Health prompts Abrams to take break from training

ARCADIA, Calif. – Barry Abrams has relinquished his training license and is taking a break from training while dealing with throat cancer.

“I might go back to training, I might not,” Abrams, 62, told Santa Anita publicity. “I’m officially not training any horses.”

Abrams underwent surgery for throat cancer in 2005 and had a recurrence in 2011. The operations left him with limited use of his voice. Abrams said he finds it difficult to communicate with his clients, jockeys, and stable staff.

Abrams has a background in harness racing and switched to Thoroughbred racing in 1990. He has won three Grade 1 races – the 1997 Del Mar Oaks with Famous Digger, the 2008 Las Virgenes Stakes with Golden Doc A, and the 2010 Hollywood Turf Cup with Unusual Suspect.

Abrams said the last four horses in his stable were recently transferred to Tim Yakteen.