Ailing Simms continues to plan for future
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Garry Simms has won with five of his last eight starters at Churchill Downs and elsewhere, but he hasn’t been around to go to the winner’s circle. He has the future to consider.
Simms has been making a conscious effort to conserve his precious energy to shop at the Keeneland yearling sale.
“I’ve bought five of them for a little more than a half-million dollars,” Simms, a Churchill-based trainer since 1992, said Thursday evening.
Simms, 62, has been battling spinal cancer for almost five years. The disease has spread to other parts of his body, but in spite of the mental and physical agony he has endured, he always has an upbeat word for those who try to tell him what an inspiration he is.
“Tell the people I love them,” he said. “Keep the faith.”
His 22-year-old son, Zack, “has been a huge help in running things at the barn,” said Simms, who is 3 for 5 at the September meet at Churchill and won the $190,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile with Croninthebarbarian on Sept. 6. “With my treatments and everything, I can’t be around all the time, so we’re going to give Zack a lot of credit.”
Croninthebarbarian, bred and owned by the Ol’ Memorial Stables of Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino, is a possibility for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after rallying from last to win the Kentucky Downs race going away. Simms watched via simulcast.
“I’m in a lot of pain, to be honest, but I’d rather my owners not have to think about that,” he said. “There’s a lot to live for, and Lord knows I love this game. I’ve already bought a couple of these babies for myself and a couple for [longtime client] Steve Landers. I’m getting old, but I’m still in there fighting and looking forward to the next day God gives me.”
Carve may try Homecoming Classic
Trainer Brad Cox said Carve is a possible challenger to the favored Departing in the $125,000 Homecoming Classic, the closing-weekend feature for which entries will be drawn Sunday at Churchill. Other prospects for the 1 1/8-mile race include Call Me George and Lent.
Both the Homecoming and the $100,000 Jefferson Cup for 3-year-old turfers will be run next Saturday, Sept. 27. The 12-day meet closes the next day.