A DELTA STORM
By Ray Paulick
We’ve all seen horses dropping down the class ladder, but this one was ridiculous.
Delta Storm, a 9-year-old multiple stakes-winning gelding, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in November and most recently running for a $100,000 claiming tag at Hollywood Park last Dec. 6, showed up in the entry box June 16 at the San Joaquin Fair at Stockton, Calif., in a $3,200 claiming race.
That’s right. A horse that won 11 of 34 lifetime starts, competed in Grade 1 stakes like the Ancient Title and Bing Crosby Handicaps, and earned $541,743, was being dropped into a bottom level claiming race on the Northern California fair circuit.
Word spread quickly that Delta Storm had been entered to race at Stockton, and he got the attention of Sharla Sanders, who runs an organization called The Second Race, which helps find retirement homes or second careers for racehorses. Arrangements have been made for Delta Storm to be shipped to the California Equine Retirement Foundation facility in Winchester, Calif.
But questions persist. How did a horse that gave so much wind up running for so little? When has a horse done enough to avoid the slide (or in this case, dramatic drop) down the claiming ladder and often into a gypsy life, changing barns frequently and too often suffering a career or life-ending injury?
Delta Storm, a son of Storm Boot, was bred in Kentucky by Alex Campbell and broke his maiden for Campbell and trainer Robert Reinacher at Gulfstream Park in 2004 in his second start, a maiden special weight race. He remained in the East Coast and Midwest for five years, competing in allowance and high-priced claiming events for Campbell and Reinacher until his 20th start, a $40,000 claimer at Churchill Downs in May 2008. Trainer Tom Proctor claimed him out of the race (which Delta Storm won), but when the then-7-year-old showed up in the starting gate next, at Del Mar two months later, he was carrying the silks of Michael House and trained by Mike Mitchell.
He won a $62,500 claimer for House and Mitchell in August 2008, then elevated to stakes company, winning the Pirate’s Bounty Handicap at Del Mar in September and finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Handicap during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. Delta Storm ran twice more in 2008, then came back in June 2009 to win the Robert Kerlan Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park, the first of six consecutive stakes appearances that included a fourth-place finish to Zensational in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a fourth in his second Ancient Title attempt, and a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, beaten just over 2 1/2 lengths by California Flag. He then ran second in the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park later in November and fifth of six runners carrying a $100,000 tag at the Inglewood track Dec. 6, 2009.
Some time later, Northern California trainer Steve Miyadi got a phone call from his old boss, Mike Mitchell, saying he had a horse for sale that Miyadi might be interested in. “Mike asked me if I wanted the horse,” Miyadi told the Paulick Report. “He said you can run him wherever you want. He’s a tough horse to handle, and Mike House figured he’s going to get good care at the racetrack and won’t hurt anybody. So I bought him, obviously not for a lot of money.” Miyadi declined to disclose how much he paid.
Miyadi gave Delta Storm some time off, put him back in training, then worked him “an easy five-eighths in 1:04.” After another workout on June 12, Miyadi thought the gelding was ready to run, but said he wanted to find the easiest spot possible to give Delta Storm a confidence builder. So he entered him in the $3,200 claiming race at Stockton, a race with a winner’s share of $4,775.
“That’s probably the biggest drop I’ve done,” Miyadi said. “He would have won by a furlong, with his chin to his chest. He was even-money on the morning line but would have been 1-9.”
Sanders got word of Delta Storm’s entry and starting contacting people, including Grace Belcuore at CERF and former owner Mike House. Ironically, it was House’s daughter, Maggi, who tipped off Sanders that the horse was entered at Stockton. “She was upset about it, but didn’t have the resources or network to do anything,” Sanders said. “I got in touch with people to see what we could do. I had done some volunteer work for CERF for a number of years and called Grace, saying I thought the horse fit the profile. She said there was a spot available.” Sanders said Delta Storm has been shipped back to Mitchell’s barn, and that House has agreed to help sponsor his retirement.
In the meantime, forums at several horse racing websites were buzzing with news of Delta Storm’s entry. Clearly, it was not a good public relations move for a stakes winner of half a million dollars to be racing for such a paltry sum of money.
Miyadi was unapologetic about entering the horse.
“Here’s my take,” he said. “I could have run him for $20,000 or $16,000. I could get Russell Baze to ride and ask him for everything he’s got. I just wanted him to win easy. Some of these people want to eliminate the whole breed and do away with racing completely.
“As long as he’s at the track, he’s going to get good care. We are having a problem placing these retired horses. When I give a horse away it takes a long time for them to change. There are people who don’t know what they are in for when they take a racehorse. Some of them are tough and very hard to handle. And these policies the tracks are putting in place that penalize a trainer if a horse ends up in the wrong hands…how do I control what happens to a horse when I give one away?”
Sanders, who said she has found homes for about 70 horses over the past year, said she always asks about a horse’s “temperament or any injuries they might have. Those are all things we take into consideration. I have been told this is a tough horse and that he bites. All that info will be given to CERF. Fortunately, this is one story with a happy ending.”
Copyright © 2010, Paulick Report
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Tags: Ancient Title, Bing Crosby Handicap, breeders' cup turf sprint, Delta Storm, Hollywood Park, mike mitchell, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, San Joaquin Fair, santa anita, Steve Miyadi, Zensational
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:27 am
Until and unless there are strict, ENFORCED, nation-wide policies regarding retired race horses these stories will be the norm. What about all the bottom-level claimers who don’t get noticed and end up heaven knows where? These horses run their eyeballs out for our entertainment; the least we can do is guarantee them kind treatment once their careers are over. I love horse racing but this issue is heartbreaking.
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 am
I don’t buy Miyadi’s story for one second. You want to run a Grade I horse in a $3200 claimer to “boost his confidence”? Really? Apparently, this trainer thinks most of us fell off the turnip truck yesterday.
It’s instances like Delta Storm’s former plight that leaves a bitter taste in racing fans’ mouths.
I’d rather focus on the great work Sharla Sanders is doing with The Second Race. It’s because of her tireless efforts that horses like Delta Storm are now safe and will either find a second career which will be less physically taxing, or spend their days just being a horse. Great job, Sharla!! Keep up the amazing work!
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:55 am
Miyadi’s story like many trainers is riddled with b.s. Owners should cross Miyadi off their list to send horses because as he has shown it’s all about the dollar to him.
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:57 am
Long before he found God and became a super trainer, the horse ambulance in Southern Cal was called the Mike Mithchell meat wagon.
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:16 am
Steve Miyadi IS Mike Mitchell’s No. Cal connection!! These guys have shipped horses back and forth for at least twenty years. So Miyadi gets a horse for chump change and has a chance to pick up a purse and maybe a claim tag as well. What is the problem with that? Should we eliminate claiming races and replace them with petting zoos?
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 am
RE comment #4 : Ha ha ha ha…. I though nobody “remembered” that….. The guy has been a butcher forever, and Miyadi was his number one protege…..
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:50 am
While it’s a legit Q to ask for any horse, when is enough, enough–what the heck does the purse the horse runs for have to do with anything at all. I have a sound 15 year old that would love to race, if they would only let him. Horses like to run. Let’s ‘em. And, as an aside, let’s as a sport put these for profit “horse placers” into perspective. Placing a horse 90 times out of 100 does little favor to the horse. Translate–most racing TBs are much better off to extend their careers. I’d doubt they are checking their purses.
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I have a two-year-old that would jump in the pool or run in traffic if I let her. As a parent it is my job to protect her.
Likewise, as a lifetime horseman, the idea of having a sound 15 year old that would love to race if you let him carries no weight. Sorry.
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Hey Harness horses run till they are 14 and as long as they are sound they can continue to run heck most harness horse run 40 times a year now I’m not saying this is the case with a T-Breed but the bottom line is that every horse get vetted before they run and if the horse isn’t sound to run then sratch him but if somebody buys a old time class horse on the cheap there is no reason why they can’t run him back wherever they want. I’m sure he would have been claimed out of this spot and probally would have won. Stewarts at tracks sometimes need to make the hard choice and that might have been the right choice here I have no problem when a stewart scratches a horse that isn’t fit to run they do it all the time at Charlestown 2 weeks ago I saw the same thing at river downs a horse that was off 2 years dropped to the bottom and ran 2nd he was a former stake-allowence horse in Kentucky he went off at 6-5 and should have won on memory but didn’t. Like I said if the horse is sound let him run!
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
#9 If you think every horse gets vetted before they run you are in La La Land.
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
#9, Just because a horse “appears” to be sound, doesn’t mean they are. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard of harness horses coming out of the test barn with “cloudy” results. You know they’ve been given something and it’s frustrating not being able to prove it. I don’t know about the “fairs” in the states, but the “fairs” in Ontario don’t require a standardbred to be tested; they aren’t governed by the Ontario Racing Commission, and that’s when the “illegal juice” is pumped into these horses like mad. I’m not insinuating that Delta Storm received anything “hot”, but I cannot wrap myself around the thought process of his trainer and why he entered him in the $3200 claimer at the San Joaquin Fair.
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Well, how is it the horse became available for not very much money? What changed from 12/31 to when ever Miyadi bought him? This horse was on the work tab at Hollywood in April, did a couple of 3/8s a couple of halves and at least one 5/8th before he showed up at Golden Gate and did a couple of 5/8th, one was very slow. He was off from 12/31 until the April works. His value dropped pretty fast. Poor choice to enter a horse from a high profile barn with a name at the bottom at the fair. This type of action is a big black eye for racing fans.
I knew this horse in Fl when he was 5 and Bobby Reinacher had him, He was a bit of a goof ball, he’s a Storm Boot, but I don’t remember him biting or being anything other than good feeling. His feet were bothering him some then. He was a bit tough to hold for a bath, but nothing too bad. He’ll be fine as soon as he gets let down, They are all a bit worse when they are fit and not turned out. Loved those Peppermints and carrots. Bottom line, he’s getting a deserved retirement. One can only hope for others to be as fortunate and unfortunately we know they won’t be.
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:32 am
pssst can you say vet records *wink wink* look for what Delta Storm has been injected with the last year or so and you will have your answer on why he is running for $3,200 its just that simple. It might will make milkshakes look like feel good koolaid.
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:55 am
First, Mr. Paulick, Thanks for putting Delta Storm’s story in the open! Also to the people that LISTENED, Thank You!
Second, Miyadi is a joke and should NEVER run another horse, Which, Sadly, Will never happen! The guy is lower then low and his word means NOTHING! Please, Dropping from a 100K tag to a $3,200 Tag? Maybe now people will watch Miyadi closer and see how his horses just seem to disappear, Umm…
Third, Robert s.(#9), Wow, Talk about being naive!
Finally, Thanks to Sharla Sanders and CERF for stepping up and doing the right thing! Too bad too many like Delta Storm fall threw the cracks and never get noticed!
June 23rd, 2010 at 8:18 am
As long as race tracks continue the devastating policy of providing dumping grounds in competition with B & C level operations these incidents will increase because of the exploitation opportunities remain abundant. These “junk politics” began when operators saw an opportunity to make decisions against the inherent culture of the sport! The “big fields” mentality has become a game of “liars’ poker” in order to cut costs (purses) in the guise of
creating large fields for gamblers. Having decimated the allowances conditions they have corrupted the entire system of enhancing pedigree and providing a reason to be on-track!
Royal Ascot should have provided a snapshot of the way horse racing should be conducted in this country!
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:26 am
Foremost its the safety of the horse or any animal. Thankfully doing what is morally right outweighed doing whats “stupid”. Miyada should be banned from racing, period. Thank you Sharla for protecting one of ” the innocent ones, the ones who cannot speak”. We speak for them and we need to do the right thing.
Failure to end animal abuse is not an option.
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:27 am
Bob Hope; You hit the nail on the head! At what venue besides a “fair” can you enjoy a low level horse race AND take a ride on the Tilt A’Whirl??!! These “fairs” and B&C level operations put a great deal of horses at risk, no matter if they’re multiple stakes winners, like Delta Storm, or unknown horses who have ran their guts out for their owners. The industry needs to step up to the plate, and fast.
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:30 am
#15 newsflash the RSPCA is plenty busy in England too concerning the welfare of abused /neglected race horses. I happened to volunteer at one of the bigger thoroughbred rehab centers there and we had plenty of horses coming and going all the time. The difference is the horses are hidden out at farms (hmm does the recent case in ny ring a bell?) and not shipped off to tiny tracks to wither away daily. Don’t think for a minute this is just a “fair problem.”
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 am
#15, your point bares merit as well. I too know of many farms that harbor horses in need and try my best to place them, so yes, you’re correct in saying that it’s not just a “fair” problem, it’s moreso an “industry” problem.
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:50 am
sorry, that comment was for bookiebuster1
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 am
Why CA racing sucks and is so destructive to horses:
http://www.chrb.ca.gov/press_releases/2010_05_26_press_release.pdf
Even though CA horsemen, tracks and the CHRB should do all they can to keep their left-over horses alive, they still refuse to address crucial issues and change. While safety, welfare and life-saving solutions are fought by those who control the life of race horses, the CHRB was busy installed… Drum rolls please: weather stations and scientifically testing surfaces again because basic common sense doesn’t count and addressing the blatant causes of equine destruction is too disturbing.
The CHRB floated a few good ideas in its news release but quickly rolled over as usual in front of misguided owners, trainers and vets. That is exactly how synthetic tracks were mandated: owners, trainers and vets blamed the dirt instead of blaming themselves for destroying horses and since they refused to be honest and improve, the CHRB took the path of least resistance and injuries and deaths are still there.
Now that weather stations and more scientific moninoring of surfaces are in place, things will improve. Not, as long as injured horses from being blocked, drugged, doped, abused, sent “up North”, or to Los Alamitos and fairs with one way tickets hoping to sell them above meat price.
Los Alamitos doesn’t have to participate in the injury prevention program? Of course! The CTT fears it might be dangerous to THEM to disclose medical conditions of dead horses? Of course. Don’t even mention the disclosure of medical conditions of live horses. NSAIDs are discussed but corticosteroids are not? Business as usual. Will they do what must be done before they kill the last horse? I doubt it.
This news release offers no hope that owners, trainers, vets, tracks and officials are capable of reversing course anytime soon.
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:28 pm
#8, for understanding, and fyi, the 15 year old referred to is used as a training horse to accompany youngsters in their speed work. he has never ceased either his daily training or his great enthusiasm for the sport.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Gang I’m not naive I have been going to the track for 20 years now. My point being as a horse player I would not have bet this horse or just turned the page. There are many old class horses running all over the country for small claiming tags. The bottom line is most of the smaller tracks fill races with lower grade races for small purses. Who are we to say this horses isn’t fit to run? Hey I’m all for giving horses away to a good home but in some cases what are you getting?
June 23rd, 2010 at 3:07 pm
robert s you are a horse player not a horseman, you have been going to the track for 20 years, I worked at the track for over 20 years. I am aware of a lot of the bs that goes on, I know about being injected etc. I am a fan of the horse. They are all pawns in a game they do not control. This incident just doesn’t sound right and I would not have forgiven myself for not trying to find out all I could about the situation. It just was not right at all.
I want to commend Sharla and the Second Race for being there and able to get something done as fast as they did. Grace at CERF for providing a home. She is keeping me posted on his arrival and I hope to be able help donate to his care. It’s a tough job these organizations try to do. Delta Storm aka “Henry” could be a poster boy, funding is always needed and it’s a tough economy. Thank you ladies for all you do and robert s, we need horsemen and horse players to all consider the athlete that is the game of horse racing. They are not throw a ways.
June 23rd, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Tracy,
I’m not calling him a throw away at all and I commend people who steped forward to help “Henry” There are many people in this industry that can help it move forward in a positive light but until the powers that be stop the greed element that is involved horses like Delta Storm will remain pawns as you put it. I’m also a fan of the horse just not a player in fact I have been thinking of getting into the game as a owner for a few years now because like I said I have been going for 20 years and I love the dights and sounds of the track but I also understand the extream cost involved of keeping a horse racing and thats were the problem begins with this story. I believe to keep a horse in training your looking at $15k a year and thats if they are pretty sound I’m sure out in California the cost is even higher so you have to understand that there are 2 sides to this story because without horses there is no racing but on the other hand without owners there is still no racing.Wishing you all the best Tracy with little Henry hoping he lives out his days in a happy place in fact send me a private email at cozzy30@aol.com maybe I can help with a little donation to your cause.
Take Care,
Rob
June 24th, 2010 at 6:44 am
Hi Rob,
I know about the expenses, I also had a horse in training on the east coast. Fortunately he was good enough to pay his way and mine, he ran mostly at Delaware, Bowie, Laurel. Julie Krone rode him as a bug rider, I was also galloping horses to support us. I also had show horses before that, so I understand expenses. In fact it was the same horse I showed last and then took to the track at 4. He did well both places.
Delta Storm is going to CERF. http://www.cerfhorses.org/ he should be arriving there Sat. I am sure they are in need of donations and you can help out at the web site. The folks at Second Race, Sharla and the people behind her made the arrangements. They also need help to keep up their work. http://www.thesecondrace.com/
Henry is just one of the lucky ones, there are many that need help for all kinds of reasons. I only started watching California Racing because he went there. I am in Florida. I met him when I walked for Bobby at Payson Park for a winter, so yeah , it’s personal and I will help him if I can. The game needs responsible owners. I’ll send you that email later.
Tracy