Hollywood to Honor Turf Writer Fermo Cambianica

(from Hollywood Park release)
Hollywood Park will name a race in honor of longtime public handicapper and turf writer Fermo Cambianica on May 12 -- Jim Murray Memorial Handicap Day.

Cambianica, one of the most popular personalities to grace the various press boxes at Southern California racetracks, died April 21 at age 79 after battling cancer. He had been a published handicapper since the mid-1950s, most recently with the Long Beach Press-Telegram and with the Los Angeles Newspaper Group.

Primarily based in the Santa Anita press box where he served as unofficial press box steward, he was known for making his daily rounds through the track to give his selections to his many friends. His final handicap appeared on April 22, when he led all public handicappers with seven winners on the final program of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

Cambianica played college basketball at Long Beach State, where he was a point guard in 1952-53, and was also an accomplished ballroom dancer.