Bill Allen, whose colt Wild Again won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), died July 16 at his Las Vegas home. He was 83.
Allen and partners Terry Beal and Ron Volkman had to make Wild Again eligible to the 1984 Classic with a $360,000 supplemental payment. Wild Again, sent off at 31-1 odds and racing in the name Black Chip Stable, won the $3-million race after a messy battle with Gate Dancer and Slew o’ Gold in the stretch. Gate Dancer, easily recognizable because of a white hood, was disqualified from second and placed third, and Slew o’ Gold, part of the favored 3-5 entry, was moved up to second.
Wild Again, who retired from racing with $2,204,829 in earnings, became a successful stallion, siring 88 stakes winners. He died in late 2008.
Allen, who raced several other stakes winners, is survived by his wife, Nina, and four children. A son-in-law, Bryan Brown, is chief executive officer of Retama Park.
