Del Mar Derby Legal Battle Still a Way From Being Over

The long-running legal battle over the result of the Aug. 19 Del Mar Derby will run into at least December, and the attorney for the owner of one of the horses doesn’t like what’s ahead.

“We thought we were going to get a new hearing,” said Donald Calabria, who represents Jheri Redding, the owner of Itsallgreektome. “But it turns out that what we’re getting is a continuation of the hearing that was already held.”

More than a month after the Del Mar Derby, Steven Schwartz, a referee representing the California Horse Racing Board, overruled the three Del Mar stewards and awarded first place to Tight Spot. After Tight Spot finished first, the stewards had disqualified him for interference and placed him last, moving Itsallgreektome from second place to first.

First place in the race is worth $165,000, second place $60,000.

Calabria said that Arthur Martin, the attorney representing the Tight Spot ownership, is out of town, and it is unlikely that the parties will be able to get together for the continuance of the hearing until mid-December.

“This (continuance) is not going to make my job any easier,” Calabria said. “Instead of presenting our case to a new referee, I’m going to have to change the mind of someone who’s already made a decision.”

Two $100,000 grass stakes are on the schedule this weekend at Hollywood Park, the Citation Handicap Saturday and the Dahlia Handicap Sunday.