Vincent Timphony, who saddled Wild Again to an upset victory in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Hollywood Park in 1984, is in grave condition at Arcadia Methodist Hospital, his ex-wife Scarlet confirmed Dec. 12.
“He was admitted to the hospital a week ago Saturday (Dec. 4) because of respiratory disease and a series of strokes,” she said in a release. “The decision was made to take him off life support yesterday (Dec. 11).”
Timphony, 76, spent his whole life around racing. “He was born right behind the Fair Grounds and began going to the track as a little boy,” said his wife of 24 years. “Vincent won his first horse in a gin rummy game when he was 18. We are looking at the loss of one of the last Damon Runyan characters in the game.”
She said that Timphony’s early mentors were trainers Tennessee Wright and Marion Van Berg, who launched him on a career that began on a Midwest circuit of Louisiana, Arkansas and Chicago, and branched into New York, New Jersey, and Florida.
He came to California in 1983, one year before the exciting and controversial Breeders’ Cup that resulted in a three-way photo finish and a nine-minute stewards’ inquiry before Wild Again's victory became official.
Timphony has five children, four grand-children, and one great-grand-child.