American Pacing Classic

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]

American Pacing Classic
Discontinued race
LocationInglewood, California
Inaugurated1955
Race typeHarness race for standardbred pacers
Race information
Distance1 1/8 miles
(1,810 metres or 9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt, 1/2-mile oval
TrackHollywood Park Racetrack
Qualification3 years & older
Purse$288,000 (1981)

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.

Historical race events

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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]

Records

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

Winners of the American Pacing Classic

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Year
Winner
Age
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
1981 Genghis Khan 4 Sheldon Goudreau Eddie Cobb Eddie Cobb, Nevacal Stable, Jet Star Farms 1 1/8 m 2:09 0/0 $288,000
1980 Niatross 3 Clint Galbraith Clint Galbraith Niatross Syndicate 1 1/8 m 2:07 3/5 $98,500
1979 Flight Director 4 Joe O'Brien Joe O'Brien Thurman S. Downing 1 1/8 m $150,000
1978 Rambling Willie 8 Robert G. Farrington Robert G. Farrington Farrington Stable Inc. 1 1/8 m $110,750
1977 Le Baron Rouge 5 Bernard Gervais Bernard Gervais Paul-Henri Lavoie 1 1/8 m 2:10 3/5 $110,250
1976 Oil Burner 3 Ben Webster Charlie Wingate William Brooks & Ben Webster 1 1/8 m 2:10 0/0 $113,750
1975 Young Quinn 6 Joe O'Brien Charlie Hunter Bud & Des Baynes 1 1/8 m 2:12 4/5 $100,000
1974 Keystone Smartie 4 Peter Haughton Billy Haughton D.D.M Stable 1 1/8 m 2:11 1/5 $113,350
1973 Invincible Shadow 4 Jim Miller Jim Miller John F. Graham 1 1/8 m 2:11 3/5 $114,100
1972 Albatross 4 Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Amicable Stable 1 1/8 m 2:11 3/5 $100,000
1971 Albatross 3 Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Amicable Stable 1 1/8 m 2:13 4/5 $100,000
1970 Laverne Hanover 4 George Sholty Billy Haughton Thomas W. Murphy, Jr. 1 1/8 m 2:14 4/5 $100,000
1969 Overcall 6 Del Insko Del Insko Helen R. Buck 1 1/8 m 2:11 1/5 $100,000
1968 Overcall 5 Del Insko Del Insko Helen R. Buck 1 1/8 m 2:15 3/5 $75,000
1967 Easy Prom 5 Robert G. Farrington Robert G. Farrington Farrington Stables & Arnold Cattle Co. 1 1/8 m 2:13 3/5 $60,000
1966 True Duane 3 Norman "Chris" Boring Leon Boring Richard Oldfield 1 1/8 m 2:09 1/5 $50,000
1965 Cardigan Bay 9 Edward T. Wheeler Stanley Dancer Irving W. Berkemeyer, Lawrence Slobody, et al. 1 1/8 m 2:11 3/5 $50,000
1964 Meadow Skipper 4 Earle Avery Earle Avery Norman S. Woolworth 1 1/8 m 2:11 3/5 $50,000
1963 Gamecock 4 Joe O'Brien John F. Simpson, Sr. Lawrence B. Sheppard 1 1/8 m 2:13 3/5 $50,000
1962 Irvin Paul 5 Charles King Charles King Charles King & Abraham Wilsker 1 1/8 m 2:11 1/5 $50,000
1961 Adios Butler 5 Paige H. West Paige H. West Paige H. West & Angelo Pellillo 1 1/8 m 2:11 1/5 $80,000
1960 Adios Butler 4 Clint Hodgins Paige H. West Paige H. West & Angelo Pellillo 1 m 1:55 3/5 $75,000
1959 Sunbelle 4 Joe O'Brien Joe O'Brien S. A. Camp Farms, Inc. 1 m 1:57 2/5 $75,000
1958 Gold Worthy 5 Curly Smart Curly Smart Dr. A. B. Thompson 1 m 1:57 1/5 $75,000
1957 Widower Creed 4 Jimmy Wingfield Jimmy Wingfield Tom Loss 1 m 1:58 3/5 $75,000
1956 Dotties Pick 4 Delvin Miller Delvin Miller J. Elgin & Charles E. Armstrong 1 m 1:57 4/5 $75,000
1955 Times Square 5 McKinley Kirk McKinley Kirk Eddie Kirk 1 m 1:59 0/0 $75,000
1955 Hillsota 5 Earle Avery Earle Avery Clearview Stables 1 m 1:59 0/0 $75,000

References

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