California-based conditioner Barry Abrams has turned in his license and is taking a leave of absence due to health problems. The 62-year-old has been battling inoperable throat cancer since 2005.
“I had to turn in my license,” Abrams said. “Otherwise I can't run horses that I own, even though I only own pieces of horses now. I turned over my four horses to Tim Yakteen.”
Abrams also owns a minority interest in the 26-year-old stallion Unusual Heat. He trained the bay, who stands at Harris Ranch for $20,000, back in 1996 and also conditioned the likes of GISWs Famous Digger (Quest for Fame {GB}), Golden Doc A (Unusual Heat) and Unusual Suspect (Unusual Heat).
Abrams lost half his voice box to surgery 11 years ago, which greatly affected his ability to speak, and he cannot swallow so he eats through a feeding tube.
“I can't communicate to my owners,” Abrams said, “but I'll be back. The horses will be here forever but it's not fair to my owners when I can't communicate. It's hard to train when you can't yell at the jockeys or your help.
The conditioner added, “I'll be at Santa Anita every morning until I'm dead. Right now, I'm just worried about waking up every morning.”
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