Bob Hess Jr. was proud and modest after winning the 1,000th race of
his career Sunday when So Tempted took the first race at Hollywood Park
by nearly three lengths under jockey Garrett Gomez.
“It’s almost humbling,” the 46-year-old trainer said at Santa
Anita Monday morning. “Such a great game and to be able to get to a
thousand . . . You get to meet so many great horses and great people in
this game. It’s a lot of fun.”
Hess, who began his career in 1983 as an assistant to his father
in the Bay Area, began training on his own in 1987. The Chula Vista
native graduated from Stanford that year, along with Ruben Amaro Jr.,
now general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Bob’s two sons,
Christian, 18, and Garrison, 20, have not followed in their father’s and
grandfather’s footsteps to date. Right now, college is the priority.
“Christian is at Cal Berkeley where he’ll play rugby, and
Garrison is at Seattle University (alma mater of basketball legend Elgin
Baylor),” Hess said. “Garrison’s not into sports, but he’s getting all
A’s.”
Hess has 25 head on hand for the Santa Anita meet, and a division of 15 at Gulfstream Park.