Golden Eagle proves naysayers wrong

DEL MAR -- When the Mabee family hands out the trophy for the winner of today's Grade I John C. Mabee Handicap, it might be one of the few times this season it will be in the winner's circle.

Following John Mabee's death four years ago, the matriarch of the family, Betty, handed over the reins of Golden Eagle Farm to her son, Larry.

Larry Mabee, 63, would rather breed the winner of a Grade I race than be in the winner's circle as an owner.

"Since dad passed away we've redone the operation," said Larry, who will accompany his 85-year-old mother to the races today as the member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club board of directors takes her usual table in the directors room. "We're more interested in the sales ring and stallion barn than the racing end. We've changed our direction considerably.

"Racing horses is a tough way to make money. I think the way to go is the stallions and the sales ring. That's where you make the money.

"The naysayers said Golden Eagle wouldn't be here two years after my father died, but they have disappeared. We're still in the business. I don't have much to complain about."

Golden Eagle Farm, located in Ramona, has scaled back its stallion roster to Salt Lake, homebred Souvenir Copy and High Demand. Long-time standard bearer General Meeting has been retired from the breeding shed.

Mabee is proud of the fact that 97 of the 99 mares Golden Eagle owns are in foal and the farm didn't lose a single foal in the birthing process this year.

"My father and I had two different trains of thought," Mabee said. "My dad liked the excitement and the competition of racing horses. He was push, push, push. My dad gambled on his horses. I couldn't tell you the last time I bought a ticket. His desire to race was due to his competitive nature.

"I run businesses where my dad started them. I'm running a business today. I'm trying to maximize it for the long term and the long haul.

"We lost a horse the other day in a $62,500 claimer (race). I hope the new owners do well with the horse. It would be good business for us. We just try to place our horses where they can win.

"We have more than enough trophies and winner's circle photos at mom's house (in Rancho Santa Fe). I don't need them. I'm enjoying the business."

Larry Mabee wants to stay low on the radar screen.

"We produce runners," he said. "We don't buy them. And then we race what we don't sell."

So you still might see the Golden Eagle Farm colors in Del Mar's winner's circle, after all.

Valenzuela still out

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, out since Wednesday's opening day with a back injury, will have further tests next week before a plan of attack is considered by doctors, said his agent, Tom Knust.

"He'll have some sort of procedure, but they want to run some more tests before they decided what that is," Knust said.


