Golden West Pace
| Discontinued race | |
| Location | Arcadia & Inglewood, California |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1946 |
| Race type | Harness race for standardbred pacers |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 3/16 miles (1,911 metres or 9.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt, 1/2-mile oval (Santa Anita Park) & 1-mile oval (Hollywood Park) |
| Track | Santa Anita Park & Hollywood Park Racetrack |
| Qualification | 3 years & older |
| Purse | $30,375 (1954) |
The Golden West Pace is a defunct three-race series in harness racing for Standardbred pacers aged three and older. It was first run in 1946 with a purse of $50,000 which at the time was the richest offered in the sport.[1] The race final was hosted on an alternating basis, until the final running in 1954,[2] by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, and Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. During the same period, these tracks also offered the corresponding Golden West Trot.[3]
Historical race events[edit]
Canceled after the 1954 running, the Golden West Pace would prove to be the precursor to the American Pacing Classic run exclusively at Hollywood Park from 1955 through 1981.[4]
Records[edit]
- Most wins by a driver
- 2 – Edward G. Cobb (1949, 1950) & Benny Schue (1952, 1953)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 2 – Edward G. Cobb (1949, 1950) & Benny Schue (1952, 1953)
- Stakes record
- 2:30 3/5 – Dudley Hanover (1952) at 1 1/4 miles
- 2:22 1/5 – Dudley Hanover (1953) at 1 3/16 miles
Winners of the Golden West Pace[edit]
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Driver |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance |
Time |
Purse |
Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Red Sails | 6 | Gene L. Sears | Bob Walker | Herbert T. King | 1 3/16 m. | 2:22 3/5 | $30,375 | Hol |
| 1953 | Dudley Hanover | 6 | Benny Schue | Benny Schue | Hayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene J. Hayes) | 1 3/16 m. | 2:22 1/5 | $34,000 | Hol |
| 1952 | Dudley Hanover | 5 | Benny Schue | Benny Schue | Hayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene J. Hayes) | 1 1/4 m. | 2:30 3/5 | $31,000 | Sa |
| 1951 | Irish Hal | 4 | Jimmy Fitzpatrick | Harry C. Fitzpatrick | Kenneth D. Owen | 1 1/4 m. | 2:34 0/0 | $33,750 | Hol |
| 1950 | Jerry The First | 6 | Edward G. Cobb | Edward G. Cobb | Edward G. Cobb, et al. | 1 1/4 m. | 2:32 1/5 | $50,000 | Sa |
| 1949 | Jerry The First | 5 | Edward G. Cobb | Edward G. Cobb | Edward G. Cobb, et al. | 1 1/4 m. | 2:31 0/0 | $50,000 | Hol |
| 1948 | Indian Land | 7 | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | Castleton Farms | 1 1/4 m. | 2:33 0/0 | $50,000 | Sa |
| 1947 | April Star | 6 | Ray Reeves | Ralph L. Craig | Craig Stable (Ralph L. Craig) | 1 1/4 m. | 2:32 0/0 | $50,000 | Hol |
| 1946 | Blue Again | 6 | Jimmy Cruise, Sr. | William D. Fraser | R. Warren Leatherdale | 1 1/4 m. | 2:32 1/5 | $50,000 | Sa |
References[edit]
- ^ Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame Retrieved August 28, 2016
- ^ San Bernardino Sun November 14, 1954 article titled "Red Sails Grabs Hollywood Park Harness Feature" Retrieved September 22, 2016
- ^ Standardbred Canada SC Rewind May 21, 2016 article titled "Meet of the Century" Retrieved August 28, 2016
- ^ Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram November 6, 1955 Retrieved September 19, 2016