By Josie Goldberg & Valerie Milano
Del Mar, California (The Hollywood Times) 7/20/2024 – Even though I have been a thoroughbred Owner since 2010 on the California circuit, this has been my third opening day in the last 14 years. My first one when I went to see David Milch with his jockey Matt Garcia, the second one was during Covid 19 when my first filly I bred “Am Yisrael Chai” ran, and this was my first time as Celebrity Entertainment Reporter covering for The Hollywood Times.
If you’re in the horse business one knows that the racetrack is like a second home for most of us. The races started at 2pm but I was with my racing partners and we arrived at 10 am. Nothing was open except that horseman’s lounge. The lounge was so nice and comfortable for us to have a drink and prepare for the action to come. What was really cool, is that they have portraits of all the trainers. As I was getting my champagne my eyes found a portrait of my deceased trainer Juilo Canani and right next to his portrait was another famous trainer Robert J. Frankel.
Many may know his daughter Bethany Frankel who is an American Entrepreneur, tv personality and founder of Skinny Girl Brand. Julio always said that Bobby was his mentor. Robert Frankel was known as one of the best claiming trainers. Meaning he would claim horses that other trainers could not develop and turn them into Champions. My trainer Julio was known to do the same, as he did my horses “Only Josie Knows” and “Spoiled and Entitled”. As I got my drink I turned to Julios’ portrait and got chills down my spine, I said Julio I will never forget what you did for me and my horses.
All the trainers could not figure out how to get my horses to move, they told me just to get rid of them. “Only Josie Knows” not only got out of the claiming game but she beat out other champions that were bred in the purple and we won the feature Cal Bred Stakes race at Del Mar one summer. Those kind of trainers don’t really exist in today’s industry. If you put too much pressure on the trainer, they say, please pick up your horse and find a new trainer. You have to spend big money to earn big money. I never had that kind of budget so it was fun to invest a modest amount and make history.
There are still great trainers in the industry but you have to invest in the right blood lines. Horse magicians like Julio and Bobby don’t exist. Julio had the reputation to get the horse to run on 3 legs. Del Mar was Julio’s track. His horses always won with big odds and paid well for everyone. He would also invite beautiful ladies into the winner’s circle and gift them the flowers of his winning horses. Del Mar is a place where everyone knows magic happens. Horses that can’t win during the year seem to like the fresh ocean breeze and wake up. This is a meet where the impossible becomes the possible and long shots come in and big money is made on all sides of the horse business.
As I finished my Champagne, I headed to the Turf Club where maître d’ Jimmy O’Hara seated us to a good table which was very nice of him. He has been a maître d for over 50 years on the California Thoroughbred Circuit. He has one of the most crucial jobs. Getting owners, Turf club members seated at the right tables. He is a big deal and a very good connection to have.! As we sat down, I looked out at the beautiful track, and Pacific Ocean and said to myself, this is California living.
Horses, Champagne, delicious food, and amazing company. I had my bottle of Chandon, my appetizers. (Turf Club Cheese plate, Taste of Mediterranean, House Made Guacamole and my main course of Oak Roasted Salmon Filet). The food was fresh, tasty and not fattening which is very important to me, as I try to watch my diet. There was so many people in the Turf Club, of all ages. The elegance and class was so pristine.
The first couple of races many favorites won but as I said there were some bombs that came in later in the racing card. One of my favorite jockeys who used to ride “Only Josie Knows” who is now is one of the leading jockeys in California and rides champions for owners like Gary Barber CEO of Spyglass Entertainment and was the chairman for Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer studio. Gary is Big Big Macher in the entertainment industry. The jockey is Juan Hernandez and he had many wins opening day. There were horses that were huge longshots like Race 8 # 8 Schwarzmeier paid ($68.40) and race 11 #5 Atitlan ($72.20). Basically if you invested 5 dollars to win on race 8 you would of won, $170.80 dollars and for race 11 if you invested 5 to win you would make $180.50 dollars (not bad) for small money. My type of gambling. Invest small and win big. Or else it’s not fun, the goal is to make money.
I bumped into a friend who brought me a lot of luck that I have not seen in many years. I was a friend to her and her late husband Bob who passed away a couple years back. Peggy McCormick owns the McCormick & Sons Mortuaries. She looked fabulous and we had fun remembering her Bob. Check out her interview and see what’s new in he life.
Then I saw my friend another BIG MACHER, Bobby Feinberg who had one of the top law prep programs for passing the Bar Exam, and one of his students was John F. Kennedy Jr. After taking his program John passed the bar. Bobby was there with his beautiful girlfriend Anne Donahue Schwartz. They looked so chic.
I highly recommend one to go to Del Mar Turf Club and do a day at the racetrack. If you want to see the crème de la crème I highly recommend this beautiful beach front racetrack “Where the Turf meets the Surf” ask remember to ask for maître d’ Jim O’Hara for a table, and tell him “Only Josie Knows” sent you.
I am “Only Josie Knows” and lets me tell you if you are going to win money on betting horses, or even finding some new romance or interesting characters this is the Del Mar season where most have the best chances
Good Luck my friends.
