HOLLYWOOD PARK : As He Approaches 40, Delahoussaye Has No Thoughts About Retiring

Don’t expect a retirement party for Eddie Delahoussaye anytime soon.

Five years ago, racing’s newest $100-million jockey had said he would probably ride until he was 40.

Delahoussaye will turn 40 Sept. 21, but he’s not ready to end a career that began more than 23 years ago. “I’d hate to take off these white pants,” he said between races Wednesday at Hollywood Park. “I feel like I’m riding just as well as before, it’s just a matter of getting the stock.

“I’m still enjoying what I do. When I stop enjoying it, that’s when I’ll quit. Things have changed (in the last five years). I started taking care of myself a lot better. I don’t go out to eat and socialize three times a week like I used to. We (he and wife Juanita) hardly go out anymore.”

Once again, Delahoussaye is among the nation’s leaders in money won and he has two good opportunities to add to his total coming up. He’ll ride Festin in Saturday’s $500,000 New England Classic at Rockingham Park, then will handle Burnished Bronze in Monday’s Hollywood Juvenile, the closing-day feature at Inglewood.

Second to Farma Way in the American Championship Racing Series point standings, Festin will be seeking his third victory in the series. He rallied to win the Oaklawn Handicap in the slop, then was a seven-length winner after an extremely fast pace in the Nassau County Handicap last month at Belmont Park.

That success was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Gary Stevens’ ride on Farma Way and his subsequent dismissal from the horse by trainer Wayne Lukas.

Some labeled Festin’s victory a fluke, a term Delahoussaye doesn’t think is fair.

“I think if maybe the horse had won by a nose, maybe you could call it a fluke, but he won by seven,” Delahoussaye said. “How can you justify that? Farma Way beat him by less than three lengths (actually 2 3/4) at Santa Anita (in the Big ‘Cap) and that was a speed-biased track. Festin is a nice, solid, honest horse. He’s no Secretariat, but then neither are any of the others.

“I’ve never ridden at Rockingham, but (trainer) Ron (McAnally) has seen some of the races on tape and he said it seems like a pretty fair track--horses have won from everywhere. Festin can lay a little closer if we have to. It wouldn’t be his best race, but he can do it.”

Burnished Bronze, a son of Seattle Slew, is unbeaten in two starts for owner John Mabee and trainer David Hofmans. Delahoussaye was aboard for both victories, a May 3 maiden win at Hollywood Park and a three-length win in the Ladbroke Futurity on June 22 at Golden Gate Fields.

The horse equaled the track record of 1:02 3/5 for 5 1/2 furlongs that day and put away Scherando after :21 and :43 3/5 fractions.

“I’ve been very impressed with him,” Delahoussaye said. “He should improve (Monday), and if he runs to his ability, he’ll be awfully tough.

“He acts like an older horse. He’s got a lot of class. Hopefully, he’ll go on (and handle a distance). You never know for sure until they run around two turns. But he acts like he has the talent and disposition.”

Trainer Pico Perdomo’s top gun is back.

Stalwart Charger, praised by Perdomo last year, will run for the first time as a 4-year-old Friday night. He was one of five entered in the $60,000 Greinton Handicap at one mile on the turf.

A gelded son of Stalwart, Stalwart Charger hasn’t been out since finishing sixth in the Super Derby last Sept. 23 at Louisiana Downs. He chipped his right knee in that race when he stumbled coming out of the gate.

Winner of the California Derby, Silver Screen, Swaps and Del Mar Budweiser Breeders’ Cup in 1990, he has trained well for his first start of the year, and this will also be his initial try on the turf. Perdomo’s prime objective is to have him ready for the $1-million Pacific Classic on Aug. 10 at Del Mar.

The other entrants for the Greinton are Ultrasonido, Exclusive Partner and the Clover Racing Stable entry of Kanatiyr and Eradicate.

Horse Racing Notes

Mister Frisky’s comeback was put on hold when a Friday night allowance race failed to fill. The 1990 Santa Anita Derby winner worked five furlongs in :59 1/5 Monday, and trainer Joe Garcia is hoping to run him in a six-furlong allowance race on Aug. 2 at Del Mar. . . . With Itsallgreektome and Prized skipping Sunday’s $250,000 Sunset Handicap, there figures to be a sizable field for the 1 1/2-mile turf race. The probable starters are Aksar, Mashkour, Black Monday, Pleasant Variety, Super May, Hecquet and Razeen, while Lovue Bleue, Zorzal and Splendid Career are possibilities. . . . Laffit Pincay, Hollywood Park’s leading rider entering the final five days, will be in Maryland Saturday to ride Robyn Dancer in the $300,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel. Robyn Dancer’s opponents include Safely Kept, Housebuster and Sunny Blossom.