HOLLYWOOD PARK : Hubbard Says Boycott Rumors Are Mere Talk

After hearing from what he called “several different sources” about rumors of a possible boycott of the entry box, Hollywood Park chief operating officer R.D. Hubbard held a brief news conference late Saturday afternoon.

“What I picked up was the same two or three trainers are advocating a boycott here at Hollywood Park,” Hubbard said. “We want owners to know the possibility that some of their horses might not be entered. The entries haven’t been that strong to begin with, and any number of horses that don’t enter right now hurts us.

“I had a half dozen or a dozen trainers who are stabled at Hollywood Park who talked to me and told me they were fully supportive of Hollywood Park. No trainers stabled here as far as I know are actively involved.”

Apparently, any talk of a boycott has to do with the recent passage of AB-991, a bill that would split California horsemen into separate groups for owners and trainers. The bill passed the Assembly by a large margin on Thursday and is now awaiting Gov. Pete Wilson’s signature.

“(The bill) is a devastating blow to everybody,” said Bart Heller, a director of the California Horsemen’s and Benevolent Protective Assn. “It’s up to (individuals). If they want to enter, they enter. If they don’t, they don’t. (The bill) is a complete division of horsemen’s rights.”

Trainer Darrell Vienna, a CHBPA director who has been critical of Hollywood Park, said the CHBPA has not sanctioned any form of boycott.

“I don’t really know a lot about it,” Vienna said. “I would suspect that I would have heard more than I’ve heard.”

Under AB-991, state funding for horsemen’s groups will be reduced by one-third, with that amount going toward purses. Two-thirds of the remaining funds will go to the owners’ group and the rest will go to the trainers.

Brian Sweeney, the chief operating officer of the CHBPA, has indicated that his group will try to get a new bill through the legislature to eliminate AB-991 before it becomes law on Jan. 1, 1995.

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There was no ruling by the Hollywood Park stewards Saturday morning regarding the five-day suspension of Kent Desormeaux, meaning he is clear to ride Lakeway in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and Soul Of The Matter in the Kentucky Derby the next day.

A court hearing on the matter has been postponed until May 20, steward Pete Pedersen said.

The continuance means that the stewards won’t be able to issue the ruling on Desormeaux until May 21, the day of the Preakness, meaning the suspension would probably begin on May 25.

It was announced on Friday that the California Horse Racing Board had disallowed Desormeaux’s appeal of the suspension resulting from his disqualification aboard The Wicked North in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 5. The CHRB also accepted hearing officer Steven Schwartz’s recommendation that the appeal by The Wicked North’s owner, Phil Hersh, be disallowed.

Unlike California, Kentucky does not have a designated-race rule that permits suspended jockeys to ride in certain graded stakes.

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Claimed for $32,000 by trainer Mike Orman on Dec. 1, Rabiadella earned nearly twice that much Saturday when she won the $105,800 Senorita Breeders’ Cup Stakes.

Second in the Providencia at Santa Anita in her previous start, the 7-1 shot opened up a 12-length lead under Laffit Pincay through a 1:09 4/5 six furlongs, then went on to beat 7-1 shot Magical Avie by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:34 4/5 for the mile on turf.

This was the third victory in six starts for the 3-year-old Dynaformer filly since she was claimed by Orman.

“I bought a colt for (owner) Mr. (Bill) Boswell in Florida by Dynaformer and I watched her run in her first start at Del Mar (on Aug. 30) and I liked the heart she showed,” Orman said. “I thought she was going too fast down the backside, but she didn’t quit.”

Magical Avie, in her first start on turf, finished four lengths ahead of 3-2 favorite Fancy ‘N Fabulous, whose two-race winning streak ended. She had beaten Rabiadella by 3 1/2 lengths in the Providencia, which is run at 1 1/8 miles.