Donald J. Valpredo, a longtime leader in the California racing and breeding industry, died Oct. 31 while overseas. He was 85.
A major breeder and owner of such horses as 1994 California-bred Horse of the Year Soviet Problem , Valpredo made his most valuable contribution through his decades of service to the California Thoroughbred industry. He was a former president and former chair of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and was on that board at the time of his death. He was a commissioner on the California Horse Racing Board from 1990-98, having been appointed by California Gov. Pete Wilson. Valpredo also served on the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California from 2000-11.
First elected to the CTBA board in 1972, Valpredo served as the organization’s president from 1986-90. During that time, he was instrumental in the creation of the popular California Cup series, being a co-founder and early co-chair. For his contributions, the California Cup Sprint was renamed the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint, of which Valpredo was very proud.
“It’s such an honor to have a race named after you where you can present the trophy,” he said several years ago.
The CTBA also elected Valpredo to its Hall of Fame in 2017.
“It’s a very great honor to be respected this way,” Valpredo said upon his Hall of Fame election. “I’ve enjoyed every day that I’ve been involved in every level of the industry, from the backside to administration.”
The Valpredo stable of runners dates back to 1941, when Don’s grandfather, father, and uncle bought their first Thoroughbreds. They established their first breeding operation in Kern County near Bakersfield, as well as Valpredo Farms, a large commercial operation that today produces a wide variety of vegetables.
Through the family’s produce business, Don became president of Ridge Ginning and founding partner of Kern Ridge Growers and Val-Mar Farms. He and his son, Michael, founded Country Sweet Produce, whose brands include the Bako Sweet sweet potatoes.
Don’s father, John, raised and trained horses, and the father-and-son team had much success. They raced Lucie Manet and Star Ball, who won divisions of the 1978 Gamely Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park. Lucie Manet’s other stakes wins included the 1977 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1), while Star Ball’s included the inaugural running of the Yellow Ribbon Stakes in 1977 at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park. The Yellow Ribbon today is the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T).
Don went into the family farming business and bought his first broodmare, Poppaletta, in 1964. Valpredo later joined his good friend John Harris in buying, breeding, and racing horses for decades.
The first horse Valpredo and Harris purchased together was the mare In Prime Time. She became the second dam of their homebred Soviet Problem, voted Cal-bred Horse of the Year in 1994. A multiple stakes winner, Soviet Problem finished second, by just a head, to Cherokee Run in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
“She was something very special,” Valpredo said. “We had a lot of good times thanks to her.”
Soviet Problem (right) finishes second to champion sprinter Cherokee Run in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs
Soviet Problem in turn became the second dam of 2010 Cal-bred champion older mare Unzip Me , bred by Valpredo and Harris and raced by them with additional partners. Valpredo, Harris, and John Nicoletti bred graded stakes winner Compari .
Valpredo worked hard for all industry participants during his years of service. While on the CHRB, one of the things he pushed for was standardized saddlecloth colors to help the bettors, especially those participating via simulcast or online.
Following his time on the CHRB and TOC, Valpredo returned to the CTBA board. He served as CTBA chair from 2014 through early 2017, and afterward remained as a board member.
“As breeders, we have the biggest investment in this business—in land, livestock,” he said in 1983. “We need to flex our muscles. This state needs to know the vital part our industry plays in the economics of California. We need to tell our story and make sure it’s heard all the way to Sacramento. We must let it be known just how important we are to the state.”
In addition to his son Michael, Valpredo is survived by family that includes his wife, Sally; children Natalia Fritz and Alexis Mosely; and seven grandchildren.
