Topics: Santa Anita Handicap, Breeders' Cup, Barry Irwin

Julio Canani died last week at the age of 82. He was a successful trainer and owner of thoroughbreds. Barry Irwin knew him since the 1960s when he was hanging out with degenerate gamblers at Hollywood Park. Julio had a great sense of humor and a unique way of speaking. He used to use Spanish words to express his thoughts. His friend Jeff Siegel used the salutation "Hello". The word "I ming" was used as a Spanish substitute for the English "meaning". Julio used both crutches in the same sentence. Neil Drysdale claims Julio spoke in Spanish.

Julio was claiming horses on the Southern California circuit in the 1970s. Julio was a constant source of hard-to-believe stories, betting information, coups and schemes in development and his own handicapping gems. Jeff and Jeff began syndicating horses in 1987 and Julio got a 4-year-old English import for $60,000. It had been bid in at Tattersalls by Sheikh Mohammed by an English agent.

Martial Law won the Santa Anita Handicap. Jeff and Julio spent $40,000 of their partners' money to make him eligible for the $1 million Santa Monica Handiap, by paying supplement of $25,00 and an additional $15, 000 in fees to enter and start him. Julio wanted to run him as an outsider in the biggest race on the local circuit, but he was afraid of peer pressure. Martial Law did not let his connections down and won convincingly. Jeff felt the swell of emotion after the race has never been duplicated by any other win of his stable, including the Kentucky Derby.