Timphony, trainer of Wild Again, dies

Vincent Timphony, the trainer of inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner

Wild Again, died at Arcadia Methodist Hospital on Monday, according to published

reports.

Timphony, 76, had been listed in grave condition after suffering strokes and

developing respiratory disease. His ex-wife Scarlet said that he was taken off

life support on Saturday.

A native of New Orleans, Timphony grew up around the Fair Grounds, where his

family has operated the track kitchen for decades.

"We are looking at the loss of one of the last Damon Runyon characters in the

game," Scarlet said Sunday.

Timphony learned the training craft from Tennessee Wright and Marion Van

Berg. Initially based on the Midwest circuit of Louisiana, Arkansas and Chicago,

Timphony went further afield to New York, New Jersey, Florida and California.

Fittingly, his best performer, Wild Again, captured major events across the

country in 1984. His exceptionally game victory in the New Orleans H. (G2) at

Timphony's old stomping grounds would foreshadow his heroics in the Breeders'

Cup at Hollywood Park. In the meantime, the dark bay rolled to a track

record-setting win in the Oaklawn H. (G2) and romped by six lengths in the

Meadowlands Cup H. (G1).

Wild Again was not Breeders' Cup eligible, but his owners, Black Chip Stable,

took the risk of supplementing him to the Classic for $360,000. And a

substantial gamble it was, since Wild Again was dispatched at odds of 31-1. He

justified their, and Timphony's, confidence in him with an epic performance that

endures in Breeders' Cup lore.

Timphony told Pat Day, who picked up the mount in the Classic, not to hit

Wild Again with the whip. The speedy colt outdueled Precisionist and Mugatea to

take charge, but at the cost of punishing fractions of :22 3/5, :45 3/5 and 1:10

3/5. Then 3-5 favorite Slew O' Gold advanced to his flank on the far turn, and

Wild Again looked to be in trouble.

Battling with all of his might, Wild Again kept pace along the inside. As Day

listened to the trainer's counsel and never used the whip, Wild Again refused to

let Slew O' Gold pass. The hooded Gate Dancer rallied late to make it a

three-way finish, but Wild Again stuck his head out and was still in front at

the wire. In a rough stretch drive, Wild Again and Slew O' Gold were involved in

scrimmaging, and Gate Dancer's lugging in treated Slew O' Gold like a pinball

that slammed into Wild Again. Gate Dancer was disqualified from second and

placed third for causing interference, but Wild Again retained his hard-fought

victory.

Wild Again, who later retired with $2,204,829 in earnings from his 28-8-7-4

record, went on to become a successful sire. He was euthanized in December 2008

at the grand old age of 28.

Timphony is survived by Scarlet, five children, four grandchildren and one

great-grandchild.