"When Town Policy was laid to rest on the Los Alamitos Racetrack infield in January 1984, and he’s the only horse to be so honored, trainer Blane Schvaneveldt cried. So did jockey Kenny Hart. The fact that two men, two cowboys, broke down over a horse tells you just how special this gelding was.

 "Town Policy has a story that only Hollywood could write, really.  At the peak of his career, and only five days after winning the 1977 Fresno Futurity, “Town” disappeared from his stall at Schvaneveldt’s barn in Stanton, California. Five months later and 150 pounds lighter, the little bay gelding was found in a Mexico cornfield. Barely 10 weeks after that Town won the Los Alamitos Derby, the most competitive Quarter Horse race for three year olds. Town “dominated” is more like it, because the gelding beat the field by two and one half lengths.

 "Bred and owned his entire life by AQHA Hall Of Famer Ivan Ashment, an Idaho potato mogul, Town was named World Champion Three Year Old Gelding in 1978, and Champion Aged Gelding in 1980. He won 22 races, including 8 stakes races from 64 starts, and earned in excess of $862,000.00. He is the only horse to sweep Los Al’s three major divisional races—the Kindergarten Futurity, Los Alamitos Derby and Vessel's Maturity—in consecutive years.

 "Town Policy was sired by Reb’s Policy, one of the fastest grass horses California ever saw. His dam was Camptown Girl, a double-bred descendent of Three Bars, and winner of two small futurities as a two year old.

 "On January 3, 1984, with Hart aboard, Town broke his shoulder running in an allowance race.  He was buried the next day. Schvaneveldt always said Town Policy was more human than horse. Hart is unashamed to say he loved the gelding.  Each year on opening weekend, Los Alamitos remembers him with the Town Policy Handicap."

 

Circle D Reb's Policy mare, Policy Awarded, with Nick Dinnell.

---