Thoroughbred Group Wants Quarter-Horse Event Dropped

Thoroughbred horsemen at Hollywood Park have asked the California Horse Racing Board to reconsider its recent approval of a Hollywood Park request to run a rich quarter-horse race at the Inglewood track before the season ends July 22.

In a communique received Friday by the racing board at its Sacramento offices, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Assn. said: “The scheduling of a quarter-horse race during Hollywood Park’s thoroughbred season is a violation of our contract with the track and was approved by the board at its last meeting (June 21) without due notice. The proposed race is contrary to the economic interests of the financially depressed thoroughbred horsemen.”

The HBPA is a national organization that represents the horsemen at Hollywood Park.

“I’m sure our request to reconsider will be turned down,” said trainer Bobby Frankel, president of the HBPA’s local chapter. “We’ll have to schedule a membership meeting and decide what to do next.”

The quarter-horse race, which could have a purse as high as $100,000, has not yet been scheduled, but a Hollywood Park spokesman said this week that the track plans to run the race before the season ends. Hollywood would like to introduce its thoroughbred fans to quarter horses since the track’s operating company also owns Los Alamitos, a quarter-horse racing facility in Orange County.

“We don’t feel that our thoroughbred meeting should be used as a forum for a competitive breed,” said an HBPA official who asked that his name not be used.

Len Foote, secretary of the racing board, said he would bring the HBPA’s appeal to the attention of the seven members of the board.