Dan Ward, longtime Hollendorfer assistant, to have Del Mar string

Dan Ward, longtime assistant to beleaguered Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, is expected to operate a stable in his name at the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins on Wednesday.

Hollendorfer was informed earlier this week by Del Mar officials that he would not be allowed to race there this summer. The decision came three weeks after Santa Anita told Hollendorfer to vacate his stalls after a fourth horse in his care at that track suffered a fatal injury in training or racing since late December.

Within a day of Santa Anita’s decision, Hollendorfer relocated his stable to Los Alamitos Racecourse where he has raced during the track’s three-week summer meeting, which ends on Sunday.

Thursday at Los Alamitos, a visibly frustrated Hollendorfer declined to discuss his situation regarding Del Mar, and reiterated that he has not been suspended and does not have a ruling against him issued by the state’s regulatory body, the California Horse Racing Board.

It was not clear on Thursday how many stalls Ward will be provided. Ward said in a brief phone interview on Thursday that he has acquired the necessary workers’ compensation insurance required of trainers to operate in the state and that some runners will be transferred to Del Mar on Monday.

Entries for Wednesday’s opening day will be taken on Saturday.

Thursday, Del Mar chief executive officer Joe Harper declined to comment on Hollendorfer’s situation.

Drew Couto, an attorney representing Hollendorfer, said the 73-year-old trainer wants his status to train restored even without an official presence at Del Mar this summer.

“Jerry is working on parallel tracks to protect his owners and protect employees and vigorously pursue his rights,” Couto said on Thursday. “That’s his first priority. That’s what he’s trying to do as fast as he can.

“Jerry is trying to help Dan get started.”

Hollendorfer has been one of the most successful trainers at Del Mar in recent summers. He won or tied for the training titles at the 2014 and 2015 summer meetings and ranked third last summer with 17 wins.

The situation at Del Mar is similar to what Hollendorfer recently faced in New York when officials with the New York Racing Association told Hollendorfer in late June that he could not start horses at its tracks. The stable was recently turned over to Hollendorfer’s assistant Don Chatlos Jr.