Ed Golden, a longstanding member of National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, was honored upon his retirement with a race named after him today at Santa Anita.

For 30 years Golden authored the track's Stable Notes distributed nationally to media, insiders and fans virtually daily. His last installment came in December, and today he was recognized in a winner's circle ceremony after the second race.

According to Santa Anita director of publicity Mike Willman, Golden is a Philadelphia native and staunch fan of big league sports in the City of Brotherly Love, but for three decades his professional efforts centered on sources for California racing, jockeys, agents, trainers, owners, media members, officials and celebrities.

Tributes came to Ed even before his retirement, such as....

“Hey Ed, Happy New Year. Still enjoy reading your Notes, lots of pressure to keep them consistently informative and fresh, but you do it…”—Vince Bruun, Director of Media Relations, Emerald Downs, Feb. 12, 2014

“Wow. These Notes are supposed to be dry, boring stuff. Not Ed Golden’s. Sensational reporting and writing. I hope the rest of the Santa Anita media recognizes and appreciates what we have. Sorry if I am starting to sound like some groupie, but I know writing and reporting and I know what I’d be thinking if I still was the guy hiring in Times Sports.”—Bill Dwyre, longtime LA Times Sports Editor and columnist, June 8, 2015

Willman shared this anecdote from an interview Golden did with an oft-prickly Hall of Fame trainer.

“If you caught Bobby Frankel at a propitious moment and put your recording device on start, you could reap a profound interview not only on racing, but sports, politics, the state of the world in general and even unmentionables,” recalled Golden. “But the late, great trainer’s reputation as having an irascible vein was not without merit.

"Gathering news at his Santa Anita barn one morning, I asked about a Kentucky Derby prospect he had recently received. Delighted I got what I sought with barely a frown, I had a foot out the tack room door when I turned and asked him one more question—the name of the owner.

“Patience begone, Frankel exploded and barked out ‘Gann!!’ (Edmund Gann).”

Fittingly enough, in the winner's circle just before Golden was presented a crystal vase was a horse named Tizz a Good Thing.