Fund drive for stricken Simms

Friends and colleagues of Kentucky-based trainer Garry Simms are raising funds on behalf of his family after he was recently given a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Fellow trainer Codwy Autrey and his racing manager, Kent Browning, began distributing flyers on Thursday with information about a Louisville-based account. More information is available by calling (502) 905-9878 or by sending an e-mail message to .

Simms, 58, has been training since 1991. Based primarily in Louisville, he won with 150 of 1,121 starters for earnings of $2,877,496. He is best known as the first trainer of Magna Graduate, who was sold in the fall of his 2-year-old season before going on to earn nearly $2.6 million. Simms also trained Itsallbouthechase, who was briefly considered a Kentucky Derby candidate in early 2006 before being well beaten in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.