Hollendorfer files suit against Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer filed a complaint in San Diego superior court earlier this week in an effort to operate a stable at the Del Mar summer meeting that begins on Wednesday.

Hollendorfer was not given stalls by Del Mar officials last week after the track and trainer held a series of meetings to discuss his participation. Del Mar’s decision occurred three weeks after Santa Anita officials told Hollendorfer to vacate his stalls on the track’s backstretch after a fourth horse in his care at that track suffered a fatal injury in training or racing since late December.

Hollendorfer relocated his stable to Los Alamitos, where he operated without impediment during the track’s three-week meeting that ended on Sunday. After he was denied stalls by Del Mar, Hollendorfer’s longtime assistant, Dan Ward, applied for stalls. Ward has four starters on Wednesday and Thursday at Del Mar.

The court action seeks a temporary restraining order, as early as this week, preventing the racetrack from denying Hollendorfer stall space or the ability to submit entries.

The California Thoroughbred Trainers association, of which Hollendorfer is a member, is a party in the lawsuit against the racetrack. Hollendorfer has been represented by attorney Drew Couto, while Darrell Vienna is representing the CTT in the case.