Allred’s Cal-Bred Night Is a Victory on Several Levels

In the last five years, Los Alamitos Race Course owner Edward C. Allred has put more than $25 million into refurbishing the 50-year-old track. He has successfully lobbied state legislators to pass a bill that increased revenues for quarter horse purses. He has built a stable of more than 500 head at his Atascadero ranch for days when it’s necessary to fill out a field because there aren’t enough horses ready to run.

But Allred is reveling in perhaps his most satisfying victory as a horseman, which took place June 24 in the $165,000 Spencer Childers Futurity. Not only was Express King’s victory--by a nose--worth $82,725, it came as a part of the track’s first California Breeders Championship Night.

Allred has attempted to inject new life into the track by adding special events such as the annual boxing card, which returns Saturday. But he has also wanted to develop a major stakes night to pay tribute to the state’s talented quarter horses and their jockeys, owners and trainers.

“This was a great field of Cal-breds and that’s what this night was all about,” Allred said.

Express King, sent off at 11-1, led for most of the race, and despite a challenge from heavy favorite Taylor Fit and Bono Jazz, he hung on for a narrow win with jockey Carlos Bautista.

Bono Jazz, which finished a nose back of Taylor Fit in third place, is owned by the race’s namesake, Spencer Childers, a member of the track’s board of directors and a long-time Fresno-area breeder and trainer.

Allred and Childers have faced off many times.

“It’s always great fun and a pleasure to race against him,” Allred said.

Bautista was the top jockey at the Cal-bred night, winning four races. He was aboard Allred’s Wave Catcher, which won the $20,000 Freshman Stakes race.

In all, the Cal-Bred night produced purses totaling $906,200.

DEAD HEATS

The first race at Los Alamitos on June 16 featured a double-dead heat finish for the first time in track history. Special Gigolette, trained by Chris O’Dell and ridden by Joe Ruiz, and Bookem Bobby, trained by Dan Francisco and ridden by Eddie Garcia, shared the winnings of $4,262. Westmont and Boffo shared the show position and earned $550 each after judges determined that they, too, crossed the finish line at the same time.

Dead heats aren’t uncommon in racing, and Los Alamitos has experienced its share of them this season. According to a track spokesman, several years ago three horses crossed the finish line at the same time.

The track has had several unusual occurrences during its 50th meet. Stewards declared the ninth race on June 22 to be no contest because of a mechanical failure at the starting gate.

RECOVERING

A track official said that jockey Joe Badilla intends to take some time off after he was dumped by his mount, Lady Strawfly, in the fourth race last Sunday.

The spokesman said it is believed that Lady Strawfly suffered a heart attack late in the 300-yard race and collapsed. Badilla hit the ground hard and was unconscious and suffering convulsions immediately after the spill. But hospital tests revealed no serious injuries, according to the spokesman. Badilla was released from the hospital Tuesday.

His wife, Roxsann, said that Badilla, the track’s leading jockey, is resting at home and plans to see another doctor for a second opinion before returning to racing.

NOTABLE

Los Alamitos was dark Thursday so it could host a rare Monday meet. First post is 7:15 p.m. . . . Del Mar opens July 26 with the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes. First post is 2 p.m. The day will feature the annual Truly Fabulous Hats Contest. Patrons are encouraged to design and wear outrageous hats, and the best creations are eligible to win a variety of prizes. . . . Friday posts through Aug. 18 at Del Mar will be 4 p.m. and after that at 3:30 p.m. until the meet closes Sept. 8. . . . The growth of the quarter horse racing industry nationwide has slowed somewhat after big increases in the first three months of the year. According to figures released by the American Quarter Horse Assn., parimutuel handle for May ($32,378,940) was down 2.7% over last year. May purses plunged 19.4% to $5,450,430 and the number of races (1,003) was off 87 races from a year ago. Nonetheless, Keith Kleine, the AQHA’s senior manager for race marketing, said that the industry has run 80 more races this year (2,565) than at this point in 1999. . . . Total purses are running more than 15.4% ahead of last year’s pace, with $16,342,708 paid out. The average purse nationwide is now $6,371, 11.8% higher than last year. Total handle is up 11.4% with $74,039,476 passing through windows. . . . For the fourth time, the AQHA has awarded Los Alamitos the MNBA America Challenge Championships, which will be held Nov. 3, 2001. The event is a $3.4 million series of races that take place in 10 North American regions, culminating with the finals at a single location.