Santa Anita Turns Out Lights on Golden Party

Golden anniversaries generally evoke lots of memories, and even though horse players are about as sentimental as loan sharks, even the most cynical of their number would have to admit that Santa Anita’s celebration of its 50th winter meeting was a party worth attending.

Indeed, the 89-day meeting, which ended Monday, will be remembered for a one-day, non-Kentucky Derby attendance record. A crowd of 85,527 turned out March 3 for the Santa Anita Handicap. The day’s betting handle of $12,611,415 broke the North American record of $11.8 million set at Churchill Downs in 1983.

The meeting, however, will be remembered for more than bare statistics. It will be recalled as a satisfying smorgasbord of old and new faces, who wrote some history of their own.

Charlie Whittingham, the 72-year-old trainer, continued to work miracles with his stable of long-distance thoroughbreds, collecting more than $2.1 million in purses, a Santa Anita record. As good as he was, though, Whittingham had to settle for third place in the trainer standings, a race behind Laz Barrera and Mel Stute, who finished tied for first, each saddling 27 winners.

The jockeys’ quarters produced a pleasant surprise in exciting young rider Gary Stevens. The 22-year-old native of Boise, Idaho, went stirrup to stirrup with the nation’s best and finished second to Chris McCarron, who enjoyed another fine meeting, riding 89 winners. Stevens rode 80.

The meeting will also be a snapshot of the phenomenal strength of Laffit Pincay, who went to the whip in the final eighth of a mile during the Santa Anita Derby to get Skywalker home a nose ahead of Fast Account.

It was also fitting that Pincay won the 800th and final race Monday afternoon to finish in a tie for second with Stevens, because throughout the meeting the Panamanian rider exhibited immense personal strength, carrying on in the aftermath of his wife Linda’s suicide.

But off the track and up in the seats, the 50th anniversary of the Arcadia track, sitting beneath the picturesque San Gabriel mountains, will be remembered as a demonstration of loyalty by a legion of horse players, who came out to by the thousands.

“There is so much tradition here,” said Alan Balch, Santa Anita’s senior vice president in charge of marketing. “I’ve been receiving cards and letters all during the meeting from people who got married here or had their first date here.

“We had almost perfect weather and that really helped. But I really believe the 50th anniversary struck a responsive chord. That’s why they came out. It brought back some memories.”

Racing Notes In Monday’s $100,000 San Jacinto Handicap, a crowd of 38,276 watched favorite Tsunami Slew, with Eddie Delahoussaye up, go wire to wire for a one-length victory in the 1 -mile race on the turf. The victory was worth $63,850 to the 4-year-old son of Seattle Slew out of Barbs Compact. Tsunami Slew, which returned $4.40, $3.00 and $2.40, has now won seven races in his career, five in stakes. The Irish-bred Lofty closed fast for second, a length in front of Talakeno. Lofty returned $3.80 and $3.00; Talakeno $3.40 to show.

Delahoussaye, who won consecutive Kentucky Derbys aboard Gato Del Sol and Sunny’s Halo in 1982 and 1983, has accepted the mount on Santa Anita Derby winner Skywalker. He will fly to Churchill Downs to work Skywalker Wednesday. Delahoussaye had an unsettling experience Monday in the third race when his mount, Panquitch, unseated him near the starting gate on the backstretch. After throwing Delahoussaye, Panquitch hurdled the far rail and scampered along the outside of the track until he could be corralled by his handlers. . . . Hollywood Park will open its 68-day summer meeting Wednesday with the $60,000 Premiere Handicap being run in two divisions at one mile on the turf. Fans who pick the winner of all nine races can win $1 million.