I would to dedicate the final day of the 2006 Del Mar season to my father Angelo De Julio. My father, Angelo De Julio, passed away on Monday, September 4, 2006 at approximately 11 am. (appropriately that was his number #11 when he played soccer) My father had racing in his blood and he passed it on to me. As a young man in Italia, he drove his motorcycle all the way to Torino for a horse race. His horse didn't win the race, but it left an everlasting impression on him. Upon my insistance to dedicate my life to horseracing he gave me the following advice: "Il treno posteriore tira i cavalii!" In translation 'the hind end is the horse's locomotive'. He came to Del Mar in 1986 and played Santo Angelo to win. When healthy, he was good for at least one day or two at the meet. My father has been sick for almost ten years. He fought gamely to beat the effects of diabetes, high blood pressure and numerous strokes. He was game. He dug in and didn't let him get the best of him. He was diagnosed with dementia among many other maladies, but he never once did he refuse the call to the post. He fought memory blockages. He didn't recognize me nor my brothers at times, and often called his wife of 48 years, Tina De Julio, his mother, but in moments of lucidity he would laugh and smile and say 'I know who you are'. My father had a final moment of lucidity three weeks ago. He said to me "you are Bruno!" I reminded him of the two young ladies standing next to him, my daughters, Gioanna and Alessandra, and he said "they are getting big'' in his own italian dialect. He then asked me what I was up to now and I told him about my escapades in horseracing including writing a book. "Can I have one?" he asked. My mother scurried to the other room and brought him her copy. He, despite having a mostly paralyzed left arm, and not being able to see very much, started to thumb through the book. He strained to read the pages. My dad was like the thoroughbred we all love. He had heart and boy did he have heart! He sacrificed himself himself for us. He worked hard for a measly pay just to put food on the table for his family. He was a man's man! rarely did he anything for himself. He did all for his family. I could only wish to be the kind of man my father was. Angelo De Julio (1924-2006) passed away but he will always live on in our hearts and minds. He is always a reminder that it's not just about a race, a pick six, or a bet. My father was my ''locomotive''. He pushed to become the best I could be. I hope he is proud of me as I am of him. Angelo De Julio is survived by his wife, Tina, sons, Bruno, Maurizio and Marco, and six grandchildren, Gioanna, Alessandra, Amanda, Nicole, Kristina, and Cameron.