Marty Wygod. (courtesy of Marty Wygod)
By Jim Charvat
A couple of familiar faces will be missing from the Del Mar landscape this summer. Marty Wygod and David Hofmans both passed away earlier this year.
Wygod was a beloved owner and breeder at Del Mar dating back to 1994 when he and his wife Pam first moved to California from New Jersey for the purpose of being closer to their horse operation. They made many friends over the years through racing partnerships and, in 1999, Martin became a member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s Board of Directors, a position he held until his death in April.
Wygod made his mark on the track with such champions as 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (now the Distaff) winner Life Is Sweet and 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Sweet Catomine. Both were bred by the Wygod’s out of their broodmare Sweet Life. The Wygod’s also raced millionaires Idiot Proof and Tranquility Lake and owned Grade I winners Courageous Cat and After Market.
His presence at the track will be sorely missed.
As will be the case with David Hofmans, who died earlier this month. The always upbeat and friendly trainer conditioned horses for 50 years with such notable successes as 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold and 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup.
He also trained Dramatic Gold, Adoration and Balance a horse who won three Grade I races for Hofmans in the mid-nineties. Compassionate, classy and a true gentleman were just some of the words used to describe the man that was loved and admired by everyone who had the chance to meet him.
