Columnist Ralph Siraco: Hollywood Park trainers threatening a boycott

Ralph Siraco

Monday, July 1, 2002 | 8:57 a.m.

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

As we approach the midpoint of a fleeting year, we're reminded that the great racing sprawled across the four-day Independence Day weekend is ours to enjoy because of the precious freedom that is the essence of the holiday.

So, while we reflect on our inalienable rights as American racing fans, it is time to gather some scribbling from across my Daily Racing Form.

The withholding of entries stemmed from a Sunday deadline for higher compensation insurance rates trainers must pay to cover workers they employ at California tracks. Because the horsemen could not find private insurance companies willing to write worker's comp policies, mandatory policies were bought through the government-backed State Fund.

The State Fund policies that go into effect today charge trainers as much as four times the old rate, a cost most small stables can't afford. The boycott was an effort by trainers to get the California race tracks and Thoroughbred Owners of California to make up the difference.

A meeting Sunday morning averted cancellation of this week's racing at Hollywood Park when industry officials informed horsemen that emergency legislation to offset the cost increase was introduced in Sacramento and is moving quickly to the governor's desk. The bill should be in place by the end of July.

At Hollywood Park, Frankel has Kappa King set for Thursday's American Handicap, Carinae for Friday's Flawlessly Stakes, Megahertz for the American Oaks, Aldebaran or Blu Air Force for the Triple Bend Handicap and Surya in the Royal Heroine -- all on Saturday.

He also starts Lido Palace on Saturday in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, Denon in the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park and Eurchre to defend his title in the Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows.