Delaware Park: Parlo, Buddy Delp top hall of fame inductees

Parlo, one of the few fillies to ever win both the Delaware Oaks and Delaware Handicap, and Hall of Fame trainer Buddy Delp are among the sixth group of inductees announced Wednesday to Delaware Park’s Wall of Fame.

The other three honorees are former jockey Eldon Nelson, owners Walter and Sarah Jeffords, and Bayard Sharp, an original member of Delaware Park’s board of directors.

Parlo carried the most weight of any Delaware Handicap winner when she won the race in what was then the track record time of 2:02 2/5 in 1955 while carrying 128 pounds. She is one of only four fillies to win the Delaware Oaks and the Delaware Handicap the following year.

Delp, best known as the trainer of 1980 Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid, won a record 11 leading trainer titles at Delaware, including seven in a row from 1963 through 1969.

Nelson was the leading rider at Delaware in 1956 and 1958. He won a total of 10 Delaware Park stakes, including the Delaware Handicap in 1958 aboard Endine, the Delaware Oaks in 1972 aboard Light Hearted, and the Blue Hen Stakes in 1961 aboard Cicada. On June 20, 1958, he rode six winners on a single Delaware card, a record which has been equaled six times since, but has never been broken.

Walter and Sarah Jeffords won 17 stakes at Delaware Park, including the Delaware Oaks and Delaware Handicap twice each. Kiss Me Kate, the 1951 3-year-old filly champion, won the Delaware Oaks and the following year captured the Delaware Handicap.

Sharp’s career in racing spanned more than 60 years. He founded the 750-acre Sharp Farm in Middletown, Del., in 1941. In partnership with his wife Mary, he bred and owned 91 stakes winners, including Mississippi Mud, Dixieland Band, Papal Power and Baron de Vaux.