NEWS
California-based owner Mankiewicz dies at 68
Posted: Monday, August 02, 2010 5:35 PM
Tom Mankiewicz, a successful writer and director in Hollywood who raced Thoroughbreds, has died at age 68 after battling cancer.
A writer or co-writer of the move Superman as well as several James Bond movies, including Diamonds are Forever and Live and Let Die, Mankiewicz, of West Hollywood, California, raced horses in Southern California. Some of his top runners included Grade 1 winners Dearest Trickski and Victory Encounter. Dearest Trickski won the 2007 La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park and Victory Encounter won the 2004 Vanity Handicap (G1) at Hollywood Park.
Trainer John Sadler, who saddled both of those horses in their Grade 1 wins, was saddened when he learned Mankiewicz had died on Saturday.
“I was devastated to hear the news,” Sadler said. “It’s a big loss. He was a terrific person and he loved racing and coming to the races. He was not only a great owner but he was a great fan too.”
While racing for Mankiewicz, Dearest Trickski set 6½-furlong track records at Hollywood Park, where she won an allowance race in 1:14.56 in 2007, and Del Mar, where she won the 2008 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) in 1:15.17.
Mankiewicz acquired both of his Grade 1 winners through claims. He snagged Victory Encounter for $32,000 out of a maiden claiming race at Santa Anita in 2003 and picked up Dearest Trickski for $32,000 in a claiming race at Del Mar in ‘07.
Mankiewicz owned and rode Quarter Horses and Arabians before buying Thoroughbreds. He partnered with actor Robert Wagner and Jerry Moss on some Thoroughbreds. Mankiewicz co-wrote and directed the pilot episode of the television show Hart to Hart, as well as some future episodes of that show in which Wagner starred.
