VETERAN TRAINER SPECHT SADDLES 1,000TH WINNER
Steve Specht, who has been a mainstay in the Northern California training ranks since the mid-1980s, collected his 1,000th career victory Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields when his 2-year-old filly Veillit’ won the fifth race.
Specht, 59, was introduced to horse racing by his father, Robert, who trained horses in Illinois. A native of Chicago, Specht served as his father’s assistant until his death in 1970. Specht raced at Chicago-area tracks for several years before moving his stable to Northern California in 1986.
Veillit’ was Specht’s 6,330th career starter and paid $22.80 to win. Veillit’ is owned by Specht’s longtime clients, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, and was ridden to victory by Specht’s go-to jockey, Frank Alvarado.
“I was happy to win [No. 1,000] with the Williams and Frank,” said Specht. “They are very good clients and breed a lot of horses. Frank has won a lot of races for me, and some pretty big ones.”
Specht and Alvarado teamed up for their biggest victory in 2007 when they traveled to Gulfstream Park in Florida and captured the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic with McCann’s Mojave.
“That was by far the biggest purse I’ve ever won and McCann’s Mojave is by far the best horse I’ve ever trained,” said Specht, who has trained many multiple stakes-winners, including Lady Railrider, who won the Pacific Heights Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last Saturday for the Williams and Alvarado.
I’madrifter, who won a pair of $100,000 stakes at Golden Gate Fields (the
2002 Lafayette Handicap and the 2003 Berkeley Handicap), and Our Mango, who paid
$100.20 to win after shocking her opponents in the 2004 California Cup Distaff at Santa
Anita, are two of Specht’s other notable stakes performers.
Despite the early and long hours, Specht still enjoys training.
“I still get a kick out of it,” said Specht of his profession. “Naturally the big races are
great, but when you win anything it’s still fun.”