ARCADIA, Calif. — Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was banned by the ownership of Santa Anita on Saturday after a fourth horse from his stable, and the 30th overall this racing season, died at the Southern California track.
The Stronach Group, which owns the track, said in a statement that effective immediately, Hollendorfer “is no longer welcome to stable, race or train his horses at any of our facilities.”
On the recommendation of a special panel convened to review horses’ medical, training and racing history, the track’s stewards scratched four horses trained by Hollendorfer that were entered to run Saturday and Sunday.
A 4-year-old gelding trained by Hollendorfer was injured Saturday while exercising on the training track and was euthanized.
It was the 30th death since the racing season began Dec. 26. The track closes for the season Sunday.
Hollendorfer couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
A 9-year-old gelding named Kochees that was trained by Hollendorfer was euthanized May 26 after injuring his left front leg in a race a day earlier.
At the time, a spokesman for The Stronach Group told The AP that it was looking into whether new protocols were followed leading up to the gelding being euthanized.
The Stronach Group said in a statement Saturday it regrets that Hollendorfer’s record in recent months at both Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields in Northern California “has become increasingly challenging and does not match the level of safety and accountability we demand.”
The track owner said individuals who don’t embrace the new rules and safety measures that put horse and rider safety above all else will have no place at any Stronach Group racetrack.
Mike Marten, spokesman for the California Horse Racing Board, said Hollendorfer’s gelding American Currency wasn’t entered to run in any race and thus wasn’t subject to review by the special panel.
Kochees’ injury appeared to be correctable through surgery. However, when doctors realized the horse had lost blood flow to the leg, he was euthanized.
Among the rules put in place since March, a trainer’s veterinarian must sign off on a horse’s fitness before the track’s veterinarian also takes a look at the animal ahead of it training or racing.
“In my mind there is absolutely no doubt that we’ve done every single thing properly with Kochees and all the rest of our horses, too,” Hollendorfer said in response to questioning by The AP on May 27. “We certainly are pretty sad when they get hurt.”
The 72-year-old trainer is best known for overseeing Eclipse Award winners Blind Luck, Shared Belief and Songbird. Based in Northern California for most of his career, Hollendorfer frequently ships his horses to Southern California’s tracks to run.
He’s known for buying young horses at auction in the low to mid-price range, often with his own money. He then puts together ownership groups and retains a percentage of the horse while training it as well.