Glen Hill Farm taking horses out of California

ARCADIA, Calf. – Glen Hill Farm is taking its horses out of California and will not have a stable at the upcoming Del Mar meet, according to owner Craig Bernick.

In a phone interview this week, Bernick cited the uncertainty surrounding California racing as the primary reason.

Glen Hill has had runners this meet at Santa Anita, which has made national news this year after a series of equine fatalities since late December.

Last weekend, the California Horse Racing Board asked Santa Anita to cancel the final seven days of its meeting, which runs through June 23, to allow for additional safety measures to be implemented. Santa Anita declined. On Wednesday, the racing board and the track implemented more stringent prerace veterinary examinations for horses entered to race for the remainder of the season.

“We were at Santa Anita all winter, kind of waiting for Del Mar,” Bernick said. “We decided to head back east. I know Del Mar is fantastic. This winter at Santa Anita was one thing after another. I’m not confident enough we can have a full-time stable in California and rely on the leadership out there to get this thing figured out.

“It only makes sense if we’re there all year. This weekend was the final straw with the horse racing board asking for them to shut down. It doesn’t feel like it’s getting better. Our horses haven’t run great. We’ve had to make other plans for our horses.”

Bernick said he plans to attend the Del Mar meeting as a spectator and will keep a close watch on developments. He said the Glen Hill horses could return to California in the next year.

“I’ll be attending and hoping it goes well,” he said. “Unfortunately, the horses won’t be there. It’s not Del Mar’s fault. It’s Santa Anita.

“If they had a good Del Mar meet and started next year at Santa Anita [and] had a meet that was more accepted by the California public, I would consider coming back to California.”

Glen Hill Farm has a decades-long association with trainer Tom Proctor. Last November, Glen Hill and Proctor won Grade 2 stakes at Del Mar on consecutive days with Chicago Style in the Hollywood Turf Cup and Caribou Club in the Seabiscuit Handicap.

Bernick said Caribou Club is being pointed for the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Woodbine on June 29.

◗ One Bad Boy, second in the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields May 19, worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 at Santa Anita on Friday for the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on June 29. One Bad Boy is scheduled to be flown to Canada on Monday, trainer Richard Baltas said.

“He’s Ontario-bred, and he’s a good horse,” Baltas said. “I wanted to save him for Del Mar, but this spot looked too good. I have a good feeling about the way he’s doing.”