Evening star., 1938-01-26
COAST BOOM SIGN
OF BIG TURF YEAR
Racing In Other Sections
to Benefit-Seabiscuit's
Opposition Keen.
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

~ @AAFAs NUAA4sS ohAAs
~ the midst Of q depression or
~ recession or financial inter-
mission or crickety interlude,
sport is the last detail to take it on
the chin.
This was proved through the recent
football season that opened up az the
market began to open down. football
season that still was packing bowls
and whatnot around the first Of the
year from California to Florida.
The same thing goes for Santa
Anita. There had been a general feel
ing that on account Of the market
slump. drop, dip or declension. the
attendance and play at this famous
race track, with its myriad surround
ing flowers, also would begin to slide
away.
Instead Of this. both attendance and
financial hazarding on the outcome OF
various races have broken all records.
The same will undoubtedly be true at
Hialeah and other racing centers.
Santa Anita opened up with $4,000
on hand Christmas Gay. On New Year
day, with the Rose Bowl drawing
around 10000, Santa Anita lured co.
600 more into the dowed
playground. With the meeting now
just about half over and the big race
still to come, the average daily attend
ance has been more than 25 900, and
the average daily wagering has passed
the 100000 mark.
Weather Great Help.
NO SMALL part Of this has been
due to long stretch Of sunny
days. Last Winter, Los Angeles fell
heir to more than 20 inches Of rain.
The track was hoofdeep in mud and
outside conditions were far from cheer
full. 1t has been different the last few
weeks. II the weather holds up. all
past attendance marks will be cracked
wide open and the totalizers will show
q s35,00o.o0o play. This is what you
might call fair amount of change.
Seabiscuit still is the stand-out in
the big race-the 100000 Handicap,
which comes off early in March. His
price won't be any too thick so already
they are looking ahead for some out
side choice that might have a chance
with c. s. Howard's sturdy entry,
which has had light winter season
20 far.
Just . year ago. Seabiscuit had the
big race practically won until Rich
ards sent Rosemont spinning by in the
last few yards, where 1t was nose and
nose. Horseflesh in this last big race
was worth s5oooo an inch.
Since that sc etback. Seabiscuit has
lost only two races as far as I can
figure 1t out. He was beaten by
Calumet Dick In the s25,000 Nara
gansett special. and by Eposa in the
Bowie Handicap at Pimlico. He also
had to share dead-heat honors with
Heelfy in the Laurel Stakes.
Calumet Dick, Pompoon Liked.
CALUMET DICK Is on hand again
~ to have another crack at the
9avorite and If there should be a mud
dy track he will get no little support.
Pompoon Is another that will be well
backed II the price on Seabiscuit Is
TOO thin.
On fast track. the Howard entry
will be hard to stop II he is any,
where near top form He has speed,
Fameness and durability-a perfect
combination for a big stake event.
California now has about all the
racing a State can carry. After
Santa Anita there will be new track
ready for summer engagement at
Inelewood. not 80 far from the city's
center. where another big play is
looked for. Later on. Bing Crosby
reopens his track at Del Mar, which
Eot away to flying start last sum-
mer.
I'VE had most successful meet
ing then" Bing says, but this will
be even better. The new track will
keep many horses here in California
that otherwise would be moving East
or heading for the Midwest"
Del Mar. crowding in upon the
Pacific, is one of the leading summer
resorts OF California where Bing has
his breeding farm and one of the show
places OF the country.
Film Folk Know Horses.
ONE of the leading features Of
~ Santa Anita. where you find
heavy Eastern invasion, is the pres
ence Of motion picture notables who
are among the keenest selectors-
Guy Kibbee, Bing Crosby, Babe Hardy.
Pat O'Brien, Frank Lloyd. Fred
Astaire, William lie Baron. who owns
Brown Jade; Raoul Walsh, Victor
McLaglen. and long list of others
known around the map.
Babe Hardy has the perfect sys-
tenn for collecting stable. He won
enough on one horse to buy two other
good ones.
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Newspaper Alliance. Inc.)