Evening star., 1949-12-25
Breeders Stakes Top
Race as Santa Anita
OPENS Tomorrow
BY the Assoeioted Press

ATtShD1E, Sd111. OCSs 61'
Santa Anita's multi-million dol
lar merry-go-round begins a So
day whirl Monday and once again
the customers will be grabbing
for the brass ring aboard mans
most unpredietable friend, the
race horse.
The 1949-50 season gets away
with the $50, California Breed
ers Stakes. a fixture for Califor-
-foaled 2-year-olds at a mile
and one-SiXteenth.
Fifty thousand holiday fans are
expected to witness this. the first
of nine $4,000 stakes, three
100000 prizes and an aggregate
OF around $2,500,O00 handed out
to the horsemen before the meet
ing comes to a close March 4.
The Los Angeles Turf Club,
operators of Santa Anita. won't
be surprised if the downward
trend in racing receipts continues.
But barring the worst. some
$50, 100000 will be pushed into
the hopped-up pari-mutuel ma
chimes and more than 100000
admissions will be recorded during
the run.
Tracks 18th Meeting.
This is the 18th meeting of
the Vests richest race track and
the management has gone far to
buck a possible decline in inter-
est.
Once again it has added some
innovations. such as developing a
speedier mechanism for the pay
of at the window, better view
of the raised racing strip and
quicker starts from the gate by
the horses.
Perhaps the largest single bid
for attention, however, was bring
ing a star-studded half of the
famed Calumet Stable to the
coast-a delegation headed by the
great Citation.
The other half of the Warren
Wright string went to Florida, but
California addicts can't wait to
see Citation in a comeback to-
the turf after a years layof. The
sports second all-time money
winner-$65. $50 in winning q out
of 20 starts-came here to point
at the richer rewards. including
the classic 100000 Santa Anita
Handicap. February 25.
There are other noble steeds on
deck. Two are Citations stable
mates Ponder and Fervent. Also
around are Ben Whitaker's My
Request, I. j. Collins winner of
the last hundred-grander, Vul-
cans Forge; Dixianna's Shy Guy
and Fred w. Hooper's Olympia.
New Gadgets to Help Payoff.
The track hasn't figured any
way to insure more frequent trips
to the 'payoff windows, but the
new gadgets on the machines will.
it believes, speed up the payoff
from two to five minutes.
The racing strip has been COM
pletely redone and raised ID
inches on the inner rail. affording
a better view, and while nothing
but dry weather is contemplated
it says here-three different
drainage systems have been in
stalled.
Barn space has been expanded,
accommodating 1000 horses, and
the tracks magnificent display OF
flowers in the infield once again
has been given the masters touch.
Many disgruntled fan, after los
ing his shirt, has admitted the
infeld is pretty, regardless.
The 18th running Of the Cali
fornia Breeders Stakes may be a
record breaking purse. II as many
as IA start, as seems probable,
the added money will bring the
reward up to around $85, 900.
highest in the States history for
q race Of this condition.
Eligibles include c. L. Hirsch's
Blue Reading, William Helers'
Selected, Bill Goetz's Your Host,
E. o. Stice's Stat Party, zack Ad-
dington's Competing Beau, c. S.
ryo1po rd,e n,fihi and others