HOLLYWOOD PARK : Lawsuit Filed in Death of Horse

Hollywood Park, trainer Ted West, jockey Pat Valenzuela and three horse owners were named in a lawsuit filed May 25 in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that their negligence was the cause of the death of Buchanan Hollow, a 3-year-old colt who died in an accident last July 3.

Attorney Joan Allan filed the suit on behalf of Robert and Brenda Gooch, the breeders and co-owners of Buchanan Hollow, who, along with Interwit, was killed during the running of the Tsunami Slew Handicap.

Interwit, a 3-year-old gelding trained by West and owned by West, Bill Thomas and Margaret and Alan Pribble, was leading the Tsunami Slew by about three lengths in the stretch. Valenzuela, riding Interwit for the first time, switched the whip from his left to his right hand, and when he hit Interwit, the horse ducked sharply into the rail and was killed when he was impaled in the shoulder area by an exposed section. Valenzuela suffered bruised ribs and missed a few days of riding.

Interwit fell in the path of Buchanan Hollow, who tripped over the downed horse and suffered shoulder injuries that led to his being destroyed an hour later.

The suit alleges that West knew that Interwit had a tendency to duck in when hit on the right side, and that he either failed to communicate that to Valenzuela and failed to take proper measures to prevent the incident from occurring.

Experts retained by the Gooches said in a statement that the inside turf rail at Hollywood Park was “defectively and dangerously constructed,” and that further corrosion and mechanical damage clearly reduced the strength of the turf rail, adding to the instability of its original condition.

Apparently, there have been attempts to settle out of court with Hollywood Park. Track President Don Robbins had no comment on the lawsuit Wednesday.

Shortly after the tragedy, West said he was going to sue Valenzuela and Hollywood Park.

“The most upsetting thing is that I told Pat what to do and he did just the opposite,” West told the Daily Racing Form in a story last July 27. “I gave him a perfect scenario. I told him he wanted to come from off the pace, and if he did make the lead in the stretch, have the stick in his left hand, because (Interwit) does want to drop in.

“For some inexplicable reason, he switched to his right hand and aggravated the situation by hitting him right-handed. It cost (Interwit) his life. There was no logical reason to use the whip at all, and especially right-handed. . . . There was gross negligence on Valenzuela’s part; he was forewarned clearly.”

No dollar amount was disclosed in the suit, but Buchanan Hollow’s potential earnings, including breeding fees, were projected as more than $5 million.

Horse Racing Notes

After being assigned 125 pounds for the Milady Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park, Paseana will defend her title, rather than go to Belmont Park to compete in the Hempstead Handicap, which had given her 126 pounds. . . . Jockey Martin Pedroza, injured in a spill in the first race on April 25, could be riding on Saturday, according to agent Rich Silverstein. . . . Saros On The Town gained the lead from Garden Gal approaching the half-mile pole under jockey David Flores and won by five lengths in Wednesday’s feature, covering the 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28 3/5.