Matlow, California trainer, dies

Richard Matlow, who operated a stable of Thoroughbreds in Southern California until earlier this year, died on Monday of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, according to his brother Stephen Matlow.

Matlow died at his home in Monrovia, Calif., at age 66.

Matlow's biggest win as a trainer came last November, when he won his first graded stakes with Jack o' Lantern in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes at Hollywood Park. At the time, Matlow was a regular visitor to his stable at Hollywood Park despite his illness.

Citing his ailment, known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Matlow ran his final horse in February and dispersed his 14-horse stable to other trainers. Matlow was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease in 2008.

Matlow also trained the stakes winner Heptathlon (1998 Safely Kept Handicap at Hollywood Park) and Half Mamoon (1996 California Cup Mile at Santa Anita).

He was the first trainer of King of the Roxy, who was sold when trained by Matlow and later won the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park and the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Matlow also had been a bloodstock adviser for the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, assessing the yearlings nominated to that organization's annual sale. The arrangement ended after the 2004 sale, when the Del Mar sale ended.

Stephen Matlow said his brother requested no funeral or memorial service.