Evening star., 1959-12-25
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
A Birthday for Santa Anita

JUST IN CASE one thinks the tab comes little high
today and that the dollar tight give heed Christmas
Day of 1884 1t fell Tuesday and Santa Anita opened
its fabulous gates for the first time 1t the revival
of racing in Southern California after 25-year lapse
Not opening day, but couple of years later this
traveller Santa Anita for the first time. Oh wunderbar!
There was Snow-covered mountain for back-drop. 1t
bamy and the clubhouse full of movie personaI-
ties the young starlets ehang aging heroes with
their toupees never better trimmed.
The money that winter of ST. but not so
scarce December 25, 1884 Yet the promoters were
making no complaints They hailed the opening day
tendance-30 377-as sensational" They even liked the
total handle eight raceS-$258916 Today a handle
such as that suggests only that the poorhouse
the next hill.
1T FELL TO the late westrope to win the first
race ever staged at Santa Anita WeSope 7furlong
affair aboard brown mare named La Palmas The next
day Sonny Workman rode c. v. Whtney'S Trumpery to
victory in the first running of the Handicap
Our own Sonny coud he have met the 112 pound weight
assignments? came home in front, and the net to the
winner was whoppng $4,000.
There were powerful riders and horses in those
days Riding high the young Workman and Ted
Atkinson and A. Robertson and George PThe Iceman)
Woof and Johnny Longden (whos still at IT'D and there
this bignosed kid Eddie Arcaro Just making
his presence felt.
The time we vSted-and Santa Anita has improved
great deal sincewaS in connection with Washingtons
first and greatest pro football team the awinning Red
skins of ST. They touring the country with the
Chicago Bears, whom they'd defeated in the title game
and for pittance.
YET 1T WAS BIG stuff in those times-the 1854 or so
the Redskins each received from their triumph on the
frozen field in Chcago-and the memory is that George
Marshas troops of that spenders at Santa
Anita.
Erny Pnckert proud of his Southern California
that he beabored the countrys virtues Charlie Malone
the end treated money if it active Cliff
Battles who moodily confessed during long train ride
he was -
Chm mused Il paid only $27OO the whole season.
HIS ooSS' Marshall is remembered having challenged
the statement but George denied that Battles con-
slderlng his values, underpaid
But they wagered at Santa Anita nearly all of the
REDSKINS and gasped at the magnicence of it, and it
was rewarding to meet Joe Hernandez among others
hernandez was and remains as glib and durable
caer as there is in the country In fact it's said that
ne hasn't missed day in those 25 years.
SANTA ANITA, even in those first years. was breath
taxing. 1t is more Now wry amusement is
expressed on the atime low handle for eight races of
S0ll62 on January 9, 1885 That would be an average
purse, II one will permit slight exaggeraon for one
stakes race TODAY
yet at the risk of repeating this story so that it be-
comes real chestnut relevant to call I'D the time
less remark of Grantland Rice concerns Santa Anita
or many years Granny spent his early winters Southern
california, writing of the Rose Bowl and of Santa Anita
ana the pro golfers Later of course would migrate
10 FLORIDA and dwell upon the big league ball clubs
granny was plain and simple There was
ledhy-rooI track IN Florida, located Tampa Clear
wafer ana ST. Petersburg 1t waS-iSnt noW-uglv and
1orlorn Instead of snow-capped mountain there were
SCRUB pines 1t was not unusual for elderly thing 90
OF even IA years old to win feature race But GRANNY
loved it. '
So there came this big day at Santa Anita-a New
year Day If memory unctious radio announcer
asked Mr. Rice to his favorite race track Gazing
Sy nto the distance at the white peaked mountains
ana IN 1u view OF the superb layout below him. Granny
replied coast forecast:
Sunshine Park"