Loser Ricks Natural Star May Run at Los Alamitos

Ricks Natural Star, who finished last in the $2-million Breeder’s Cup Turf at Woodbine in Toronto, arrived at Los Alamitos Race Course Thursday afternoon and a tentative agreement has been reached to run the horse there on Nov. 15.

Owned by veterinarian William Livingston, the 7-year-old gelding is scheduled to compete against quarter horses in a starter allowance at 870 yards with a purse of $8,000. Should Ricks Natural Star win, Los Alamitos would pay Livingston $40,000, the sum the owner put up to run his horse in the Breeders’ Cup.

Regardless of the race’s outcome, Ricks Natural Star, who hasn’t won a race since 1993, would earn an appearance fee of $5,000. The gelding, who has earned $6,093 in 24 lifetime starts, would also be required to make an appearance during next Friday’s racing program.

Livingston had said earlier he was not sure he would run Ricks Natural Star at Los Alamitos. “The horse is at Los Alamitos,” he said, “but I wanted the money up front and it doesn’t look like they’re going to give it to me. I trust them about as much as they trust me.”