Timphony, trained Wild Again, dies

Vincent Timphony, the former trainer who won the first Breeders’ Cup Classic with Wild Again in 1984, died on Monday, his former wife, Scarlet, said.

Timphony was 76. He was removed from life support at Arcadia Methodist Hospital, adjacent to Santa Anita, on Saturday after suffering a series of strokes, Scarlet Timphony said.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Vincent Timphony had his last starter in 2002. He had runners who placed in stakes at Fairplex Park and Turf Paradise in the late 1990s.

In recent years, Vincent Timphony frequently visited Santa Anita in the mornings, spending training hours with friends at Clocker’s Corner. “The horses were in his blood,” Scarlet Timphony said.

Wild Again’s Breeders’ Cup win was by far Timphony’s greatest accomplishment. Dismissed at 31-1 in the $3 million race at Hollywood Park, Wild Again led for much of the race under jockey Pat Day, prevailing by a head over Gate Dancer, who was disqualified and placed third behind Slew o’Gold after a lengthy inquiry.

The BC Classic win came at the end of 16-race campaign that included four stakes wins, including the Grade 1 Meadowlands Cup. .

“He was so certain about that horse for the Breeders’ Cup,” Scarlet Timphony said on Monday. “He knew he’d run 1, 2, or 3.

“He knew when he had a good one. Wild Again was the black horse. He always said the black horse is coming through. He won the New Orleans Handicap, the Oaklawn Handicap with him.”

Arrangements for a memorial are pending.