ACRS Will Discontinue After This Year

The American Championship Racing Series, which has been described as the best idea horse racing has had since the Breeders’ Cup began in 1984, will be discontinued after this year.

“We’re going to examine new alternatives,” said David Vance, board chairman of the series.

The series, which began in 1991, took established stakes races and presented them as a nationally televised tour, awarding bonuses to the owners of horses who registered the most points for high finishes. By the end of this year, the series will have presented 28 races on television and paid bonuses totaling more than $4 million.

The series was unstable, however, because three major tracks--Santa Anita, Oaklawn Park in Little Rock, Ark., and Arlington International in Chicago--never participated or dropped out. Last year, Barry Weisbord, the series president, had to scramble with the schedule when Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H., canceled its race because of financial difficulties.

“I’m saddened by the end of the series,” Weisbord said. “But I’m proud of the collective effort that was made during the three years.”

The final races in the series are the Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on July 24, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 21 and the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 18. Devil His Due leads the standings with 24 points. Last Saturday, Best Pal won the most recent series race, the Hollywood Gold Cup.