FOR LARRY & MARRIANE WILLIAMS, IT’S ALL WITHIN THE FAMILY
Larry and Marianne Williams reside in Boise, Idaho, where the couple raises cattle and horses. The duo, however, also has a major presence in California racing, breeding and campaigning a number of racehorses in the Golden State. Steve Specht conditions the Williams’ Golden Gate Fields string, which couldn’t have had a better weekend last week.
On Saturday, 3-year-old fillies Heavenly Holiday and Priest Lake finished first and second in Race 8 for the Williams’, who bred and currently own both fillies. One day later, the Williams homebred Lucky General broke his maiden in Race 2, a route event for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
As breeders, the Williams’ won the 2014 California Breeders of the Year Award, an award that was announced at the TOBA National Awards Dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. The Williams’ also owned longtime California sire Lucky Pulpit, whose most notable son, 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome, earned over $14.7 million while winning top class races like the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness (G1), Dubai World Cup (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Pacific Classic (G1). Lucky Pulpit passed away unexpectedly in 2017 but his progeny continue to race, with a number of them stabled and competing at Golden Gate.
At the track, the Williams’ have raced over 400 winners since they began their racing operation in 2003, with career earnings of over $14.2 million. Among their most successful racehorses include 2013 Del Mar Futurity (G1) champ Tamarando and multiple stakes winners Rousing Sermon, Antares World and Yodelen Dan.
Pulpit Rider, another Williams stakes winner currently in the Mike Puype stable at Santa Anita, won the Campanile Stakes at Golden Gate in April. Coincidentally, Pulpit Rider is out of the stakes winning dam Lady Railrider, who earned over 600k for the Williams’ as a racehorse from 2007 to 2012. The Williams’ bred both Lady Railrider and Pulpit Rider, as well as the aforementioned list of stakes winners.
See the trend here? It’s all within the family.
“WIN A BET” SWEEPSTAKES OFFERED ON PEGASUS WORLD CUP DAY AT GGF
Golden Gate Fields is happy to offer fans a chance to “Win A Bet” on the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The Pegasus, a $9 million mile and an eighth contest for the best dirt route horses in the world, will be run on Saturday, January 26 at Gulfstream Park. Among the main contenders slated for the 2019 Pegasus are Breeders Cup Classic winner Accelerate, Breeders Cup Dirt Mile victor City of Light and 2018 Kentucky Derby third place finisher Audible.
Golden Gate Fields’ “Win a Bet” sweepstakes takes place on the aforementioned Saturday (January 26). Each fan that is entered in the contest will be randomly assigned one horse that is racing in the Pegasus World Cup. A $100 win wager will then be placed on each horse. Whichever fan is assigned to the winning horse will get to cash their $100 win bet.
“We are excited to offer this contest for our on-track fans,” said Golden Gate Fields marketing manager Ryan Hilton. “Every fan wants to ‘win big’ so we’re giving fans a chance to do just that: win big.”
To sign up for the “Win A Bet” sweepstakes, please visit “B-deck” Level 2 customer service by Saturday, January 26 and fill out the complete sign up sheet. Registry for the contest concludes at 2:00 PM PT on January 26th.
For additional information on the “Win A Bet” sweepstakes, please visit www.goldengatefields.com and click on the “Win A Bet” sweepstakes link posted at the home page.
HOLIDAY RACING THIS MONDAY
Golden Gate Fields offers five live racing days this week. The Bayside track runs the usual Thursday-Sunday schedule, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday (January 21) tallies the fifth afternoon of live racing. All five-race days have a scheduled first post of 12:45 PM.
FINISH LINES: Abel Cedillo and Juan Hernandez are tied for first in the jockeys standings with 19 wins apiece…In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong has surged 4 wins ahead, with 11 total victories at the current Winter/Spring meet. Bill Delia and Blaine Wright sit in second with 7 wins each….Larry Rivelli won with 4 of his first 12 starters at Golden Gate Fields this past week. Rivelli recently shipped horses to the Bay Area and will be campaigning a string of horses here for the remainder of the meeting…Awesome Anywhere, who finished third as the favorite in the Oakland Stakes last November, will run in the $200,000 Grade 2 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita on Saturday for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has the mount…Turf racing resumes at Golden Gate in late March or very early April, according to track management. Per usual, Golden Gate Fields will take a hiatus from turf racing during the winter months to renovate the course and let the rainy season pass…Trainer Aggie Ordonez was given an early birthday present when Aalsmeer, a hard-knocking eight-year-old gelding, won the third race on Sunday. Ordonez celebrated her birthday on Tuesday…The Golden Pick Six Jackpot carryover has increased to $27,979 heading into Thursday’s seven-race card.