Steve Specht will run three on Saturday’s Cal-bred card while pondering retirement amid changes to his Bay Area circuit with the closure of Golden Gate Fields
Trainer Steven Specht, right, hugs jockey Frank Alvarado after Grand Slam Smile’s victory in the Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks on Jan. 13, 2024 at Santa Anita Park.
The emotions come from what’s happening to racing back in Northern California, where Specht, 74, is the dean of thoroughbred trainers but unsure how much longer he’ll hang on. The hurt begins with the end of Golden Gate Fields, now scheduled to close after the races of June 9, a little later but no less permanently than was originally scheduled under a plan announced in July 2023 by the Stronach Group.
“I don’t understand this move ,” Specht said. “Of course, I don’t really understand much the Stronach organization does. I think they’re more in the real-estate business than the horse-racing business.” “My dad trained horses at Cahokia Downs and Fairmount Park,” he said. “At the time, if he had a $2,000 horse, we thought we had a champion. Now I’ve got horses that are running in stakes. You work all your life with a bunch of cheapies and gradually build up to some decent horses. Now, you’re maybe going to give them away, it’s kind of hard to take.”
On Saturday – when the California Gold Rush card includes five stakes for Cal-breds – Grand Slam Smile runs in the $125,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track; Passarando goes in the $100,000 Crystal Water for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on turf; and Tam’s Little Angel is entered in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. All are owned by Larry and Maria Williams and ridden by Frank Alvarado.
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