In 2002, I remember being at the Oakland Coliseum to watch the Oakland A’s win their 20th game in a row. It was an improbable streak, and we knew it could end at any time. Nonetheless, it was a time a bay area sports fan will never forget.
Milestones in sports, when achieved, can be gratifying to see in person. But what happens when that special moment, so close to happening, continues to elude.
New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez went 46 at bats between his 599th and 600th career homeruns. The Cleveland Cavaliers made NBA history last year, losing 26 games in row.
Here in the bay area, we have a similar streak at hand.
Jerry Hollendorfer is on the verge of his 6,000th career win as a trainer. Only three people in the history of racing have accumulated 6,000 wins. Dale Baird (who retired in 2007 with 9,445 wins), and still active trainers King T. Leatherbury (on the east coast) and Jack Van Berg.
Hollendorfer, who went into the racing Hall of Fame earlier this month, currently stands at 5,998 wins. He got his last win on August 21st, when Indian Gracey (below) won the eighth race at Golden Gate Fields. That day, he had three wins at Golden Gate and one at Del Mar.
Since then? Well I guess you can call it a drought. With Jerry’s success and ability to saddle multiple winners a day, we figured when last week started, we would see the milestone any day.
Yet, we still wait.
Over the last five racing days, the King of the bay area sent 26 horses to the post between Del Mar and GGF and is still stuck two wins shy of the mark. He had three seconds and six third, but no winners circle pictures.
Knowing Jerry, the anticipation is probably nibbling at his insides, but on the outside, you would never know. He is one of the most competitive trainers as there is in the game, and when he does break through, it will probably be in the midst of a winning streak, the kind that has made him one of the best we have ever seen.
His pursuit continues on Wednesday when send three horses to the gate at Del Mar, then three at Golden Gate Friday afternoon and one on Friday night at Del Mar.
Maybe he can just enter Blind Luck in back-to-back races, then we can all celebrate his feat.