Horse Racing Capsules: Ira Hanford, rode 1936 Derby winner, dies at 91
Ira "Babe" Hanford, who as an 18-year-old apprentice rode 20-1 shot Bold Venture to victory in the 1936 Kentucky Derby, has died. He was 91.
He died Saturday in Ocala, Fla., following a long illness, said Virginia Hanford, his wife of 67 years. He was the oldest-living jockey to have won the Derby and the first apprentice to have done so.
Hanford did not get a chance to ride Bold Venture in the Preakness because racing officials suspended him for 15 days following the Derby. He retired in 1953 without running in another Derby. He is one of 22 jockeys to win the Run for the Roses in their only appearance.
"It’s something that once you win, it never gets taken away," Virginia Hanford told The Associated Press by phone on Wednesday. "It’s something that he always held very close to him."
Hanford said officials never told him why he was suspended, along with two other jockeys. During an interview with the AP in 2006, Hanford said he suspected it had to do with the rugged nature of the sport at the time.
"I’ve always assumed it was for knocking down a horse," he said. "I heard a few years ago that I was suspended for crossing over somewhere on the backside."
Back then, the starting gate didn’t have front or rear doors to lock the horses in a somewhat uniform line. They were led in and stood there until a bell rang.
Hanford looked to his right and saw Bien Joli standing at an angle and about a neck in front of him and Bold Venture. He called out to jockey Lester Balaski to straighten his horse.
"I didn’t get horse out of the mouth and the bell rang," said Hanford, who as an apprentice got to carry less weight than senior riders. "When he made the first or second jump out of the gate, he hit me and turned me almost sideways."
Hanford and Bold Venture careened to the left and into Granville, knocking jockey Jimmy Stout to the ground.
"That was a hell of a bump that I got and so did he," Hanford said. "Bold Venture got a going over leaving the gate as bad as anybody, but he was very agile and he collected himself good. By the time I got to the first turn, he was maybe six or seven lengths off the lead."
Bold Venture’s trainer Max Hirsch replaced Hanford with George Woolfe for the Preakness, which the horse won. Bold Venture did not run in the Belmont.
In addition to his wife, Hanford is survived by older brother Carl, who trained five-time Horse of the Year Kelso.
Jamaica allows Sunday horse races
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica will for the first time allow horse racing on Sundays in a bid to revive the economy and draw tourists, but will ban off-track betting on the day.
The decision to allow races on Sundays — the first meeting will be this weekend — came despite ardent opposition from church leaders who argued it would lead to gambling addictions and bankruptcies. But the Reverend Michael Shim-Hue, chairman of Jamaica's Pentecostal Union, said leaders are satisfied with the ban on off-track bets.
Horse racing officials plan to fight the decision that off-track betting parlors close on Sundays.
Information Minister Daryl Vaz said on Wednesday he will meet with promoters and decide whether the ban will remain in place for a second race scheduled on Dec. 13.
When the government debated whether to allow Sunday races, Finance Ministry spokesman Arthur Williams said it would help revive the island's struggling economy and attract more tourists.
Races are usually held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, drawing thousands of spectators who bet on horses with names such as "Explosive Cat" and "Super Dave."
Kingston's Caymanas Park is the island's only thoroughbred track, and promoter Caymanas Track Limited owns 62 off-track betting parlors.
Spokesman Christopher Armond said he was disappointed by the off-track betting decision and will push to reverse the ban.
-- Howard Campbell
Gomez returns to winner's circle at Hollywood Park
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jockey Garrett Gomez, who was banged up in a spill over the weekend, returned to the winner's circle on Wednesday with a seven-length victory aboard betting favorite Conveyance in a $38,000 allowance feature at Hollywood Park.
Conveyance, a 2-year-old colt, covered six furlongs in 1:09 and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Joyful Success returned $4.20 and $2.40. Majestic Afleet paid $2.10 to show.
Conveyance earned $22,800 to boost his career earnings to $44,400.
Gomez escaped serious injury Saturday when his mount, a 2-year-old filly named Bonnie Brown Eyes, broke down in the stretch, sending him to the ground. The horse later died.
Sheltered wins Churchill feature
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sheltered held off a late charge by Lemon Twirl to win the $49,655 feature race by a nose at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Paul McGee, Sheltered covered the mile on firm turf in 1:36.86.
The 4-year-old Kentucky bred paid $15, $8 and $5.40. The victory was worth $31,375 and increased her career earnings to $119,032.
Lemon Twirl returned $7 and $5.80 to place, and Brezing Rain paid $4 to show.
Sheikh's Serenade wins Big A feature
NEW YORK — Sheikh's Serenade, back from a one-year layoff, beat Qualia by a neck Wednesday in the $45,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Aqueduct.
The 3-year-old improved to 2 for 4 with Eddie Castro aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Sheikh's Serenade ran the six furlongs in 1:10.34, paying $8.60, $4.40 and $2.60. Qualia returned $3.70 and $2.30. Kissa Melissa paid $2.10 to show.
