Tight Spot, Exbourne Are Injured

Tight Spot and Exbourne, two of the top grass horses in the country, have suffered injuries that will put huge holes in the major weekend events at Hollywood Park.

Tight Spot, the 1991 male turf champion, aggravated an ankle injury this week while preparing for Sunday’s $100,000 Inglewood Handicap. It was the same joint that gave the 5-year-old son of His Majesty trouble at the end of his 1991 championship season.

“With rest, he could run again,” trainer Ron McAnally said. “But by then the year would be over, and this was going to be his last.”

Exbourne, who was gearing up for a defense of his title in Monday’s $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap, tore the ligaments below his right ankle during a workout over the Santa Anita main track Thursday morning. Surgery will be required.

Both horses have had brilliant careers despite periodic physical setbacks. Tight Spot underwent knee surgery in 1990. Exbourne was operated on for a severe colic attack in August of 1991.

The two horses staged one of the best grass races of the 1991 California season, when Tight Spot edged a hard-charging Exbourne in the American Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Both went out winners. In his last start March 21, Tight Spot took the San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields, and Exbourne won the El Rincon Handicap at Santa Anita on April 12.

Tight Spot started 20 times, won 12 races and lost only one of 12 tries on grass. His earnings topped $1.5 million for owners Verne Winchell, Frank and Jan Whitham, Frank Anderson and Rick Corradini.

Exbourne, a 6-year-old who blossomed when he went to trainer Bobby Frankel in 1990, won eight of 14 races and close to $1 million for Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.