The Washington times., 1938-01-26

million-dollar play at Santa
Anita, where the fabulous movie
colony disports itself, it no nov
city.
Lest you allow mention of a
million-dollar handle in one af-
ternoon at a race track to stag
ger you. it should also be pointed
out that they are the same dol
lars pouring into and out of the
mutuel windows on eight races.
Mostly into. in the final &C
counting, but that's the way OF
the game.
"BREAKAGE" TO CHARITY
What actually comes out is
the State and track percentage
plus "breakage," which means
only the odd pennies or nickels,
and which at Santa Anita goes
to charity.
They don't race on Mondays
in California, either. An eX-
cellent custom both for busi-
ness and racing. One Of the
great weaknesses of mutuel
tracks is that their operators,
for the most part, have tried
to get all the money at once.
That's killed off many a track
and ruined racing in several
States. You know that saying
about a sucker being unable to
wait.
I know of no track in the
country where racing is better
conducted than at Santa Anita,
or where it is more fun to go
to the races.
They have one custom that
makes a great show for picture
fans. The gateman at the club
house entrance is equipped with
q microphone hooked up with
a loud speaker system, a n d
after the races he radios the
parking space for the cars OF
the movie celebrities.
LIMOUSINE ROLLS UP
Thus: Miss Joan Benefits
car" and up will roll limousine
and the glamorous Miss Ben.
nett and party will step in and
be whisked away.
Miss Myrna Logs car"
"Miss Kay Francis's car" {.
"Mr. Clark Gables car" and so
on until after you've been going
to the races there for a week,
you feel as though they are all
just home folks.
Last year the MesSrs. Warren
Brown, Bill Frawley, Jack Cot-
fee, Tommy Laird and the writer
grew tired of being ignored.
So we had the caller page
"Mr. Warren Browns, William
Fraley's, Jack Coffee's, and Tom
Laird's Yellow Cab No. 622."
After a rather embarrassing
wait. an asthmatic cab did come
snorting up in noisy state and
we left 'em laughing as we said
good-by.
DR.. Shrubs pet race and the
one that has advertised Cali
fornia and Santa Anita the
world over-the 100000 Santa
Anita Handicap, richest horse
race in the world-Win be run
on March 5 this year.
WIDENER ON SAME DATE
That is the same day the
Widener Challenge Cup will be
decided at Hialeah Park. The
Widener is worth just half as
much as the big Coast race. Yet
few would turn up their noses
at the $4,000 Buddy Hirsch's
Columbiana took down in win
ming it a year ago.
In the matter of class the
two big handicaps will be pretty
even this time. War Admiral,
king OF the 3.year-olds of last
season, is a certain starter in
the Widener. C. S. Howard's S
handicap champion Seabiscuit,
is scheduled to start in the
Santa Anita.
But whereas War Admiral is
breaking watches in his trials
in Florida, no word comes from
the West on SeabiScuit. The
Hard Tack horse must be at
the track with the rest Of the
Howard string. But if he is
training, the workout tabs don't
mention it. And those early
bird, eagle-eyed clockers miss
little.
POMPOON SHOWS MOST
The Santa Anita candidate
that is showing the most in
training is Jerry Louchheim's
picture colt, Pompoon. This was
the hard luck horse of 1887
and, while we generally cant
see Pompey's racing over a dis
tance of ! ground, Pompoon is
big enough and rangy enough
to be the exception.
He is now in the hands Of lit
tie John Lotus, who was one Of
the standout jockeys of the
country.
Seabiscuit and Pompoon are
not the only horses shooting fol
the hundred thousand Of the
Santa Anita. OF the Older
horses the Valdina Farms
sturdy Eagle Pass has beer
well treated in Webb Everett &
handicap. This big colt car
run all day and eve, :; come or
through th2 81 n.