The Del Mar main track played host to training Sunday morning as a number of horses jogged in an effort to return to a sense of normalcy in the aftermath of the Lilac Fire, which devastated San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall, California Thursday evening. Many displaced horses have been stabled at Del Mar since late Thursday and early Friday and the track was made available to trainers on short notice.
Likewise, positive progress in the identification and recovery of missing horses continued at a steady pace, but not without ongoing somber reminders of the loss of equine life in the fire's path. Trainer Peter Miller took to Twitter to confirm the loss of Rockingham Ranch's four-time stakes winner California Diamond (Harbor the Gold), one of 46 reported equine deaths.
“We are overwhelmed by the support of the community,” Miller tweeted. “We have accounted for all 77 of the horses, but with heavy hearts we are sad to report we [lost] five to the fire, one being our special jewel, California Diamond.”
At both Del Mar and Santa Anita, donations continued to pour in for equines and humans alike, with clothes and other supplies arriving for backstretch workers who lost their homes in the fire.
California's Climax Stallions donated a season to Curlin to Mischief (Curlin) in an effort to raise further funding for backstretch workers. Bidding for the season can be found here.
“As native Californians, and owners of a filly who was lost but has since been found in the fire, we want to help those who weren't as fortunate in anyway we can,” said Climax managing director Sean Feld. “This hit too close to home for us.”
Del Mar added that it was in search of basic equine maintenance supplies, as well as breakfast and lunch food for backstretch employees, while Feld suggested contributing gas money for displaced workers on Twitter.
Barretts Sales added their name to the growing list of industry organizations donating to the cause, pledging to contribute 10% of the sales commissions of horses sold at their 2018 January Mixed Sale to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation (CTHF), which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for backstretch workers at California racetracks and training centers. The horses of all ages sale will be held Jan. 17 at the Finish Line Sports Grill at Fairplex beginning at 11:00 am PST. Additional funds will be raised on the day of the sale through live and silent auctions of donated 2018 stallion seasons, artwork and racing memorabilia.
Relief efforts received another boost late Sunday when a group of Los Alamitos Race Course affiliates, including owner Dr. Edward Allred and vice president F. Jack Liebau, donated a total of $60,000 to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation. Phoenix Thoroughbred, which captured Saturday's GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos with Dream Tree (Uncle Mo), and the Hong Kong Jockey Club were among others who publicly pledged to donate to relief efforts late Saturday and early Sunday.
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