Veteran NoCal trainer Charles Jenda retires

Chuck Jenda, one of Northern California's most successful trainers over the past 26 years - highlighted by guiding Brown Bess to an Eclipse Award - has retired.

"We have a grandson now and hopefully we'll have more grandchildren and we can spend more time with family," said Jenda, who is in the process of moving with his wife from Castro Valley to Spokane, Wash., where their daughter, son-in-law and grandson live.

Jenda's final starter was Live Sundays, who finished third in an allowance race Dec. 16 at Golden Gate Fields. He then turned his stable over to longtime assistant Victor Trujillo, whose first starter as a trainer, Hot Chaco, finished second in Thursday's seventh race.

"It's been about a year's transition, so Victor has been able to get to know our clients and vice versa," Jenda said. "They knew I was on a short fuse, and it's worked out quite well."