Dan Ward (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
By Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park
OCEANPORT, N.J.— Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, scaling back his operations to California only, has transferred 29 of his horses at Monmouth Park to long-time assistant Dan Ward effective today.
Ward has overseen Hollendorfer’s division at Monmouth Park and Oaklawn Park for the past four years.
“I just want to concentrate on what I’m doing here in California,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan and I have discussed for a while that he wanted a chance to go out on his own. Now seems like a pretty good time to do that.”
Hollendorfer said he expects to keep “12 to 15 horses” to race at Los Alamitos and Del Mar.
Ward, 64, spent 22 years as an assistant to Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and has been Hollendorfer’s assistant since 2007. He expects his official debut as the trainer of record to come next weekend at Monmouth Park. Entries have yet to be drawn for those Friday through Sunday cards.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Ward. “It’s been a great experience working with Jerry. I’m grateful to be taking over for someone who has more than 7,700 wins. And I’m starting with 29 horses, not one or two, which you often do when you are on your own.
“It doesn’t change what we do in the mornings with the horses. But now when I talk to owners they know the horses are in my name.”
Ward, a San Diego native, said he intends to remain on the Monmouth Park-Oaklawn circuit, saying “we’re established ourselves the past four years at both tracks. People know we’re going to be there.”
He said “the timing is right – it’s perfect timing” to go out on his own.
“It’s been worth the wait,” he said.
Hollendorfer, who has a 6-6-7 line from 30 starts at Monmouth Park this year, said he is confident Ward is prepared for the opportunity he now has.
“When he came to work for me I wanted someone who would be able to offer a good opinion on what was going on,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan certainly has the foundation to do that. It certainly seemed to work out for us.
“I have no doubt he will be successful.”
