Veteran Trainer Has Died

Funeral services are pending for longtime owner-trainer Brian Sweeney, who died Tuesday.

A participant in the thoroughbred industry for more than 40 years, Sweeney died of an apparent heart attack at the San Gabriel Country Club. He was 64.

Born in Shanghai, China, he was part owner of multiple stakes winners Erins Isle, who won the Californian, Sunset and Hollywood Invitational Handicap at Hollywood Park and San Luis Rey and San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita for late trainer Charlie Whittingham, and Obraztsovy, who won the San Luis Rey and San Juan Capistrano in 1983.

At the time of his death, Sweeney was training a small string of horses and working as the North American liaison for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“Brian was a very intelligent guy who knew the inside of racing as well as anybody,” trainer Jerry Fanning said.

“He trained horses, but I think his real passion or interest was the aspect of how racetracks operated.”

Sweeney, who at one time was general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Assn. for 14 years, is survived by daughters Brianne and Erin, his son Tim and two grandchildren. His wife, Anne, died in 1998.

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Yonaguska, who finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4, will be supplemented for $5,000 to the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes on Sunday.

Trained by Wayne Lukas for owner Michael Tabor, the 2-year-old son of Cherokee Run has won three of six starts, including a dead-heat with City Zip in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga a little more than two months ago. Like his sire, Yonaguska obviously is much more comfortable sprinting.

The Prevue, which is run at seven furlongs and serves as a prep for next month’s Hollywood Futurity, probably won’t have a large field, but that has been the case in most races so far at the track’s fall-winter meet.

Our Shining Hour, unbeaten in three starts for trainer Howard Zucker, will be favored. The only others considered definite are Gold Shark, Chinook Cat and California Cup Juvenile winner Proud Tower. Early Flyer, King La Boo, Way To The Top, Denied and Tit For Tat are possibilities.

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Timboroa, who won the Carleton F. Burke Handicap at Oak Tree for owner Ed Gann and trainer Bobby Frankel last month, and John’s Call, who finished third behind Kalanisi and Quiet Resolve, will be among the participants in the $4.4-million Japan Cup in Tokyo on Nov. 26.

Frankel will also be represented by Euchre, who was a late scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Classic, in the $2.3-million Japan Dirt Cup, which will be run for the first time Nov. 25. Lord Sterling, a former claimer for owners Ron and Susie Anson and trainer Alfredo Marquez, will also run in the Dirt Cup.

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Golden Gate Fields, which opened Wednesday, had its racing dates extended by the California Horse Racing Board on Tuesday.

Scheduled to conclude Jan. 15, Golden Gate will remain open until April 1 with Bay Meadows beginning April 4. Both tracks are owned by Frank Stronach’s Magna Entertainment.

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Coracle made it two victories in a row, rallying from off the pace to beat 26-1 shot Dyna’s Club and five others in the $54,000 feature Wednesday at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for owner Dr. John Chandler and trained by Frankel, Coracle paid $9 as the 7-2 third choice and completed the mile on turf in 1:34. The Exbourne filly has won five of 13.

Rare Charmer was third. Then came 2-1 favorite Southern House.

Notes

The largest number of entrants in any race on today’s card is eight; two races only drew five. A total of 52 horses was entered Tuesday for today’s program and things aren’t much better for the second and final Friday night card. Only 59 horses were entered in the eight races. . . . Show Me Genius, a 6-1 shot, ran past pacesetter Shoe Crazy to win the $50,000 Star Ball Handicap, the opening-day feature at Golden Gate Fields. The 4-year-old Beau Genius filly ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:46 under jockey Frank Alvarado.