Trainer David Cross
Born: 12/19/35, Resides: Las Vegas, Nevada Family: Unmarried
In 1983, David Cross saddled Sunny’s Halo to win the Kentucky Derby. The training feat was nothing short of a miracle, winning the “Run for Roses” off only two preps as a three-year-olds – the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes.
“The media made a big deal of that,” recalled Cross, 75. “Remember now thatSunny’s Halo was a Canadian-bred and had to pass up the Queen’s Plate, because of a severe skin infection. The Queen’s Plate is the greatest race in Canada. Later in the year, our colt won the Super Derby, then worth one million. How big a feat would that have been, one horse winning the Kentucky Derby, Arkansas Derby, Queen’s Plate and Super Derby in one season?”
Cross said he grew up in the Seattle and Vancouver area.
“My mom was involved in racing as was my brother.I started galloping horses at age nine; even had a brief riding career. It takes an old timer to remember some of those Vancouver tracks in those days. The cities of Vancouver had Brighouse Park, Lansdowne Park and Hastings Park. Victoria had Colwood Park and The Willows.
As a trainer, Cross saddled his first winner at Longacres in 1957. From there his career took him to Arizona, New England, Florida, then up to Woodbine. In Canada his stable blossomed forth. He won the Dominion Day, Marine and Woodstock Stakes with Big Destiny; the Display and Autumn with Decent Davey and the Fury and Bison City with Snow Game.
Sunny’s Halo came to Cross as a two-year-old in 1982.The latter colt won Canada’s prestigious Sovereign Award by taking the Dominion’s two most important events for two-year-olds, the Coronation Futurity and Grey Stakes, as well as the Colin and Swynford.
Cross’ other stakes winner in Canada were Loving Lara, Lady Shooter, Empiric, Arc’o Fire, Admiral JB, Joe Flats, Royal Farm and Pugnacious.
On the American side, the Cross-trained Classic Cat won the Lexington, Ohio Derby, Remington Park Derby and finished third in the Preakness.He also trained Diane’s Halo, Quintana, Code Love and Majestical Moment.
“Right now, I have three horses at Oaklawn, 12 in Ocala. I have an excellent assistant in Shana Bridges. She has our two-year-olds with her 12. Later we will combine the two divisions at Woodbine, “ noted Cross.
Woodbine pays out some $500,000 a day in purses.
“I have a three-year-old filly named Meadow Princess who runs here tomorrow in an allowance race. The purse is $35,000. That same race at Woodbine, the purse would be $71,000. The purses there for open allowance races are $80,000. You can see why I race a lot at Woodbine,” said the trainer.
Cross retired once and settled in Las Vegas. After four years, he returned to the race track.
“I couldn’t stay retired,” he admitted. “I should have known better than to ever try it.”