Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 25 June 2019

In this June 23, 2017, file photo, former baseball player Alex
Rodriguez sits in the stands before the start of a baseball game
in Miami.
Associated Press
Rodriguez looking

to improve in

ESPN baseball booth Eddie Haskell, right, with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard, win the third race during the last day
of the winter/spring meet at the Santa Anita horse racing track Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Santa
Anita, Calif.
By JOE REEDY job of being in the moment Associated Press
AP Sports Writer and reacting to what is go- Santa Anita season ends after
LOS ANGELES (AP) — ing on in front of me, which
Alex Rodriguez had to is helping the flow,” he said. 30 horse deaths, trainer ban
make some adjustments When it comes to what is
when he switched from happening on the field, By BETH HARRIS ment. “We do not feel he should be a
shortstop to third base after Rodriguez said the big- AP Racing Writer scapegoat for a problem which derives
signing with the New York gest surprises in the Ameri- ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Santa Anita’s trou- from a number of factors.”
Yankees. can League has been the bled racing season has come to a close Still unknown is whether Hollendorfer
He is having the same play of the Minnesota Twins after the deaths of 30 horses at the South- would be allowed to train at Del Mar near
type of learning curve as a and New York Yankees. ern California track rattled the industry San Diego, which opens its summer meet
game analyst. The Twins have emerged and led to Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hol- July 17. A track spokesman said Sunday a
Rodriguez said he is happy as one of the top power- lendorfer being banned when four of his decision had yet to be made. Neither Los
with the improvements he hitting teams, while the horses were among the casualties. Alamitos nor Del Mar is owned by The Stro-
has made in his second Yankees are leading the There were no incidents during morning nach Group. Racing at Santa Anita is set
year in the booth for ESPN’s AL East despite of a rash of training hours or in the 10 races Sunday. to resume Sept. 27. The track is scheduled
“Sunday Night Baseball,” injuries. About 20 protesters briefly toted signs out- to host the Breeders’ Cup world champi-
but he is looking to get bet- In the National League, Ro- side an entrance to the track, calling at- onships on Nov. 1-2.
ter during the second half driguez considers the Los tention to the deaths and condemning The Breeders’ Cup board of directors is
of the season. Angeles Dodgers to be the the sport. expected to meet this week to discuss this
“I certainly feel better than favorite, but he does see a Hollendorfer had two horses entered to year’s location.
I did last year. I think the couple of flaws. run closing day, but they, along with two The fatalities at Santa Anita since Dec. 26
flow between all of us is “They definitely are an of- others Saturday, were scratched by track have raised alarm within California and
improving,” Rodriguez said fensive juggernaut, but stewards on the recommendation of a the rest of the racing industry. Gov. Gavin
last week while in Los An- their bullpen needs to be special panel convened to review horses’ Newsom recently stepped in to direct the
geles, where he called a more consistent,” he said. medical, training and racing history. formation of the special panel to evaluate
pair of Dodgers games. Rodriguez said he didn’t The 73-year-old trainer was ordered by horses’ histories before they race. Track
Rodriguez was a pleasant find out until after the June The Stronach Group to remove his horses and racing board officials implemented
surprise when he joined 9 Cardinals-Cubs game in from Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields several changes involving exams of horses
Fox’s studio team in 2015, Chicago that David Ortiz in Northern California, which are owned scheduled to train or race.
but studio work involves a had been shot in the Do- by the company. The fourth death in his The racing board also is looking at chang-
finite amount of time and minican Republic. stable during the meet occurred Saturday. es involving jockeys’ use of a riding crop in
isn’t happening while the He said he was shocked Track ownership said Hollendorfer was “no a race.
game is taking place. to hear the news about his longer welcome to stable, race, or train his Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was
A game has plenty of ebbs close friend but has been in horses at any of our facilities.” fined $100 by the stewards for violating
and flows over three hours contact with the family. No one from The Stronach Group spoke a CHRB rule that prohibits use of a crop
and can be a challenge Ortiz has been moved out to the media Sunday despite a request. more than three times in succession with-
when a three-person booth of intensive care at Massa- The company said a statement would be out giving the horse a chance to respond.
is involved. chusetts General Hospital forthcoming in a few days. The violation occurred in the eighth race
Rodriguez said the big- and remains in good con- Racing next moves to Los Alamitos in Or- Saturday.Bob Baffert, the two-time Triple
gest challenge has been dition. ange County beginning June 29, where Crown-winning trainer, recently traveled
learning when to join into “I look forward to talking the California Horse Racing Board said to Sacramento to meet legislators con-
the conversation with Matt baseball with him soon,” a panel will review horses entered to run cerned about the horse deaths. The ma-
Vasgersian and Jessica Rodriguez said. there. jority occurred during the winter months
Mendoza, along with still ESPN’s Sunday night tele- That track will “gladly” provide stalls to Hol- when usually arid Santa Anita was hit with
discovering when would casts are averaging 1.5 lendorfer, whom track owner Edward All- record rainfall totaling nearly a foot.
be the proper time to inter- million viewers, which is red called “an unexcelled horseman.” Trainers like Doug O’Neill, a two-time Ken-
ject an anecdote about a the same as last season, “Unless forbidden by the California Horse tucky Derby winner, are dismayed that
player or manager. despite beginning an hour Racing Board, we intend to permit entries the sport is under fire amid a drumbeat of
“I think I’m doing a better earlier.q from Hollendorfer,” Allred said in a state- negativity.q