Golden West Pace Explained

Class:Discontinued
Horse Race:Golden West Pace
Location:Arcadia & Inglewood, California
Inaugurated:1946
Race Type:Harness race for standardbred pacers
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

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

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

Winners of the Golden West Pace

Year
Winner
Age
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Track
1954Red Sails6Gene L. Sears Bob Walker Herbert T. King1 3/16 m.2:22 3/5$30,375Hol
19536Benny SchueBenny SchueHayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene J. Hayes)1 3/16 m.2:22 1/5$34,000Hol
1952Dudley Hanover 5Benny SchueBenny SchueHayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene J. Hayes)1 1/4 m.2:30 3/5$31,000Sa
1951Irish Hal4Jimmy FitzpatrickHarry C. FitzpatrickKenneth D. Owen1 1/4 m.2:34 0/0$33,750Hol
1950Jerry The First6Edward G. CobbEdward G. CobbEdward G. Cobb, et al.1 1/4 m.2:32 1/5$50,000Sa
1949Jerry The First5Edward G. CobbEdward G. CobbEdward G. Cobb, et al.1 1/4 m.2:31 0/0$50,000Hol
1948Indian Land7Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien Castleton Farms1 1/4 m.2:33 0/0$50,000Sa
19476Ray ReevesRalph L. CraigCraig Stable (Ralph L. Craig)1 1/4 m.2:32 0/0$50,000Hol
1946Blue Again6William D. Fraser R. Warren Leatherdale 1 1/4 m.2:32 1/5$50,000Sa

Notes and References

  1. https://www.harnessmuseum.com/content/jimmy-cruise-sr Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
  2. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SBS19541114.1.46 San Bernardino Sun November 14, 1954 article titled "Red Sails Grabs Hollywood Park Harness Feature"
  3. http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/5-21-16/sc-rewind-meet-century.html Standardbred Canada SC Rewind May 21, 2016 article titled "Meet of the Century"
  4. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/21540130/ Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram November 6, 1955