David E. Hofmans, trainer of 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Alphabet Soup and 1997 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Touch Gold, died July 3 at the age of 81.
Hofmans' training statistics on Equibase date back to 1974. A Los Angeles native, he has been a fixture on the Southern California racing scene for decades. He won 1,085 races with earnings of $53,335,405.
Hofmans had two wins from 12 starts in 2024. His final victory as trainer came in a $25,000 claiming race May 11 at Santa Anita Park with Seventeen Black for longtime clients Amerman Racing.
For the Amermans, Hofmans trained 2001 Hollywood Futurity (G1) winner Siphonic, 2003 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Adoration, and multiple grade 1 winner and millionaire Balance, among many others.
Hofmans won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, before it was a graded race, with Desert Code for Tarabilla Farms. Richard Migliore rode Desert Code that day at Santa Anita.
"He was one of the best horsemen I've ever known and he became a dear friend," Migliore said Wednesday night. "I enjoyed our conversations because he had so much knowledge about so many things. He had many layers as a person that I feel privileged he allowed me in."
Other grade 1 winners trained by Hofmans included 1994 Hollywood Derby (G1T) winner River Flyer, 1995 Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Cat's Cradle, 1996 Meadowlands Cup (G1) winner and $2.5 million earner Dramatic Gold, 2005 Bing Crosby Handicap (G1) winner Greg's Gold, 2010 Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner J P's Gusto, and 2016 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) winner Melatonin.
Hofmans trained Touch Gold for Stronach Stables and Stonerside Stables. Following a troubled fourth-place finish in the 1997 Preakness Stakes (G1), Hofmans, rider Chris McCarron, and Touch Gold won the Belmont by three-quarters of a length, thwarting a Triple Crown bid from Bob Baffert trainee and Racing Hall of Fame member Silver Charm.
-Karen M. Johnson contributed to this story.
