RACING NOTES : Great Communicator Laid to Rest in the Infield at Hollywood Park

Great Communicator, the 7-year- old gelding who broke down and was humanely destroyed while running in the Carleton Burke Handicap at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, was quietly buried recently at Hollywood Park, in the grassy area between the tote boards.

“He’s home now,” said trainer and co-owner Thad Ackel. Except for one summer at Del Mar, Great Communicator was stabled at Hollywood Park his entire career.

“In light of all the recent tragedy with race horses, we didn’t want to magnify our loss any more than necessary,” said Ackel, who will have a headstone made up for the burial site to honor Great Communicator. “I preferred he be here, anyway, so in the mornings I can look out and think of him fondly,” Ackel said.

The Ackel family, consisting of Thad’s wife Leslie, brother George Jr., and mother Janette, shared ownership of Great Communicator with Rosalie Dufrene of Cutoff, La., since George Ackel Sr., died in April, 1988.

Great Communicator, a Kentucky-bred son of Key To The Kingdom, ran in 56 races, won 14 times, was second 10 times and third seven times. He ranks 19th on the all-time money-winning list with $2,922,615.

Trainer Wally Dollase said Hollywood Derby winner Itsallgreektome will receive a long rest after a sensational 3-year-old campaign.

“He’s out sunning himself today,” said Dollase, who has guided the well-bred gelding to impressive heights.

The trainer feels With Approval may get the nod as Grass Horse of the Year, but that Itsallgreektome “should be right there among the top three” for the Eclipse Award.

The Hollywood Derby victory was worth $110,000 and pushed Itsallgreektome’s career earnings to $638,775.

The gelding has finished first or second in seven of eight grass starts.

NATIONAL STANDARDBRED POLL The National Standardbred poll conducted by Hambletonian Society-Breeders Crown, covering racing performances through Nov. 11. Rankings based on the votes of 30 sports and harness racing media representatives with first-place votes in parentheses, age and gait, record (starts, 1sts, 2nds, 3rds), total points and last week’s ranking. (P-Pacer, T-Trotter)

1. Beach Towel (30) 3-P 23-18-4-0 300 1 2. Miss Easy 2-P 16-14-1-1 228 2 3. Town Pro 3-P 17-14-2-1 203 3 4. TKs Skipper 5-P 27-19-3-0 172 4 5. Die Laughing 2-P 10-8-2-0 149 5 6. Jake And Elwood 3-P 24-14-5-2 142 6 7. Caesar’s Jackpot 4-P 24-11-7-0 103 7 8. Peace Corps 4-T 13-9-3-0 78 8 9. Harmonious 3-T 14-10-0-0 56 9 10. Topnotcher 4-P 26-14-3-4 52

Others receiving votes: Dorunrun Bluegrass 40, No Sex Please 37, Embassy Lobell 28, Apache’s Fame 27, In The Pocket 14, A Worthy Lad 8, Charlie Ten Hitch 6, Me Maggie 6, Lexie 1.