Hall of Fame trainer Bud Delp is at his home in Ellicott City, Md., recovering from triple bypass surgery he underwent one week ago. "I'm doing okay," said Delp, who was inducted into Thoroughbred Racing's Hall of Fame in 2002. "I should be back at the barn in two weeks."Added Regina Delp, his wife of 22 years: "He is one tough hombre. He had a routine check-up last Thursday but after tests was transferred to Sinai Hospital (just two blocks from Pimlico Race Course) and was operated on the next day. Saturday morning he was already doing the training charts. Our son Cleve goes to the barn each morning and follows the directions to a tee. Bud is reading condition books and speaking to owners. He is doing very well and recovering quickly."
The 71-year old trainer is best known for conditioning Spectacular Bid, a three-time champion, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1979. A year later, Delp guided Bid through an undefeated campaign, winning all nine races en route to Horse of the Year honors. Delp earned an Eclipse Award as top trainer. The lifelong Marylander has seven Pimlico training titles in a career that began at Laurel Park in the fall of 1962. Delp has more than 3,600 victories with earnings exceeding $39 million and has won stakes with 69 different horses.