More trainers are leaving Southland
More bad news for Southern California racing -- trainer Paulo Lobo is packing up 25 horses at his barn at Hollywood Park and will relocate to Belmont Park in late April, according to the Daily Racing Form. Lobo, 40, told the Racing Form that some of his owners want to stay in the Southland and will transfer their horses to different trainers.
"I was thinking about this for a while," he told the Racing Form. "I don't have anything against California. It was a decision for me and my owners. Almost all of my owners would like to do this. I've been very lucky here. It's time for a change." Lobo is winless with 23 starters at the Santa Anita winter/spring meet heading into today's eight-race card.
Lobo's defection comes at a time when many other name trainers are picking up and leaving. Todd Pletcher, who has had a large contingent of horses here the past two winters, has shipped his stable back east. He had only half as many horses at Santa Anita this winter as he had a year ago. Also, Bobby Frankel, Vladimir Cerin and Bob Hess Jr. have moved parts of their stables to other tracks outside the state.
It didn't surprise me that Vlado Cerin sent some of his stock to Toronto. Truthfully, the purses there at Woodbine are quite a bit higher than what Hollywood Park gives out and although Woodbine racing is much more competitive (in terms of higher field sizes), the quality of their horses pale in comparison to what we have here in SoCal.