NEWS
Wiggins stays in game through the auction ring
Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:49 PM
HAL WIGGINS
Coady Photography
by Denis Blake
Many racehorses go on to tackle a second career after leaving the racetrack. Hal Wiggins is doing the same after 35 years as a trainer.
The conditioner best known for saddling Rachel Alexandra from her first start as a two-year-old through her record-setting victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) during her Horse of the Year campaign now is learning the ropes of the auction world as part of the Legacy Bloodstock team.
“This wasn’t exactly what I had planned when I retired, but I knew I wanted to stay involved in racing somehow,” said Wiggins, a native Texan who moved to Houston after retiring from training at the end of last year. “Horses have always been a big part of my life and racing has always been good to me.”
Wiggins’ new pursuit evolved from a longtime friendship with Mark Toothaker, who operates Lexington-based Legacy Bloodstock with partner Tommy Eastham.
“One of my last jobs when I was on the racetrack was working for Hal, so I’ve been friends with him for a long time,” Toothaker said. “He asked me one day if we needed any help at the sales because he wanted to keep his foot in the door. So I said, `If you are interested, then we’d sure love to have you.’”
While Toothaker and Eastham have enjoyed quite a bit of success as sellers, that has not left them much time to buy horses for clients at those same sales.
“I’m still learning a lot and they are still teaching me about it,” Wiggins said. “They have clients that are looking to buy horses. At the sales, Mark and Tommy are tied up with the selling part of it, so I’m helping out on the buying side.”
Wiggins also is using his connections to help Legacy find fillies and mares off the track to sell privately or at auction.
“He’s a tremendous asset, and the great thing is that you kind of get a package deal with his wife, Renee,” Toothaker added. “So not only do you get Hal, who is Mr. Personality, but you get the same kind of thing with Renee.”
Although the Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale is not Legacy’s primary focus, it is a perennial leading consignor at the yearling auction and is happy to have a native Texan on board to help.
“We are glad to have him there for this sale—to see some old faces and meet some new folks,” Toothaker said. “Everyone wants to talk about ‘Rachel,’ and what a feather in his hat to say he trained one of the best fillies to ever race.”
For the fourth consecutive year, Legacy led all consignors at the Texas sale with 33 yearlings sold for $446,300, topped by an Oklahoma-bred daughter of War Front who brought $60,000 as the third-highest price in the sale.
Denis Blake is a Texas-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Jack, Baltimore, MD on September 01, 2010 at 04:15 AM
It's a damn shame this man doesn't still have control over the training regiment of Rachel Alexandra. If Wiggins still had Rachel. She would've never raced colts the three times she raced them in 2009. Wiggins believes that fillies and mares should only race other fillies and mares. Too bad others didn't learn from Hal Wiggins. If they had. We'd still be watching a Rachel Alexandra at the top of her game. As it stands now. Was it amazing she was able to beat colts three times in 2009? You better believe it. But was it a smart decision to heap that taxing of a campaign on a 3yr.old filly that was still developing both mentally and physically? Absolutely not. Because what could've been one of the all-time great fillies. Has now been turned into what looks like a "one year wonder." And that's no knock at Rachel Alexandra at all. I think the filly has a ton of heart. You could see in her eyes how badly she wanted to win the Personal Ensign. Problem was, the spirit was still willing. But the flesh is just no longer able. Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen are solely to blame for the demise of Rachel Alexandra's career. She was put through a campaign in 2009 that was just far too physically taxing for her to rebound from, and still be competitive in 2010. I feel bad for Rachel. But Captain Ego and his little crony trainer should be ashamed at the travesty that they've committed against this fine filly. Show this filly some respect. Something you've never shown her. And retire her with some dignity and class. Before both of you ego maniacs take that from Rachel as well. JMO.
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Posted by: SHERRY, BLOOMINGTON, MN on August 31, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Glad to hear you and Renee are keeping your hand in the game you love. It was so nice to talk to you. Fortunate for me Paul ran into you at Sam Houston. Our best to both of you.
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