Friday night’s Kirk Breed Pace at Cal Expo is named for the man who was the executive director of the California Horse Racing Board and previously served as a board member and general manager of the state fair at Cal Expo.
Breed passed away in 2013 at the age of 73 after a battle with cancer.
During Gov. Jerry Brown's first term in 1979, Breed was appointed general manager at Cal Expo and was credited with turning around the event's financial fortunes during lean times. He later became a lobbyist on behalf of the racing industry and also served eight years on the Cal Expo board of directors.
Breed served as executive director of the California Horse Racing Board from 2008 until his death. During those five-plus years, he oversaw the regulatory agency's day-to-day business.
He was involved in such high-profile issues as the restriction of the use of steroids; the reduction of permissible levels of bute; and the transformation of the Santa Anita main track from a troubled synthetic to a dirt surface.
"In his years as executive director, Kirk Breed provided invaluable guidance and counsel to everyone who served on the board," said former racing board chairman David Israel. "No one was more dedicated to assuring the welfare of the horse, the well-being of the participants and the integrity of the sport than Kirk."
The Oklahoma native attended Oklahoma State on a football scholarship in the 1950s, while as the same time helping his father, who trained a stable of Quarter Horses. After graduating with a degree in zoology, Breed volunteered for the Peace Corps and spent time in Chile and Columbia and worked at the State Department in Washington, D.C.
Fillies and mares will be in the spotlight this Friday night at Cal Expo in the $10,000 Kirk Breed Pace, and Delightfully Wild will be heading the cast.
There will be 10 races presented under the Watch and Wager LLC banner Friday, with first post set for 6:40 p.m.
Delightfully Wild will make her way into the headliner having posed for pictures following four of her last six trips to the post for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada, trainer Lino Pacheco and pilot James Kennedy.
All four of those victories have come at the Filly and Mare Open level, including her March 16 tally where she prevailed by a length and a quarter while establishing a new lifetime standard (1:53.2).
The five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight added another win on March 31 in facile, coast-to-coast fashion. She then had to settle for a close third after having carved out the fractions as the even-money choice from Post 10.
Shark Festival, who packs a powerful finish, is heading into Friday’s tilt off of a nice win in which she came home in :26.4 to secure a half-length decision. The seven-year-old daughter of Shadow Play races for Medinah Racing and Scott Ehrlich with Kathie Plested training and Steve Wiseman at the controls.
La Diva De Rosa, Kiss On The Lips, Bettor Lady and Shesamysterytome will complete the cast.
(Cal Expo)