By Josie Goldberg (The Hollywood Times) – 10/30/2024
“My Lucky A-List Breeders Cup Date”
When I first got into the thoroughbred racing industry at Santa Anita Racetrack back in 2011, I remembered that this was the time of year that everyone got so excited for. It was the Breeders Cup, meaning that the best thoroughbred racehorses from all over the world get to compete for the really big bucks. The horse players were even more excited as the fields were filled up with 12- 14 horses a race and a total of 14 Breeders’ Cup Races in the 2-day race card. The triple crown races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont) are all equally exciting, but you only get 3 big races spread out from May until June. Breeders Cup 2-day race card is similar to the Olympics. For a horse player it feels like a marathon. However, I really did not understand how super exclusive this event was until The Breeders Cup was held at Santa Anita Racetrack in 2012 and they showed up and set up shop at Santa Anita Racetrack.
My horse partner and I had one of the best tables at Santa Anita’s Turf Club for the winter and spring meet. Unfortunately, we could not sit at our table during Breeders Cup because our table was going to cost around 20k for 2 days. It was out of our budget. I called the Public Relations company and asked to be put on the Celebrity arrivals list. At the time I had a series running on CBS “Spoiled and Entitled” Dr. Phil Show, which was pretty popular and airing worldwide. The PR company sent me an email and told me that they could not accommodate me or my date. Honestly, I was expecting that outcome because the list of celebrities they were expecting were big names in Hollywood. For example, Actress Jamie Lynn Sigler (HBO Sopranos series regular), Tony Braxton (R&B) singer, actor Willie Garson (HBO Sex in the City). I pouted for a day that I was a D list celebrity for trash tv, but I was still grateful for that as I still got to go to some very cool industry events. I took it as its time to get on a better tv show and keep working to one day be invited to an A list event.
The next day I went to the track and I was talking to my friend Actor Dick Van Patten. Mr. Van Patten was a very dear friend of my partner, and that’s how I was introduced. I am sure many of you have heard of Actor Dick Van Patten as he was an A list actor for many decades. He was known for his roles on Television Series Eight is Enough, The Love Boat, and many studio films as Robin Hood, Joe Kidd and many more. I asked Mr. Van Patten, if he was going to the Breeders Cup. He told me that he is working out the tickets but has nothing confirmed. I told him, I have an idea. I asked him if he would want to walk the red carpet well purple carpet at this event and be among the celebrities at The Breeders Cup and sit in the celebrity’s section. He told me that he would love it too, but had no idea how to get in. I told him to bet on “Only Josie Knows. I immediately called the PR company and asked them if the list was open to an A List Actor and if so, could I join the exclusive party, and walk the purple carpet with him?
The PR said, if you could get an A list actor to our event, we would be super excited to include both of you. I immediately connected Mr. Dick Van Patten with the PR and within 24 hours Mr. Van Patten and I had our invitations delivered at our doorstep. I have never had an in-person delivery from PR before for an event, so that was so exciting for me.
In addition to access to the Celebrity section, The Breeders Cup even gave Mr. Van Patten and I our 20k table where both of us could each bring an extra guest which the table sat 4. We had the best food, alcohol, and VIP valet parking. Dick was so excited as he told me that this is one of his favorite events for thoroughbred racing. Dick Van Patten owned many thoroughbred horses throughout his life and loved betting the horses weekly. He never dreamed he would be treated so great with the best seats in the house!
The day of the event, Dick and I walked the red carpet and the media went wild. They loved Dick Van Patten so much. We made such a splash that every network, and photo agency picked up our pictures and Mr. Van Pattens interviews went viral. There were other big names on the purple carpet, but my date was the biggest star that day. It made me so happy to see Dick so excited. We ended up bumping into Dicks dear friend Tommy Lasorda, who managed the Los Angeles Dodgers and won 2 world series championships. Dick Van Patten was such a gentleman and in his presence, he made sure I was given respect as I was his date for the event. Dick was such a fun date. Most high profiled men make you walk a straight line, and it can be stressful to be in their company, not Mr. Dick Van Patten. We then ran into his friend A List Film director Mel Brooks; Dick invited him to walk the purple carpet with us the following day. Mr. Brooks said, Dick you lost your mind to take her “Josie” as your date. Dick said Mel, she is my date. Mel Brooks almost fell over. It was like that remark was never made. Dick was a real man and did not let his best friend get inside his ear. Most men today listen to their friends or third parties. I continued to be Dicks date for the “Breeders Cup” when it was held at Santa Anita in 2012,2013,2014.
The management at Santa Anita was not to happy, as how I got myself and Mr. Dick Van Patten to the super VIP SECTIONS for Breeders Cup. They probably thought I would be standing in the grandstands. In all fairness to the management at Santa Anita, at the time, I had not won any races with my thoroughbreds and Dr Phil and his experts predicted on their show, that I am delusional, having grandiose ideas, and being the real person who is Spoiled and Entitled, and not the fictional character which I was casted to portray. I am “Only Josie Knows” and this is your typical Breeders Cup event, the unexpected might just happen and that’s why everyone comes out to bet on long shots and make some big money. Dr Phil and many others gave me low odds, but I worked my angle and closed like never before. Breeders Cup Celebrity Arrivals to this day is the biggest (RED/PURPLE) carpet I have ever attended with such a high profiled date. Everyone was happy, the media, Dick, and the Breeders Cup. Same with the horses, odds don’t mean anything. They are just a professional’s opinion but not 100 percent accurate. The Breeders Cup races is a chance to think and look outside the box and see if you see something that others don’t! That’s how you hit big in racehorse betting.
Let’s make some money! GOOD LUCK to all who are participating!
