Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-01
SANTA ANITA IS
RECORD COURSE
CLAIM is SUBSTANTIATED BY
STATISTICS
FIVE WORLD MARKS HAVE BEEN
SET THIS SEASON
Standard Turf Authority Credits 1t
with Standing Alone as Fastest
Track in Existence-Inter-
esting Figures Cited
BY JAY DAVIDSON

Racing Manual, fully substantiate the
claim made for Santa Anita park as
the world record course, and accept
ance of it's publishers of the five world
records made at the course place the
track by itself at the top of the list
as the only course in the world with
a percentage of 1000.
The fact that five world records have
been hung out at Santa Anita since
Thanksgiving day has startled the turf
world and forced recognition Of this
claim. But statistics of an additional
nature confirm this claim with empha-
sis. The table of track speed, in which
all courses in the United States and
Canada are compared, gives Santa
Anita this 1000 percentage, while Har-
lem, Belmont and Seattle, which for
merly ranked at the top. drop five
points below, leaving Santa Anita alone
at the top with it's perfect percentage.
Another evidence in proof that the
world record track is the fastest in
the world and entitled to the distinc-
tion without dispute is found in tho
history Of miles done in America In
1:~9 and better. This history begins
with 1894, when Libertine made a new
world record at Harlem by stepping
mile in 1884, reducing the former rec
ord of 1894. This table shows that of
the 145 miles in 1:39 and better Santa
Anita, the last standard track built
in the United States and Canada, has
the honor of owning 40. All other
tracks rank below it, as follows:
Sheepshead Bay. 81; Belmont Park, 35;
Saratoga, IS; Seattle, u; Brighton
Beach, II; Harlem, 10; Oakland, 10;
Washington park, s; Fort Erie, 6;
Aqueduct, 5; Buffalo, 4; Morris Park,
4. Worth, 8; Latonia, 8; Ascot, 2;
Churchill Downs. 2; Montreal, 2; Wind
sor, 2; City Park, Gravesend. Haw
thorne, Fair Grounds (New Orleans),
Salem, Tanforan and Toronto, 1 each.
The five world records established at
Santa Anita this season and held by
that course exclusively, as accepted
records, are as follows:
A. J. Small. three and a half fur
longs in 40, made January 80, with
109 pounds up.
Lady Irme, five and a half furlongs
in 1:04 As, made December %, with 81
pounds up.
Chapultepec, six furlongs in Ill.
made December %, with 112 pounds up.
Centre Shot, one mile in 1:37-1-5,
made December 90 with los pounds up.
Vox Populi, one and one-eighth
miles in 1:50, made December 10. with
110 pounds up.
Roseben, who always has been re-
garded as a speed freak, set the seven
AhA AOA1S 1CCOIQ cI d l1S uIS IIldI VIII US
hard to lower. 1:22, but Santa Anita
horses are gradually running off por-
tions Of time at this distance that
| gives encouragement to the hope that
| this hardest Of all world records to
| beat will yet be brought to Santa
Anita, where it is confidently expected
that all world records finally will be
| landed.
In addition to the glory of these five
/ world Vo00rHS Gonfa ri+
that horses holding four other world
records are stabbed there and are en-
| tertaining it's patrons with their
| speedy efforts regularly. These horses
| and their records are: Roseben, seven
furlongs in 1:22; Restigouche. seven
and a half furlongs in 1:S1 Is; Vox
! Populi, one mile and fifty yards in
1:40 As. and Rapid Water, one mile and
| one hundred yards in 1:44 Is.
This turf history made at Santa
Anita is accounted for in the fact that
| adverse legislation in New York and
| Louisiana directed against racing in
| f1uenced many Of the leading owners
of the country to ship their high class
horses to Santa Anita for the winter
season, and with the classiest horses
and the fastest track it was natural
that these world records should result.
1t also is notable fact that in the
1856 races run up to New Years day
40 ler cent of the winners were favor
ties, and second choices won "a per cent
of the total number. making a record
Of winning favorites and second
choices to the extent of 64 per cent,
which leaves slightly more than one
third of the total events for the Win
ming outsiders. Taking all records IN
this regard into consideration, it is a
remarkable achievement. Since the
first of the year, which has been the
worst period of the season for favor
ties, popular choices have been lucky
enough to get home a sufficient num-
Der of times to almost maintain the
average of 40 per cent, while in most
instances of the defeat of favorites,
except in the last ten days, second
choices have pulled down first money.