Columnist Ralph Siraco: Look back at ‘02 on the track

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

On the eve of another new year, it is that time again.

It's time to review where the heck the year went and how it went. For 2002, the racing industry handled a roller-coaster ride of irony, scandal, realization, retirements and comebacks, loss and, of course, glory on the track.

The top story in racing this year didn't, however, take place on the race track, but instead in a back room far removed from the pounding action at Arlington Park on the sport's championship day.

While the winners were cooling off after the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup, a fraudulent scam of deception and infiltration of the American betting systems were beginning to come to light.

The Breeders' Cup "fix-six," as it would be called, uncovered a flaw that breached the industry's wagering computers which allowed three fraternity brothers to perpetrate an illegal betting coup. The scheme could have yielded over $3 million from all six winning pick six tickets and multitudes of consolations.

Although the investigation moved swiftly in identifying Chris Harn, Derrick Davis and Glen DeSilva, who were arrested and later pleaded guilty to the crimes, their success brought into focus the antiquated and porous security safeguards in place at the totalizator companies handling billions of dollars in wagers annually through the country's pari-mutuel betting network. Now the industry stands to repair not only it's image, but an entire revamping to a long overdue state-of-the-art wagering system for the industry's burgeoning betting network.

But the year also brought racing great stories for legend.

As many thoroughbred owners, Prince Ahmed bin Salman fulfilled a lifelong dream of winning the Kentucky Derby. Although his Thoroughbred Corporation racing stable boasted many blue-bloods, a purchase just weeks before the Derby produced a War Emblem victory for the ages.

After a Preakness win, the overlooked Baffert trainee sat on racing immortality only to stumble at the start of the Belmont Stakes and blow all chance at the Triple Crown.

After becoming the first Arab to win the Derby, bin Salmon died in his native Saudi Arabia of a heart attack less than three months later. Following a disappointing Breeders' Cup performance, War Emblem was sold and sent to Japan for breeding.

A pair of the greatest racehorses of the last quarter-century passed away this year. The 1977 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Seattle Slew, who was one of the most influential stallions in America died. Sunday Silence, who became the 1989 Horse of the Year after winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders' Cup Classic that year, died while serving stallion duty in Japan.

On the human side, racing lost several major owner-breeders who gave a lifetime of passion and leadership to the industry. Californians John Mabee (Golden Eagle Farms) and Georgia Ridder (Ridder Stables) left us along with aristocrat Ogden Phipps, head of the famous New York racing family, and Las Vegan Vern H. Winchell of the famed Denny's restaurants and Winchell's Donut chain.

Although the world's winningest jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., who celebrated his 56th birthday at Santa Anita on Sunday, is still riding, racing said farewell to the sport's all-time leading money-earning rider Chris McCarron in July. Another Hall of famer, Eddie Delahoussaye suffered serious injuries in a single-horse spill at Del Mar last summer and is still sidelined. Delahoussaye is now contemplating retirement as well.

Northern California kingpin Russell Baze broke the 8,000 career win plateau this year on his way to another 400-plus win year. Baze has won at least 400 races per year ten of the last 11 years.

A trio of riding comebacks were led by Patrick Valenzuela. Fighting a career of suspensions for substance addiction, P. Val, as he is called, has fought off those demons to win several Southern California riding titles since his return.

Sidelined by what was thought to be a career-ending knee injury, Shane Sellers, who did a brief stint as a singer, returned to the saddle recently and is a frequent visitor to the Fair Grounds winners circle.

And, the sport's all-time leading lady, jockey Julie Krone returned to riding at the recent Hollywood Park autumn meeting. Winning with regularity, Krone has lit the board in several Southern California added-money events and became the first female jockey to capture a Grade I stakes race in the Golden State when she rode Debonair Joe to victory in the Malibu Stakes on opening day at Santa Anita.

Jockey Jerry Bailey and trainer Bobby Frankel continued domination of the leader board in their respective categories while both are well on the way to another Eclipse Award year.

As far as equine excellence, Azeri may have secured not only best Older Filly or Mare of the year, but Horse of the Year honors with her outstanding record culminating in a Breeders' Cup Distaff victory.

War Emblem, Medaglia d'Oro and Came Home led the sophomores. Farda Amiga, Imperial Gesture and Take Charge Lady led the filly set while Orientate (Sprinter), Vindication (Juvenile) and Storm Flag Flying (Juvenile Fillies) dominated their divisions.

No horse established superiority in the Older Male group that featured notable performances by Street Cry, Mizzen Mast, Mongoose, Kudos, Milwaukee Brew, Lido Palace, Evening Attire, Sky Jack, Left Bank and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi. Golden Apples was the most consistent Female Turf horse, along with Affluent and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Starine. The Male Turf horse category will go to the Europeans Domedriver (Breeders' Cup Mile), High Chaparral (Breeders' Cup Turf) and Rock of Gibraltar who missed a perfect season while a troubled runner up in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

All in all, it was a most unique year in racing. Happy New Year.

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