Donald J. Valpredo, a longtime chief within the California racing and breeding trade, died Oct. 31 whereas abroad. He was 85.
A serious breeder and proprietor of such horses as 1994 California-bred Horse of the 12 months Soviet Downside , Valpredo made his most beneficial contribution by means of his a long time of service to the California Thoroughbred trade. He was a former president and former chair of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Affiliation and was on that board on the time of his loss of life. He was a commissioner on the California Horse Racing Board from 1990-98, having been appointed by California Gov. Pete Wilson. Valpredo additionally served on the board of the Thoroughbred House owners of California from 2000-11.
First elected to the CTBA board in 1972, Valpredo served because the group’s president from 1986-90. Throughout that point, he was instrumental within the creation of the favored California Cup collection, being a co-founder and early co-chair. For his contributions, the California Cup Dash was renamed the Don Valpredo California Cup Dash, of which Valpredo was very proud.
“It is such an honor to have a race named after you the place you possibly can current the trophy,” he stated a number of years in the past.
The CTBA additionally elected Valpredo to its Corridor of Fame in 2017.
“It is a very nice honor to be revered this manner,” Valpredo stated upon his Corridor of Fame election. “I’ve loved daily that I have been concerned in each stage of the trade, from the bottom to administration.”
The Valpredo secure of runners dates again to 1941, when Don’s grandfather, father, and uncle purchased their first Thoroughbreds. They established their first breeding operation in Kern County close to Bakersfield, in addition to Valpredo Farms, a big industrial operation that at present produces all kinds of greens.
By means of the household’s produce enterprise, Don grew to become president of Ridge Ginning and founding accomplice of Kern Ridge Growers and Val-Mar Farms. He and his son, Michael, based Nation Candy Produce, whose manufacturers embrace the Bako Candy candy potatoes.
Don’s father, John, raised and educated horses, and the father-and-son staff had a lot success. They raced Lucie Manet and Star Ball, who gained divisions of the 1978 Gamely Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park. Lucie Manet’s different stakes wins included the 1977 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1), whereas Star Ball’s included the inaugural operating of the Yellow Ribbon Stakes in 1977 on the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park. The Yellow Ribbon at present is the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T).
Don went into the household farming enterprise and purchased his first broodmare, Poppaletta, in 1964. Valpredo later joined his good good friend John Harris in shopping for, breeding, and racing horses for many years.
The primary horse Valpredo and Harris bought collectively was the mare In Prime Time. She grew to become the second dam of their homebred Soviet Downside, voted Cal-bred Horse of the 12 months in 1994. A a number of stakes winner, Soviet Downside completed second, by only a head, to Cherokee Run within the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1).
“She was one thing very particular,” Valpredo stated. “We had a number of good instances because of her.”
Soviet Downside in flip grew to become the second dam of 2010 Cal-bred champion older mare Unzip Me , bred by Valpredo and Harris and raced by them with further companions. Valpredo, Harris, and John Nicoletti bred graded stakes winner Compari .
Valpredo labored exhausting for all trade contributors throughout his years of service. Whereas on the CHRB, one of many issues he pushed for was standardized saddlecloth colours to assist the bettors, particularly these taking part by way of simulcast or on-line.
Following his time on the CHRB and TOC, Valpredo returned to the CTBA board. He served as CTBA chair from 2014 by means of early 2017, and afterward remained as a board member.
“As breeders, we’ve got the largest funding on this enterprise—in land, livestock,” he stated in 1983. “We have to flex our muscle tissue. This state must know the important half our trade performs within the economics of California. We have to inform our story and ensure it is heard all the way in which to Sacramento. We should let or not it’s identified simply how necessary we’re to the state.”
Along with his son Michael, Valpredo is survived by household that features his spouse, Sally; youngsters Natalia Fritz and Alexis Mosely; and 7 grandchildren.