New Tote System Is Losing Wager : Santa Anita: Glitches in betting machines are said to cost about $3 million--and the goodwill of fans.

A failure in a new state-of-the-art tote system at Santa Anita cost the track nearly $3 million in wagering Saturday.

The total handle of $9,368,250 was about 33% less than what it would have been if the tote system had been functioning properly, track president Cliff Goodrich said.

Despite on-track attendance of 46,242--total attendance was 70,262--the on-track handle of $4,342,797 was off about 50% for an opening day. Goodrich called it the worst day of his life.

Opening day marked the debut of Autotote Systems, Inc., a new tote company that replaced American Totalisator, a fixture at Santa Anita since 1934.

There were problems with the new system throughout the afternoon, leading to long lines at the mutuel windows, bettors being shut out and, ultimately, short tempers and numerous disgruntled customers. Cars could seen be leaving in droves before the card was halfway completed.

Reportedly, there were only four windows operating in the Turf Club. One patron said he got into a line 13 minutes before post time and didn’t come “anywhere close” to being able to make a bet. The tote board on the west end of the grandstand didn’t work all day. Hollywood Park executive R.D. Hubbard reported similar glitches at intertrack locations, including wrong payoffs.

Goodrich said he feared in the days leading up to the track’s opening that the races would have to be canceled Saturday.

“There’s a number of people I’m afraid we’re going to lose for life,” Goodrich said. “We’re very embarrassed. This is not the Santa Anita’s way of doing things. We owe the public an apology, and we can’t take back a day like today.

“There’s been a multitude of problems. Basically, (Autotote) wasn’t ready to go when the green light came on. There were breakdowns on manned terminals and the self-service terminals. Amtote’s embarrassed, and we’re embarrassed.

“I feel terrible. It will get better, but that’s not much consolation to the people who are here, many of whom have already left.”

Speaking at an impromptu news conference, Goodrich expressed confidence in Autotote, despite the rocky start.

“It was a close call (between Autotote and AmTote), but we have no regrets going with Autotote,” Goodrich said.

“It’s a state-of-the-art terminal. AmTote did a great job for 60 years, but (it was time) to take a step forward, and this will be a state-of-the-art system.”

Because of the snafus, Santa Anita will offer free admission until Jan. 31 for anyone who presents page one of the Saturday program.

Although it was a day track management would like to forget, Gary Stevens had a memorable start at Santa Anita.

After finishing the Hollywood Park meeting strong, Stevens won five times, including a half-length victory aboard Star Of The Crop in the $113,600 Malibu Stakes, the first leg of the Charles H. Strub Series.

Never far off the pace being set by 7-5 favorite Bertrando, the 3-year-old Relaunch colt took the lead in the final furlong and defeated The Wicked North in 1:20 3/5 for the seven furlongs. Making his first start since the Santa Anita Derby and his first for trainer Bobby Frankel, Bertrando was third, a neck behind The Wicked North.

This was the second consecutive victory for Star Of The Crop, the 3-1 second choice, and his sixth in 14 starts. He won’t, however, sweep the Strub Series, which continues Jan. 16 with the 1 1/8-mile San Fernando Stakes.

“I think seven-eighths (is how far he wants to go),” trainer Willard Proctor said. “I’ll probably run Star Of The Crop back at 5 1/2 furlongs (in the $100,000 El Conejo Handicap on Feb. 20) next.”

Before the Malibu, Stevens won the second race with Express It, the third with As Que To, the fourth with Likeable Style and the sixth with Real Hit.

“I didn’t look at an overnight (schedule) or the (the Daily Racing Form) until I came in the jockey’s room this morning,” Stevens said.

“All I knew was that I was riding eight today. (Agent) Ron (Anderson) told me I was on some real live ones, and that I was going to get my Christmas present today.

“(Star Of The Crop) stumbled real badly coming away from the gate . . . he’s not a good gate horse. When he gets away well, he runs well.

“Mr. Proctor wanted me to sit just off the pace. He broke so hard today the ground just broke out from under him. He went right on his head, but he gathered himself up the second stride and was right back in the race. I felt at the time he had probably used himself up, and that he wasn’t going to have a good kick left.

“He and Bertrando were both running easy. I hooked Bertrando earlier than I normally would, thinking that he might be a little short. I wanted to put as much pressure on him as I could because my horse was dead fit. This colt is really maturing. He gets better every time he runs.”

Ed Nahem, Bertrando’s co-owner, wasn’t unhappy with his 3-year-old’s return after more than eight months on the sidelines. “He ran great,” Nahem said. “The rest of them were a lot fitter than he was. It should set him up perfectly for the San Fernando and Strub.”

J.F. Williams was fourth in the Malibu. Then came Never Round, Mineral Wells, Lottery Winner, Fabulous Champ, Whatcom Warrior, Vying Victor and Disposal, who raced coupled with Bertrando.

Arches Of Gold, unbeaten in two starts and holder of Hollywood Park’s track record for 6 1/2 furlongs, is the 5-2 favorite for today’s $112,800 La Brea Stakes.

With the scratch of Terrys Wild Again, Arches Of Gold will have nine opponents in the seven-furlong La Brea, including Magical Maiden, La Spia and Race The Wild Wind.

After breaking her maiden by six lengths on May 25 at Hollywood Park, Arches Of Gold didn’t return until Dec. 3, when she won by nine lengths in 1:13 4/5, breaking Hollywood Park’s previous record for the distance by three-fifths of a second. Eddie Delahoussaye will again ride the 3-year-old Strike Gold filly for trainer Bob Baffert.

Magical Maiden is the 7-2 second choice in her first start since she finished third behind Paseana and Versailles Treaty in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The Lord Avie filly has three victories and a second in her last four starts at Santa Anita. Stevens will be aboard for trainer Warren Stute.

Others in the field are Cargo, Wicked Wit, Interactive, Looie Capote, She’s Tops, Race The Wild Wind, La Spia and Terre Haute.