American Pacing Classic

Last updated
American Pacing Classic
Discontinued race
Location Inglewood, California
Inaugurated 1955
Race type Harness race for standardbred pacers
Race information
Distance 1 1/8 miles
(1,810 metres or 9 furlongs)
Surface Dirt, 1/2-mile oval
Track Hollywood Park Racetrack
Qualification 3 years & older
Purse $288,000 (1981)

The American Pacing Classic is a defunct three-race series in harness racing for Standardbred pacers aged three and older. It was run annually between 1955 and 1981 at three different racetracks with the final hosted by Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. [1] During the same period, these tracks also offered the corresponding American Trotting Classic. [2]

Harness racing form of horse racing

Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait. They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, occupied by a driver, although in Europe, jockeys riding directly on saddled trotters is also conducted.

Standardbred American breed of horse

The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace its bloodlines to 18th-century England. They are solid, well-built horses with good dispositions. In addition to harness racing, the Standardbred is used for a variety of equestrian activities — including horse shows and pleasure riding — particularly in the midwestern and eastern United States, and southern Ontario.

Hollywood Park Racetrack former thoroughbred racetrack in Inglewood, California

Hollywood Park, later sold and referred to as Betfair Hollywood Park, was a thoroughbred race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to the Forum indoor arena. In 1994 Hollywood Park Casino, with a poker card room, was added to the racetrack complex. Horse racing and training were shut down in December 2013 though the casino operations continued while a new state of the art casino building opened in October 2016.

Contents

The American Pacing Classic replaced the Golden West Pace which had been run from 1946 through 1954 under the auspices of the Western Harness Racing Association with races at both Santa Anita Park and Hollywood Park.

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. The race final was hosted on an alternating basis, until the final running in 1954, 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.

Santa Anita Park thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States

Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races including both the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap as well as hosting the Breeders' Cup in 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008, 2009, and from 2012 to 2014, plus 2016. In 2011, Santa Anita's ownership was moved to The Stronach Group.

Historical race events

In the inaugural American Pacing Classic series, Hillsota, Diamond Hal and Times Square each won a heat of the Pacing Classic in the identical time of 1:59 flat. As a result, Hillsota and Times Square were awarded a tie for the series based on their final standing in a summary of the three heats. [3]

Los Alamitos Race Course created a short-lived one mile race they called the American Pacing Classic which was run from 1990 to 1992. [4]

Los Alamitos Race Course

Los Alamitos Race Course is a horse racing track in Cypress, California. The track hosts both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing. The track has the distinction of holding four quarter horse stakes races with purses over $1 million, more than any other track in the United States. Although the track is geographically located in the city of Cypress, it has a Los Alamitos postal address. Los Alamitos lies just across Katella Avenue to the south.

Records

Most wins by a driver
Most wins by a trainer
Stakes record

Niatross (1977–1999) was an American champion standardbred race horse that many believe was the greatest harness horse of all time.

The horse Adios Butler, also known as "The Butler" (1956–1983), was a North American harness racing champion.

Winners of the American Pacing Classic

Year
Winner
Age
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
1981 Genghis Khan 4 Sheldon Goudreau Eddie CobbEddie Cobb, Nevacal Stable, Jet Star Farms1 1/8 m2:09 0/0$288,000
1980 Niatross 3 Clint Galbraith Clint GalbraithNiatross Syndicate1 1/8 m2:07 3/5$98,500
1979Flight Director4 Joe O'Brien Joe O'BrienThurman S. Downing1 1/8 m$150,000
1978 Rambling Willie 8 Robert G. Farrington Robert G. FarringtonFarrington Stable Inc.1 1/8 m$110,750
1977Le Baron Rouge5Bernard GervaisBernard GervaisPaul-Henri Lavoie1 1/8 m2:10 3/5$110,250
1976Oil Burner3Ben WebsterCharlie WingateWilliam Brooks & Ben Webster1 1/8 m2:10 0/0$113,750
1975 Young Quinn 6Joe O'BrienCharlie HunterBud & Des Baynes1 1/8 m2:12 4/5$100,000
1974Keystone Smartie4 Peter Haughton Billy Haughton D.D.M Stable1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$113,350
1973 Invincible Shadow 4Jim MillerJim MillerJohn F. Graham1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$114,100
1972 Albatross 4 Stanley Dancer Stanley DancerAmicable Stable1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$100,000
1971Albatross3Stanley DancerStanley DancerAmicable Stable1 1/8 m2:13 4/5$100,000
1970 Laverne Hanover 4 George Sholty Billy HaughtonThomas W. Murphy, Jr.1 1/8 m2:14 4/5$100,000
1969 Overcall 6 Del Insko Del Insko Helen R. Buck 1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$100,000
1968Overcall5Del InskoDel InskoHelen R. Buck1 1/8 m2:15 3/5$75,000
1967Easy Prom5Robert G. FarringtonRobert G. FarringtonFarrington Stables & Arnold Cattle Co.1 1/8 m2:13 3/5$60,000
1966 True Duane 3Norman "Chris" BoringLeon BoringRichard Oldfield1 1/8 m2:09 1/5$50,000
1965 Cardigan Bay 9Edward T. WheelerStanley DancerIrving W. Berkemeyer, Lawrence Slobody, et al.1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$50,000
1964 Meadow Skipper 4 Earle Avery Earle Avery Norman S. Woolworth 1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$50,000
1963Gamecock4Joe O'Brien John F. Simpson, Sr. Lawrence B. Sheppard 1 1/8 m2:13 3/5$50,000
1962Irvin Paul5Charles KingCharles KingCharles King & Abraham Wilsker1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$50,000
1961 Adios Butler 5 Paige H. West Paige H. WestPaige H. West & Angelo Pellillo1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$80,000
1960Adios Butler4 Clint Hodgins Paige H. WestPaige H. West & Angelo Pellillo1 m1:55 3/5$75,000
1959Sunbelle4Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien S. A. Camp Farms, Inc. 1 m1:57 2/5$75,000
1958Gold Worthy5 Curly Smart Curly SmartDr. A. B. Thompson1 m1:57 1/5$75,000
1957Widower Creed4Jimmy WingfieldJimmy WingfieldTom Loss1 m1:58 3/5$75,000
1956 Dotties Pick 4 Delvin Miller Delvin Miller J. Elgin & Charles E. Armstrong 1 m1:57 4/5$75,000
1955Times Square5 McKinley Kirk McKinley KirkEddie Kirk1 m1:59 0/0$75,000
1955 Hillsota 5Earle AveryEarle Avery Clearview Stables 1 m1:59 0/0$75,000

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Joseph Cyril "Joe" O'Brien was a Harness racing driver, trainer and owner who won the U.S. Trotting Triple Crown in 1955 and would be inducted into both the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, as well as Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Noted for his quiet dignity and diplomacy, he is considered one of the greatest harness horsemen in history.

References

  1. ↑ Los Angeles Times - June 14, 1990 Retrieved September 19, 2016
  2. ↑ Sports Illustrated December 5, 1955 article titled "A Roundup of the Week's News", subtitle "Harness Racing" Retrieved September 19, 2016
  3. ↑ New York Times November 26, 1955 article titled "Times Square First In Final Leg Of Pace" Retrieved September 17, 2016
  4. ↑ Los Angeles Times June 14, 1990 article titled "Los Alamitos Takes a Page From Past With the American Pacing Classic" Retrieved September 19, 2016
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