Column: Burt Bacharach leans on music to soothe ‘terrible tragedy’ at San Luis Rey

There’s a Burt Bacharach story that remains legendary around the barns and backstretches of Southern California horse racing.

One of the greatest composers of all time, winner of six Grammys and three Oscars, the molder and shaper of 52 Top 40 hits in the 1960s and ’70s alone, fell in love with the sport almost as much as his hit-making piano.

The master collaborator teamed with iconic, no-fuss trainer Charlie Whittingham. One day, Bacharach tried to offer advice about “worming” an under-performing horse. Whittingham barked, “You haven’t been turning out too many hits lately, either. Maybe we ought to worm your piano while we’re at it.”

Bacharach laughed Thursday while thinking about his late friend — and the sport that brought them together.

Memories like those fueled Bacharach, a Del Mar regular, to brainstorm a Jan. 17 concert at Belly Up in neighboring Solana Beach to benefit those impacted by this month’s deadly fire at San Luis Rey Downs. The blaze claimed 46 horses and severely burned two trainers.

“The terrible tragedy that it was, with people getting injured and horses dying, it was really epic,” Bacharach said. “We had to do something.”

Bacharach, known for classics such as “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head,” “What’s New, Pussycat?” and “Arthur’s Theme,” would provide enough of a draw for the show. A suggestion surfaced to ramp up interest even more by recruiting fellow musician Elvis Costello.

The duo landed a Grammy for “I Still Have That Other Girl” on their 1998 album “Painted from Memory.”

“Having Elvis come through, that’s a big one,” said Bacharach, 89. “He’s coming from Canada to do it. I told him to go online and take a look at what happened (at San Luis Rey Downs). He didn’t hesitate. ‘I’m there,’ he said.”

Bacharach also dialed up friend and Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston to serve as the auctioneer for donated items. Actress and Del Mar veteran Bo Derek jumped in as emcee.

“When you’ve involved in horse racing as long as I have, more than 50 years, it’s just devastating,” Bacharach said. “My wife Jane was making a couple of runs from our house in the Palisades to our place in Del Mar, taking clothes and cooking utensils and anything you can think of that might be needed.

“We started talking it over and thought, what if we could do a concert?”

The man who mined musical magic with so many stars, from Perry Como and Neil Diamond to Dionne Warwick, leaned on his real family to come up with the most unique auction item.

The top bidder will be able to come on stage and sing a hit with Bacharach.

“I think it’s pretty out there to come up on stage and sing with the band without a rehearsal,” he said. “That takes some nerves to do it.”

What would Bacharach’s performance advice be?

“I would make it one of the easier ones, like ‘Raindrops,’ you know?” he said.

In the end, Bacharach is doing what he can with what he knows.

The sport saddled his win-loss fortunes onto Grade I-conquering horses Afternoon Deelites and Heartlight No. One, a witty tribute to Diamond. Soul of the Matter, Bacharach’s standout, ran in the Dubai World Cup, a pair of Breeders’ Cups and finished fifth at the 1994 Kentucky Derby.

Bacharach promised another horse racing-related memory.

“We’ll make it a great night,” he said.

The thought of it all might have even squeezed a smile out of Whittingham.

Maybe.

“We had a horse one time at Hollywood Park,” Bacharach said. “I asked Charlie, ‘What kind of chance to do we have?’ He said, ‘Boy, if you’re in the race, you have a chance.’

“The horse won. I found out Charlie told his brother and everyone around him to bet on the horse. Everyone he knew was on the horse, except me.”

That’s a score of an entirely different kind.

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The Recovery

The Union-Tribune will provide periodic updates about the impacts of the fire on San Luis Rey Downs. To suggest possible angles or to share information, contact sports columnist Bryce Miller at … bryce.miller@sduniontribune.com.

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What’s Needed This Week

Buy tickets to the Belly Up show featuring Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello. Prices range from $250 to $1,000.

Click on the “Just Announced” section at https://bellyup.com/.

Those Impacted

Here are accounts dedicated to helping those affected by the Dec. 7 blaze.

For track workers: https://www.gofundme.com/thoroughbredcare

For injured trainer Martine Bellocq: https://www.gofundme.com/rallyformartinebellocq

For injured out-rider Les Baker: https://www.gofundme.com/help-cowboy-get-back-on-his-feet

To direct funds to injured trainer Joe Herrick: https://cthfcares.org/

bryce.miller@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @Bryce_A_Miller