Mandella joins Oak Tree board

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has accepted a directorship on the Oak Tree Racing

Association board of directors, Dr. Jack K. Robbins, the organization's

president, announced. Mandella is the first trainer to serve on the board since

the inception of Oak Tree in 1968.

"I consider this a great honor," the 56-year-old conditioner said. "I'm very

excited about being involved with an organization that has contributed so much

to the betterment of racing and the equine world. And when you look at the

people who have preceded me and at those with whom I will now serve, it makes

me very proud."

Mandella, who opened his public stable 30 years ago, ranks eighth on the

all-time list of money-winning trainers with career earnings of $107,932,090.

Among his current runners are veteran Grade 1 hero and possible Eclipse Award

contender THE TIN MAN (Affirmed), winner of the Arlington Million (G1) earlier

this year, and juvenile HORSE GREELEY (Mr. Greeley), victor of the Del Mar Futurity (G2).

Mandella was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in August of 2001. Just

two years later, he saddled a record four winners in the Breeders' Cup held

during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, sending out Pleasantly Perfect in

the Classic (G1), Johar in a Turf (G1) dead-heat victory, Action This Day in the

Juvenile (G1) and Halfbridled in the Juvenile Fillies (G1). That Classic score,

along with victories in the 2004 Pacific Classic (G1) and Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1), made Pleasantly Perfect the fourth richest Thoroughbred of

all time.

"Oak Tree is pleased to welcome Richard to the board as he brings a wealth of

experience in the racing industry," Robbins said. "He has an exceptional knowledge

of the backstretch and is highly respected by his peers, as well as other

members of the Thoroughbred racing community."

Other Oak Tree board members include Sherwood C. Chillingworth,

executive vice-president, as well as vice-presidents Dr. Rick Arthur, John H.

Barr, Thomas R. Capehart and Trudy McCaffery.