot bruise that supposedly was no big deal and downplayed by Pletcher. Meanwhile, Churchill Downs was undergoing a rash of horse fatalities that had everyone on edge trying to figure out what going on over a track that normally is considered one of the safest. So on Derby morning Forte was given one final examination by the state veterinarians, who decided to scratch the Derby favorite, much to the ire of Pletcher and the more vocal owner Mike Repole.
As if that wasn’t enough of a jolt, by being placed on the vet’s list it meant Forte would be unable to run in the Preakness, so just like that the first two legs of the Triple Crown were lost. But the indignities weren’t over. Several days later it was announced that Forte had come up positive for the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam in the previous year’s Hopeful Stakes and the victory and the purse were taken away from him. That case is still under appeal.
Now he had to go into the mile and a half Belmont Stakes off a 10-week layoff, and despite losing ground and having the circle the field seven-wide he still dug in and rallied to get up for second behind an up-and-coming star who had a ground-saving dream trip.
Pletcher decided to experiment by putting blinkers on Forte for the Jim Dandy, and after showing more speed than usual out of the gate, he again had to dig deep to run down another up-and-coming star who was the only speed in the race and was able to get away with moderate to slow fractions. Once again we saw a relentless Forte overcome all odds to snatch victory in the final strides.
So, yes, Forte deserved this victory, and all we can hope for now is that Ortiz allows Forte to run in the Travers without detracting from the race. This horse knows how to win and will find a way to win on his own… just let him.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO and Adam Coglianese
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Pretty sad what happened to Maple Leaf Mel Saturday 8-5-23 I feel for Melanie saddest thing I’ve ever seen in horseracing in 25 years and the whole back story with Melanie. I don’t know if u want to make any comment Steve. Thanks
I was always in awe by the ability of Richard Mandella to keep South American Grade 1 horses at the same competitive level in the US. This smooth transition is something very difficult to achieve …
In fact, five of Mandella’s top ten best horses are South American (who does not remember the exploits of Gentlemen (ARG), Redattore (BRZ) ,Siphon (BRZ) and Sandpit (BRZ) on dirt and turf).
Other horses like Puerto Madero (CHI) and Malek (CHI) were notable Grade 1 winners who competed and defeated the best horses of their times.
Horsemen from Brazil, Argentina and Chile should erect statues honoring Richard Mandella and Ronald McAnally for elevating their horses to the summit of American racing.
The latest South American success stories crafted by Mandella were Bali Bali (BRZ), Jolie Olimpica (BRZ) and Royal Ship (BRZ). I am expecting excellent future performances at Grade 1 level from another Brazilian bred named Planetario…
And of course, one should also expect great things to come from Geaux Rocket Ride who is indeed primed to follow the lines of his great brother Shared Belief.
Nelson, Charlie Whittingham gets a nod as well with Cougar II and to a lesser extent Forli. The master trainer also had success with European horses – Dahlia, New Zealand bred – Darryl’s Joy, and Australian bred – Strawberry Road.
Yes Davids … The Bald Eagle was more than brilliant with foreign horses… Also, I am always amazed by his work with the incomparable Greinton (GB). Perrault (GB), Erins Isle (IRE) and the mare Claire Marine (IRE) all developed great Grade 1 campaigns…and we also have the HoF Exceller attesting Charlie Whittingham’s mastery…
The good old days, loved the bald eagle, all those horses were amazing. Dick Mandella is a master at his craft. Wonderful story by Steve. Bobby Frankel was awesome with European horses…
Horrible/sad regarding Mel and Summer. Wondering where BB’s number 1 fan ‘John’ is? Seems he’s AWOL since poor horses from barns his ‘hero’ has no bearing.
Ever Summer catastrophic injury on turf course, euthanized on track.
Irad Ortiz said to be OK.
Frivole vanned off, no word on her.
Per Graham Motion, Frivole OK for the moment and back in her stall.
Oh no. Not again! This is awful.
Manny eased Frivole because she took a misstep on the course. Probably saved her from injury. After Ever Summer was put down the turf races were moved to the dirt track.
Melair had 5 races, 5 wins in a career that lasted 2 months and 11 days….young trainer John Sadler….grey 3yo filly….has a Cal-bred stakes named after her…
Maple Leaf Mel…another “Mel” filly….young trainer…grey 3yo…..6 starts 6 wins I suppose will have a NY bred stakes named for her….
I had almost forgotten about Melair, and I was a fan of hers. Yes, the similarity is striking.
Stardust Mel won Santa Anita handicap in 1975 in the mud in a thrilling photo with Out Of the East
Somewhere… somewhere in time’s own space, there must be some sweet pastured space where creeks sing on, and tall trees grow, Some paradise where horses go. For by the love that guides my pen, I know great horses live again.” — Stanley Harrison
Steve we all need your words of wisdom to get thru yesterdays events
We dont get back until Monday afternoon and Leonard Monday evening so column wont be until Tuesday and is already written. I will see if I can add a little something but tough to do
Brendan Walsh draped the winner’s flower blanket over Maple Street Mel’s door this AM….
A beautiful tribute. That brings more tears.
Walsh is one of a kind.
First, i don’t see how, considering the whole picture, this is not worse than Ruffian and Go For Wand. Second, this may be the year of Javier Castellano, but his comments after the race were appalling. He said that the distraction of seeing Mel go down cost his filly the race. Who cares? Brendan Walsh was classy, and knowing the character of Tyler Gaffalione, i know he wasn’t celebrating either.
I did find this sadder and more disturbing than either Ruffian or Go For Wand. Granted, they were more accomplished, but the picture of Maple Leaf Mel lying in the hay beside her trainer with her head on Melanie’s chest is one I won’t forget. As for Javier Castellano, I didn’t hear the interview–I only read what he said–and I don’t think he meant to be unfeeling. He was just reporting on his horse’s performance, and probably the horse was indeed upset by what he saw. Probably Javier was too and he may not have chosen his words as carefully as he might have. I’ll cut him a little slack on that one. And not surprisingly, Tyler Gaffalione did post a very caring tweet.
Jiffy, I too read what Javier said….his filly practically stopped when the accident happened with Maple Leaf Mel and lost her momentum. I do not think he meant any harm by it.. I have always known him to be kind and considerate.
Horses are way more intuitive to what is going on than we might think. I almost think that it is possible that is what caused Cody’s Wish to wash out in the paddock, refuse to load and had a bad break from the gate. Saw a photo of him walking past young Cody just a few minutes before he was to walk on the track. He was not washed out or acting up. We already know CW is in tune with human emotions from how he connects with young Cody.
The entire horse racing community has been rocked by this tragedy as have many of the fans.I have several friends who have commented that they do not think they will ever watch another horse race. Sometimes there is one heartbreak too many.
Melanie is in remission from cancer and she put her heart and soul into Mel, it is what kept her going. It is her story and those photos of her with Mel that has shaken all us all of us to the core. Another one of my friends posted photos of Mel walking onto the paddock, that little mare looked like she owned the world and for a brief time she did.
You’re right, Lynda, horses are extremely intuitive. I find your theory about Cody’s Wish entirely plausible. It makes me think of Barbaro’s Preakness. Remember how he was so keyed up and broke out of the gate prematurely? I always wondered whether he sensed something was wrong before his injury occurred.
af, I have sometimes thought the same about Barbaro.
Horses evolved from 5 toes to one toe and survived eons of evolution and changes to the planet because of their intelligence, instincts and intuition.
I also thought about Big Brown after he won the Derby. Coming back to the winner’s circle, he saw Eight Belles lying on the track and he freaked out and threw his rider and tried to get out of there. Fortunately, an outrider had hold of him. But he knew something terrible had happened, and he wanted to get away from it. Castellano’s mount may have been similarly traumatized.
Yes, Lynda, Melanie’s situation and her relationship with Maple Leaf Mel were what made this so much sadder than other tragic horse deaths. But I also was horrified at how and where it happened. She had the race won. Frank Miramadi was already starting to praise her victory. When a horse opens up daylight in the final yards and nobody is coming on, you relax, maybe applaud, and think you’re home free. You never imagine that something terrible could happen then, and seeing it changes your whole outlook. This afternoon if I saw a horse with a big lead in the stretch, I would wonder if he would make it to the wire. I’ll get over that in time, but I never thought that way before.
I hear you, Jiffy. Although I did not see the race, when I read accounts of what happened, I was thinking these same things.
Nobody wants this. …horses are bred…horses are born….horses are fed….horses are trained….horses are raced and horses are loved, doing what they love to do…..horses break down on the racetrack and on the high desert plains of Nevada….
There are no words, just tears.
Maple Leaf Mel.
Condolences
Just awful feeling. Can’t imagine being the connections, what a tragedy.
I’m done with this game.
If Irad Ortiz pulls a stunt today that results in injury to Cody’s Wish, Irad will be run out out of town on a rail.
Congrats to all of the Hall of Fame inductees! Was able to watch a bit of it.
Saw the sweetest photo of Cody’s Wish visiting young Cody Dorman this morning.
Best of luck Cody’s Wish, run safe and win for Cody.
There are still sweet moments, happy times, tears of joy and smiles yet to be found in this sport in spite of the problems.
I saw that picture, you can’t tell me that horse doesn’t know that boy! Am rooting for Cody’s Wish….I put money on Zandon, but rooting for the big favorite and that’s Horse Racing, the king of sports…
Steve, I have been studying and learning the history of Rancocas Farm since reading this article about Mr Mandella.
It has been a fascinating “arm chair” trip to say the least.
This morning I stumbled on this article from 2011:
archivedotcentraljereseydotcom titled “One Man’s Curiosity is Another Woman’s Prosperity”.
(cannot insert the full web address link to the article, it will be held in moderation and will not post).
There is some additional information about the farm, a photo of the gate and the story of Lily Livingston whom Mr Lorillards left the farm to upon his death. He described her as being the best person to carry who would care for the farm after his death.
Lily Livingston took over managing one of the largest breeding farms in the world at time when women did not have the right to vote and did not have the legal rights of men.
Exploring one moment in history often leads to another moment, then another then another!
Just a couple of side notes:
Very interesting read on the origins of the Rancocas region, the name is Native American Indian in origin from the Algonquin Powhatan Lenape Indian Tribe who inhabited the region.
One entire branch of my family tree is Scot and Sinclair is the dominant surname in that branch. If I go back far enough I may even be related to Harry Ford Sinclair, LOL.
Mr Mandella is one of all time favorite trainers and a true horseman.
Thank you very much for sharing this story about Mr Mandella and the Rancocas Farm.
Thanks Lynda for the additional information. It’s a great piece of history.
You are welcome!
Steve, Just a “Gem” of an article especially when it involves one of my favorite trainers, Richard Mandella. Besides Sam Hildreth, Charlie Whittingham had a great influence on him so he got tutelage from both the old and the new at the time. Mandella is all “Class” in my book. I remember when American Pharaoh won the TC and when Baffert got back to Santa Anita Mandella was one of the first to greet him and shake his hand to congratulate him. Racing needs more Mandella’s !!!
As far as Forte, yes he did interfer at the top of the stretch and in most cases (and in this case too) should have been taken down but I think the stewards looked at the “whole” picture in this race and felt the jockeys (collusion by the jockeys and possibly the trainer???) was to keep Forte boxed in on the rail. When the race began I saw on the first turn that A of E was right next to him all the way around the turn and I am thinking to myself they have him boxed in ( similar to what Frosted did to American Pharaoh in the Travers). Ortiz also said after the race that Saudi Crown, who was in front of him in the race, kept drifting in and out. But in the end I agree with you Steve…. The best horse won the race. Before I watched the Haskell i went back and watched the Belmont Stakes again and after watching it I thought what a terrible ride he was given in that Ortiz had him so wide through out the race ( I think the horse probably ran 1 9/16 of a mile) and thought then he was the better horse in the race. So in the Haskell I “keyed him on top” my exacta with all the horse in the race along with one other exacta ticket of Saudi Crown (sire by Always Dreaming another mud lover) on top with him. So in the end I was glad the inquiry did not stick. So in the Travers he will be he horse to beat.
Steve as always you are the Best !!! Have Great rest of the week !!!
I doubt the stewards were considering that Forte was boxed in. One thing they certainly know is that the tactic is legal. And you’re making an assumption that Prat made a conscious decision rather than it being a matter of circumstance. As for Saudi Crown’s drifting, it began well after Irad plowed into AoE. Who’s to say that AoE wouldn’t have been a half length better if he hadn’t been knocked sideways!
Roy, You’re absolutely correct in that boxing in a horse is legal in racing but in this instance were both A of E and SC are trained by the same trainer it might have played a part. It is also known in racing that jockeys have made deals between themselves that if either of their horses would win they would share the winnings (Steve, if you want to comment on this you can or you can plead the fifth, LOL). Don’t know in this race that is the case but it always possible. Prat could have thought if Irad is going to beat us he will have to go to the inside and take his chances in the quagmire on the rail or if he tries to bully his way passed him and his horse he (Irad) will have to face the wrath of the stewards and he with A of E and SC would both win.. Irad for his part might have thought he is boxed in and knowing that if he went to the rail SC could cut him off or the quagmire on rail would truly doom his chance of winning. So he took his chances with the ” bullying ” tactic and got away with it. Stewards in the mean time might have considered the the incident, that Pletcher and Repole are “local boys” . Forte issues with the Hopeful and KD Derby and missing the Preakness and Repole threat to leave racing in making their decision and leave the results as is.
Will we really know why Forte was not disqualified? Probably never but this is just an old man’s theory and one who still believes Maximum Security is the only true “real winner” of the 2019 Kentucky Derby.
I’ll just paste below the NY rule about interference. It’s important to note that the word “or” (not “and”) precedes the phrase about altering the finish of the race.
New York regulations
§ 4035.2
A horse crossing another may be disqualified, if in the judgment of the stewards, it interferes with, impedes or intimidates another horse, or the foul altered the finish of the race, regardless of whether the foul was accidental, willful, or the result of careless riding. The stewards may also take into consideration mitigating factors, such as whether the impeded horse was partly at fault or the crossing was wholly caused by the fault of some other horse or jockey.
Yes, Richard Mandella is a class act. What is little known that both he and Baffert are barn neighbors and good friends at Santa Anita,,,both talk mornings about horseracing while their horses would get ready up to workout….a podcast a few years showed Baffert getting Mandella to actual loosen up and talk about horses prior to a KD like others in the media failed to….the Omaha Beach year I remember.
But this is about Mandella and him only-as a caution to keep the usual trolls away.
I’ll never forget the scene, when Seduko was bumped twice by Game On Dude, in the Big Cap….Mandella Patiently awaiting the stewards decision while Bob runs over and grabs the stewards phone and pleads his case…..never saw a trainer do that before or since, and Mandella lost the inquiry….
Thanks very much and for your take on the Jim Dandy. Ortiz has just been reckless his entire career. In many ways I blame the NYRA stewards, especially not explaining their decision to the public knowing the controversy surrounding it.
Totally agree with you on the stewards and no transparency about their decision.
Thoroughly enjoyed that backstory on Mandella, Steve. Who knew he could be such a fanboy of the old-timers? One of my favorite trainers, and one of the best.
And while I really like Irad, I agree that the stewards, especially the NYRA stewards but really every track where he seemingly gets license to do anything he wants on horseback, need to come down hard on his dangerous tendencies to allow his mounts to drift, impede other horses, etc. He’s a serious accident waiting to happen.
Thanks Amy glad you enjoyed it.
The irrepressible Paddington wins the Group 1 Susxex(sic) Stakes in brilliant fashion leading all the way on a bog track. Speed and stamina to the fore. Aidan O’Brien’s interview after the race is quite revealing. There’s even a chance Paddington could be set for the Cox Plate later in the year.
Steve, you’ve been writing that the horses don’t run like they used to, which is true, but Paddington has won 6 races in 5 months including 4 Group 1 races. Paddington’s record is better than Giant’s Causway’s record thus far.
Alas, in the interview after the race, O’Brien mentioned twice how important the genes Paddington Carrie’s so it’s doubtful he’ll run next year.
I don’t closely follow British racing, but it seems like Paddington runs all the time. Six starts for a top horse is becoming unheard of here, the best examples being Cody’s Wish and Elite Power, who have run maybe half that much.
Todd, even in Europe they race far less frequently now than they used to. Enable, as an example of modern times, ran 7 times during all of 2017, which included five Group 1 wins, and that would be considered a very expensive campaign. Frankel won four Group 1 races in all of 2011, running 5 times in total.
Giant’s Causeway, who was called the ‘iron horse of Europe’ ran 10 times during 2000 with 5 Group 1 wins in total.
So, with four Group 1 wins already by the 2nd of August, you can see how unique and impressive Paddington’s record actually is. Everything is open for him for the rest of the year including – the Arc, the Cox Plate, or a Breeders’ Cup race.
Hello Steve – Looking forward to the Travers later this month. If the field holds together you would get the KY Derby, Preakness, and Belmont winners in the race. I like Arcangelo to pull the mild upset. Hoping Castellano chooses Arcangelo over Mage for the Travers. Either way, IMO Arcangelo will be a tough customer. Maybe the jockeys need to get together in the locker room and confront I. Ortiz and call him out on his dangerous riding antics. He is putting himself, other riders, and the horses in serious jeopardy every time he pulls one of his dangerous maneuvers. I don’t understand why the stewards don’t send him a message.
I’m not so sure National Treasure will run. Dont forget about Reincarnate. We’ll see. My guess is that Javier will go owith Mage.
Side note, in the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar over the weekend there were 9 horses in the race and 7 of them were geldings. I don’t think I personally have seen that many geldings in a Handicap race before. Perhaps it because it was a turf race.
I thought it was interesting………..
Very interesting. The Southern Cal. horse population looks to be way down. I dont get all the geldings.
Trainers and owners seem to geld any male horse whose bloodlines or performances don’t appear to merit breeding in the modern commercial scheme of things. I suppose it makes them tractable and easier to handle. It’s really become a trend in the last 10 or 15 years, and is a sad loss for the diversity of the thoroughbred breed. I come across really obscure sires three or four generations back in the pedigrees of graded stakes winners and the like. A real shame.
I’ll stop typing now before I make another bonehead.
Last try.
If you go to the website for Thoroughbred Owners of California; select Publications slash media; type in Geldings in the search box in upper right it will bring up an article from 2014 titled Geldings:
It has an interesting take as to why Thoroughbred stallions are gelded which you, Deacon and Ms B might find interesting.
Steve, I’m starting to believe you channel horse racing history. This post touched a lot of nerves for me. I had no idea that Mandella was a fan of Sam Hildreth, whose biography has fascinated me since I first read it more than 30 years ago. When I lived in New Jersey (doesn’t everybody at some point?) I too looked for Rancocas Farm, but it was bloody difficult to find. Amazed you took him right there! If I ever get back to my bio/book/short story about Hildreth — a truly fascinating, enigmatic horseman with the kind of terrible temper that runs in my family — I’ll have to interview both of you. Maybe when I retire from my magazine job about houses (not horses) and get the gumption up to really write something interesting (which you do every week) that’ll happen.
I’ll be revisiting this post many times in coming days. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thanks Ms. B. I sure hope you finally get to see the farm and get your book done.
It’s been a long time, but do you know if Helis is still the owner of Rancocas? Any contacts there?
The family still owns it.
Thanks, Steve. I forgot to say in my post that your anecdote about taking McAnally to Rancocas was eerily similar to feature by a Brooklyn Eagle reporter who toured the farm in the early 1920s. Mary Ellen Hildreth picked the reporter up and showed him the place, talking the whole time. I was thrilled because not only do we share the same double name, it was a rare glimpse into who she was as a person. She was chatty, Sam was famously close mouthed. That’s from a bio by Nevin Busch published in the New Yorker the week after Hildreth died.
Rats, I meant Mandella. That’s what I get for posting on my phone — and after flying cross-country after waking up at 3 a.m.!
I can imagine what that farm looked like in its heyday.
Loved the article on Papa Mandella. He sure is a true horseman. He has had some excellent runners in his career.
Beholder, Gentlemen, Omaha Beach, Pleasantly Perfect, Rock Hard Ten & The Tin Man to name a few.
Steve, your writing ages like a fine wine, it just gets better.
With regards to the JIm Dandy Stakes, as far as I am concerned Irad Ortiz should be suspended for at least 30 days & Forte should have been disqualified. Obviously not the horses fault. I really like Forte, he does everything he is asked to do. Repole is a big blowhard who pushes his weight around. No disrespect to anyone on these blogs but I am not a Pletcher fan either.
The stewards disqualified Maximum Security in the Derby. The interference in the Jim Dandy that Ortiz caused was more egregious than that Derby.
Cheating & favortism in horse racing appears to be alive & well.
Nevertheless Steve your blog was outstanding, thank you.
Agree on all points. The stewards are now in a box. They will either go big, 30 days, or just ignore it and hope we’ll all forget. 3 or 5 days would just reignite everything. And i have lost respect for Repole and Pletcher.
I agree Todd big time
Thank you Deacon. I don’t know if I’m more disgusted with Ortiz or the NYRA stewards.
I totally agree kind sir:
Sure would be nice to see GRR win the BC Classic in 3 months. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that his sire Candy Ride would become the first stallion to produce two winners of the Classic (Gun Runner being the first).
You’re forgetting that Tiznow won the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice. Two separate individual winners is a different question though.
Nope. Didn’t forget. 🙂
Who do you like in the Whitney? An upset wouldn’t surprise me but by whom ikm not quite sure.
Davids, I haven’t had a chance to thoroughly go over the race. I suppose that nearly everybody, including myself, is rooting for Cody’s Wish. But he’s never won longer than a mile, and he’ll be close to his ML odds of 1-2. If he falters, the race is up for grabs. One thing that stands out about Charge It is that this is the first time in his career than he’ll have raced three times without a layoff.
I have no doubts that Cody’s Wish can get 1 1/8 miles (or 1 1/4 miles ) as long as he is allowed to run his race as a “closer”. With a closer it is all about “timing” and Alvarado has shown he is very adept at doing that with him. If he is asked to run closer to the pace than that maybe an issue for him. If he wins doing that then it is a whole new dimension for him (unless it is a sloppy track) and who than knows how good he is!!! Velazquez thinks he has Charge It figured out and I expect a good race out of him running near the front… question is can he go 1/8 miles ??? With Giant Game in the race he probably not be on the lead by himself. This should be a good race. BTW … White Abarrio and Last Samurai are not to taken lightly.
Downthestretch, you are forgetting that Charge It just won the 10f Suburban Handicap but I’d gamble that he’s better at 9f than 10f.
Agree with you about White Abarrio and Last Samurai, they both have the ability/aptitude to surprise here.
Davids, I didn’t miss that Suburban race but in that race he pretty much had his own way. I think it will be a little different this time. It really is shaping up to be an interesting race. You can make case for every horse in it. Pace will definitely make this race.
Good luck, let’s hope the race lives up to the billing and there’s no rain.
Last Samurai is definitely a strong contender at a big price. He’s been running against some of the best older horses as of late.
That’s an interesting point, Ray, re: Charge It. Apart from Cody’s Wish, 9f appears to be the pet distance for the rest of the competition. Dutrow managing White Abarrio is intriguing as well.
Charge It and Zandon look the danger to me me. Flip a coin. Even so, if Johnny V can control the race up front the others might be running for second. Fascinating race.
Roy, sorry. The iPad has its own agenda at times unless you watch it. Lol.
I can make a decent case for every one of the six. Charge It and Last Samurai are my tentative picks, at least until the warm-up.
Yes, Roy, until the warm-up. You miss so much if you’re not actually at the racetrack to observe the horse’s closeup. Best of luck.
Thank you for a great personal look at a great trainer Steve. “Poppa” Mandella has always been a class act, and a true horseman. I’m always happy to see his horses win at the big races. As for Forte’s jockey, trainer, and owner, there needs to be a serious discussion about what is best for the horse. Not putting him in harm’s way or causing serious problems for others on the track would be step one in improving his public relations. I’m disappointed with the stewards who would not stand up to a big string trainer and a big mouthed owner. I’m also confused as to why other jocks rarely object to Ortiz’s reckless riding.
What a wonderful read about one of my favorite trainers. How cool would it have been had Mandella actually been able to buy the farm!
Thanks Karen, I always wondered about that.
Amazing article about Mandela !! He’s such a class act hope geaux goes far this year and beats the awful Irad in the classic Steve your articles and style of writing are such a gift THANKS!
Thats very kind of you Nick. Thanks so much.
As I was watching the stretch run, I just knew a couple of horses and jockeys were going down. A exciting stretch run, but very dangerous looking. I do think the best horse won, but I could not have argued had they taken him down.
Steve, Nureyev, who was owned by Stavros Niarchos one of the richest men alive then, was by far the best colt in the 1980 2,000 Guineas but the English stewards, rightfully, took him down. You need stewards who are fearless in making decisions, I’m not convinced the New York stewards have that conviction.
I’ve always thought Mandella is a special trainer who has a unique bond with his horses. So, I thank you very much for this look at the man.
I think Forte should have been taken down. He may have been the best horse, but his jockey did not give him the best ride. And in the end, it should be what is best for racing and not who is the best horse. To be trapped on the rail and then bully your way out by physically moving a horse out of your way should not be rewarded.
Sorry to say I’d not heard of Rancocas Stud until now. Very informative piece. I was inspired to look for the farm on Google Street View. Lo and behold, there was the ornate gate you wrote about, just 10 feet or so from Monmouth Road. If only there were more horsemen like Mandella and Tagg, McGaughey, Motion than businessmen like Pletcher, Baffert, Asmussen, etc.
That’s wild you could see the gate. I like the way you separated the trainers.
Steve, it was such a pleasure reading your past and present encounters with Richard Mandella. He is a wonderful ambassador for US racing and has that marvelous whit along with his dry sense of humor.
Before we get too excited about the Whitney this weekend don’t forget Glorious Goodwood starting tomorrow until Saturday. Paddington is the major act going for his 4th Group 1 of the year in the Suss.. Stakes. Should he win it will be his 6th win since late March, 2023. The new ‘iron horse’ of Europe.
Thanks again, Steve, for the wonderful article.
Thanks David. Goodwood is one track I always wanted to visit but was never in England in the summer.
Steve, Goodwood always had a more light hearted, festival fun time, than some of the other major racecourses. I think you would have really enjoyed the atmosphere. You feel more at ease, at least I used to. Ha ha
There is not much summer this year, rain is expected to dominate the early part of the week. Enjoy the races. Should Paddington win the Suss.. Stakes he will be close to replicating Giant’s Causway’s tremendous run. Fingers crossed.
Steve, it seems that every time a write a new post it is “awaiting moderation” and then disappears I’m able to post under other people’s posts though.
Just worked out the problem, the Group 1 race Paddington is in at Goodwood has three letters in it which are banned. The race is the Suss.. Stakes.
Thats bizarre. I will mention it to Leonard in case he doesnt read this
Steve, I’d say there is a list of words that the program monitors to prevent them being exploited by certain ‘traffic.’
Mandella’s shortened first name being one of those banned words..
Update! Well I guess you can post that wprd/name here, on another site they wont let you….
I guess Ornithologists would have difficulty as well. Lol.
What a lovely article about Richard Mandella and the Haskell twenty years ago and just a few days ago.
Thanks for bringing the Elephant in the room, Irad Ortiz and his aggressive and hazardous ride on Forte. I wish the Jockey Guild had more say say in judging irrespirable riding. I think that the Jockey Guild should have much more say so in the Sport. Irad was lucky that Johnny V was not riding in The Jim Dandy; he would have never heard the end of it.
Terri, I used to think the same re: Johnny V giving Ortiz Jr a tongue lashing for disgraceful habits but then Ortiz Jr’s ride on Mo Donegal in the Remsen Stakes answered that train of thought. Ortiz Jr almost rode Zandon, with Johnny V aboard, side saddle he was all over Johnny V, literally. What did the stewards do? Nothing.
The European stewards would have sorted Ortiz Jr out quick smart and the owners don’t muck around either. It’s beyond me how his behavior is tolerated. Agree with you entirely about the Jockey Guild.
As i was very critical of Eric Reed for leaving Sonny Leon on Rich Strike after his disgraceful antics in the shoegate race, in the interest of consistency, Pletcher needs to be held to the same standard. Doing the right thing should be easy when you have all the money and all the horses.
I would only be guessing but from what I’ve seen Pletcher looks worried/concerned when there is an inquiry but doesn’t his horse inevitably come out on top. Until his horses are taken down he really doesn’t have a ‘problem.’
Pletcher obviously fills many races for NYRA so there is a symbiotic relationship. That’s how I tend to see how things fall in New York.
I thought the Jim Dandy result was the right no-change, but that race where Zandon was leaned into. ….that should have come down, in my opinion…also no change, in the JD….but give Irad three days, for careless riding…
Matthew, what I don’t understand is Ortiz Jr’s reason for the often dangerous antics he employs to win races. In Europe, his attitude would have to change or forget about riding top class horses. He had Johnny V as a mentor, an exemplar for young jockeys.
Steve, being a history buff there is nothin better than first hand account, and you got it. Combined with your talent of telling the story with all the nuances and human emotion is remarkable. I still want to download your memory banks. Not only for me but for posterity.
That is so very kind of you Derek. Thank you!
Great article about Geaux Rocket Ride and Papa Mandella, Steve. I have to admit to hoping he’d win especially with Mike Smith aboard.
Forte may have deserved the win, but Irad’s aggressive rides are getting more and more dangerous. If HISA would focus on things other than medication violations to the trillionth of a gram, maybe we’d see changes. Ortiz needs to be shunned by owners and trainers. He has shown over and over again he doesn’t care about the horse’s welfare, just the win.
As to Forte being scratched on Derby day and the actions of Pletcher and Repole, I question their concern over horse welfare as well. As a vet tech with experience in private and track hospitals, I watched that final vet check. I actually closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the shoes on asphalt. The first pass, it was barely discernible but he was off. The second pass it was obvious that he was off. What might have happened if they’d let him run, especially with a jockey who cares more about winning than the horse’s welfare? Permanent disability? Breakdown? The vets made the right call and with the body language being shown by Pletcher and Repole, I’m beyond disgusted with them. I like Forte- I’d like him even better with a different trainer (one Repole can’t browbeat) and a different jockey. I worry about his welfare.
You can see the horse flinch when the vet hit that spot.
Big time flinch. I’m still disgusted that Pletcher wanted to argue with the vet. Most bruises on the hoof develop into an abscess (something my own horse had to be euthanized for- I couldn’t put him through the pain). But to blatantly disregard an obvious “scream” of pain made me lose all respect for TP. And Repole is not high on my list either.
Hope to see you at BC- I’ll be somewhere around the finish or in the paddock, cameras in hand.
I love reading anything about Richard Mandella, one of my favorite, if not THE favorite trainers. Reading an article on Mandella by Steve Haskin is icing on the cake. I’m amazed at how you (Steve) gather so much history of horses, trainers and owners that have been all but forgotten over time. I could actually SEE Richard Mandella’s glee at standing on the hallowed ground of the once Rancocas Stable in your words. And, I will definitely be rooting for Geaux Rocket Ride in his upcoming races.
As for Irad Ortiz, I sense how hard it was for you to temper your words about his ride on Forte as well as many questionable rides in his past, including the very recent past. I do not understand why he is kept up so often on blatant offenses though I agree it would have been unfair for Forte to lose because of the sins of his jockey. He was, indeed, the best horse in the race.
Very enjoyable article, top to bottom. Hard not to draw a contrast between an old school, class act like Mandella and what needed to be discussed later. Geographically, i particularly enjoyed learning of Rancocas Stud. I live maybe an hour due south, but had never heard of it. I had no idea such a signifigant part of racing history existed in this part of the state. It has also been sad to witness the demise of many backyard breeders in this area, partly due to the closings of Atlantic City and Garden State, and partly due to the dying off of a way of life along with its horsemen.
Well done Steve . Thank you for sharing some personal history. I’ve always respected Dick Mandella and wish him the best at this year’s Breeders Cup. I was watching on Fox and couldn’t believe what I saw. I just hope Irad doesn’t cause a bad accident. Thanks again for making my Monday complete with another great article.
I appreciate it, Kenny. Thank you veery much.