Trainer Marty Wolfson ruled off at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gulfstream Park has ruled Marty Wolfson off its property, saying the veteran trainer consistently failed to meet financial obligations and that the care being given his horses was substandard.

Gulfstream general manager Billy Badgett said Wednesday the horses in Wolfson’s care “weren’t getting taken care of properly” and were shipped last week to the Palm Meadows training center, where they now are being trained by Danny Gargan, who confirmed he now is overseeing seven horses that had been in Wolfson’s care. All are owned by the Miller Racing LLC of Myron Miller, said Gargan.

Badgett cited general language in the rules and regulations for licensees as set forth in the Gulfstream Park condition book as justifiable cause for indefinitely banning Wolfson. He said bounced checks and a lapsed workers’ compensation policy were among numerous issues that kept Wolfson “from conducting his business in a satisfactory manner.” Badgett said “this was a management decision” and does not involve a ruling by the Gulfstream stewards.

Several sources close to the situation said Wolfson has been going through serious personal problems for a sustained period.

The phone number long used by Wolfson is now in use by another party. Efforts to reach Wolfson were unsuccessful.

“It’s very unfortunate,” said Badgett.

This latest development may come as a shock to fellow horsemen and fans who have seen Wolfson, 66, thrive in the Thoroughbred business for nearly 50 years. The son of Louis Wolfson of Affirmed fame, he became a trainer in 1970 and has won 87 graded stakes, most notably the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile with Miesque’s Approval. Wolfson has won nearly 1,600 Thoroughbred races and $53 million in purses since 1976, the earliest year for which statistics are available. His peak year was 2009, when he won 67 races and nearly $4.3 million in purses.

Wolfson has been based in south Florida throughout his career and has long been known as a high-percentage trainer of high-caliber stock. Winning major races with horses such as The Vid, Chaposa Springs, and Ask the Moon, he trained for a wide variety of clients. His feats earned him induction in the Calder Hall of Fame.

Wolfson’s last horse of note was Curlin’s Approval, with whom he won three stakes in 2017 before owner Happy Alter took the horse from him during the summer to train her himself. Wolfson is 0 for 6 in 2018.