California trainer Howard Zucker dead at 74

Nearly every month in recent years, California trainer Howard Zucker had a runner at Del Mar or Santa Anita.

Nearly every day in recent decades, Zucker was at work behind the scenes to help California racing’s backstretch community and its retired racehorses.

Zucker died on Thursday after complications from a recent heart operation, his friends said. He was 74.

Born in New York, Zucker began training in 1974 and moved to California in 1982.

This year, Zucker had a small stable based at Santa Anita. At the Del Mar summer meeting, Zucker had a winner with Gracelund Gray in an allowance race in July.

Zucker won 246 races, and trained such notable stakes winners as Crafty C. T., who won the Grade 2 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita in 2001, and Well Monied, who won the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park in 2009.

Crafty C. T. was second to Point Given in the 2001 Santa Anita Derby. In 2002, Crafty C. T. was third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park and third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Arlington Park.

In addition, Zucker trained the four-time stakes winner Queen Ofthe Catsle, and the five-time stakes winner Madame Pietra, who won the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint at Gulfstream Park in 2003.

Zucker won the 2008 Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar with Synnin and Grinnin, who was owned by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny.

But Zucker’s greatest reach in Thoroughbred racing was his involvement in a variety of horsemen’s organizations such as the Gregson Foundation, which provides scholarships for backstretch employees; California Thoroughbred Trainers association; and CARMA, the California Retirement Management Account, which raises money for retired racehorses.

With the CTT, Zucker served as a member of the board of directors and worked on a variety of committees.

“He was a very engaged trainer in all aspects of the CTT,” said Alan Balch, the organization’s executive director.

“He was very interested in all aspects of racetrack management and backstretch affairs.”

Zucker’s outgoing personality led to an active role in a range of projects from seminars for aspiring owners to fundraising for the Gregson Foundation.

“The guy stepped up,” said Jenine Sahadi, the Gregson Foundation president. “It didn’t matter what it was. The guy was very generous and gave of his time.”

Survivors include Zucker’s wife, Lorraine.