Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has accepted a directorship on the Oak Tree Racing
Association board of directors, Dr. Jack K. Robbins, the organization’s
president, announced. Mandella is the first trainer to serve on the board since
the inception of Oak Tree in 1968.
“I consider this a great honor,” the 56-year-old conditioner said. “I’m very
excited about being involved with an organization that has contributed so much
to the betterment of racing and the equine world. And when you look at the
people who have preceded me and at those with whom I will now serve, it makes
me very proud.”
Mandella, who opened his public stable 30 years ago, ranks eighth on the
all-time list of money-winning trainers with career earnings of $107,932,090.
Among his current runners are veteran Grade 1 hero and possible Eclipse Award
contender THE TIN MAN (Affirmed), winner of the Arlington Million (G1) earlier
this year, and juvenile HORSE GREELEY (Mr. Greeley), victor of the Del Mar Futurity (G2).
Mandella was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in August of 2001. Just
two years later, he saddled a record four winners in the Breeders’ Cup held
during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, sending out Pleasantly Perfect in
the Classic (G1), Johar in a Turf (G1) dead-heat victory, Action This Day in the
Juvenile (G1) and Halfbridled in the Juvenile Fillies (G1). That Classic score,
along with victories in the 2004 Pacific Classic (G1) and Dubai World Cup
(UAE-G1), made Pleasantly Perfect the fourth richest Thoroughbred of
all time.
“Oak Tree is pleased to welcome Richard to the board as he brings a wealth of
experience in the racing industry,” Robbins said. “He has an exceptional knowledge
of the backstretch and is highly respected by his peers, as well as other
members of the Thoroughbred racing community.”
Other Oak Tree board members include Sherwood C. Chillingworth,
executive vice-president, as well as vice-presidents Dr. Rick Arthur, John H.
Barr, Thomas R. Capehart and Trudy McCaffery.