Saturday, May 06, 2000
Trainer Rose a young 88 with help of Hal's Hope
DERBY NOTEBOOK
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOUISVILLE — Hal's Hope kept Harold's hopes afloat.
When Harold Rose, an 88-year-old trainer, underwent quadruple bypass surgery last August, his promising young colt proved to be a rallying point.
“When he was in the hospital, he couldn't wait to get back to his horses,” wife, Elsie, has said.
Hal's Hope is Rose's first Kentucky Derby horse, one he bred and owns. After 32 years of training, the horses — especially this one — keep him young.
“Racing has kept me sharp mentally and fairly much so physically,” Rose said. “Some folks have asked me this week if I'd think of retiring. I tell them to check back with me when I reach 100.”
Hal's Hope won the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby but is coming off a ninth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Mr. October joins Mr. May
Baseball's “Mr. October,” Reggie Jackson, has become fast friends with two-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert. Jackson joined Baffert here for his first Derby, having accepted an invitation from Baffert after the trainer threw out the first pitch at a Yankees-Angels game in Anaheim.
“Reggie Jackson is my guest here,” Baffert said. “He's going to throw out the first horse.”
Jackson accompanied Baffert to a Derby party Thursday night and to the Churchill Downs backside Friday. He said he'll be sitting next to Baffert today.
“I've always had an appreciation for horses,” Jackson said. “They're high-strung and flighty. I guess in that sense you can compare them to athletes.”
No Antley
Chris Antley, who seemed to rejuvenate his riding career last year by winning the Derby and Preakness aboard Charismatic, isn't here. He's too big, weighing 130 pounds — about 10 to 15 more than he should to ride.
He's the first jockey in nine years who won't defend his Derby title.
Two other prominent jockeys won't be riding today. Hall of Famer Gary Stevens recently retired after surgeons found 1,100 particles in his knee and couldn't repair it. And Mike Smith lost his mount when Globalize scratched Thursday.
Bailey's choice
Jockey Jerry Bailey can pretty much say he had his pick of the 3-year-old litter. Bailey had the mount on seven eventual Derby starters at some point in their careers: Anees, Captain Steve, High Yield, Impeachment, Trippi, War Chant and Wheelaway.
He finally settled on War Chant.
Pletcher busy
Todd Pletcher has had to juggle training four horses in today's field, but thinks the excessive work is to his advantage.
“I thought having four as opposed to having one is good,” he said. “When I finish one, I've got another horse to train. To me, the worst thing is to have (only) one, and sit here hour after hour watching him. That's like waiting for an egg to hatch.”
&Continuing Kentucky Derby coverage from Associated Press
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