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]

Golden West Pace
Discontinued race
LocationArcadia & Inglewood, California
Inaugurated1946
Race typeHarness race for standardbred pacers
Race information
Distance1 3/16 miles
(1,911 metres or 9.5 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt, 1/2-mile oval (Santa Anita Park) & 1-mile oval (Hollywood Park)
TrackSanta Anita Park & Hollywood Park Racetrack
Qualification3 years & older
Purse$30,375 (1954)

Historical race events

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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

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Most wins by a driver
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

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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

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