Jerry and Ann Moss will be
presented the eighth annual Laffit Pincay Jr. Award during the Hollywood Gold
Cup program Saturday, July 9 at Hollywood Park.
Pincay, a member of racing’s Hall
of Fame since 1975, will make the presentation between the fifth and sixth
races.
The Pincay Award is presented annually to someone who has
served the sport with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and
distinction.
“Racing owes the Mosses a debt of gratitude for keeping
Zenyatta in training for an extra year,’’ said Pincay. “They have been huge
supporters of the sport for a long period of time and have continued to promote
racing in numerous ways.
“I was fortunate
enough to ride some winners for them during my career. They are very nice
people, great to be around and well respected by everyone in every way.’’
One of Pincay’s victories for the Mosses came aboard
Ruhlmann for trainer Charlie Whittingham in the 1989 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap in
what remains a stakes record 1:40 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.
The co-founder of
A&M Records with legendary musician Herb Alpert, Jerry Moss has been
involved as a thoroughbred owner since 1970, owning dozens of stakes winners
such as the aforementioned Ruhlmann, Fighting Fit, 2005 Kentucky Derby upsetter
Giacomo, Kudos, Sardula and Tiago.
However, Zenyatta
is undoubtedly the best horse the Mosses have ever campaigned.
Trained masterfully
by John Shirreffs, the remarkable mare became the first female to ever win the
Breeders’ Cup Classic, rallying furiously in the final quarter of a mile under
regular jockey Mike Smith to prevail in 2009 at Santa Anita.
Returned to
training after a brief retirement to race as a 6-year-old, Zenyatta nearly
repeated in the Classic, missing by a nostril to Blame, but was still voted
Horse of the Year. The daughter of Street Cry retired with 19 victories in 20
starts and a female record $7,304,660 in earnings.
The Mosses and
Shirreffs were widely lauded for making Zenyatta accessible to the racing
public as she was often visited by fans at her Hollywood Park stable. The
entire Zenyatta team was given a Special Eclipse Award earlier this year.
In addition to his
involvement as an owner, Jerry Moss has served as a member of the California
Horse Racing Board since being appointed by former Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger in 2003.
Ann Moss is an active
environmentalist and founder of the Dolphin Connection.
The Pincay Jr.
Award was introduced by Hollywood
Park in 2004 with esteemed
executive and racing publicist Bob Benoit the initial winner.
Trainer Noble
Threewitt was the recipient in 2005, while the Stute brothers — Mel and Warren
— shared the award in 2006. Owner/breeder Ellwood W. “Bud” Johnston, whose Old
English Rancho is one of the most storied names in California racing, won the award in 2007,
while distinguished steward Pete Pedersen was the recipient in 2008. Merlin
Volzke, who also had a noteworthy career as a steward, became the first former
jockey to win the award in 2009. The Oak Tree Racing Association was honored in
2010.