Los Alamitos Ready to Run Its 50th Season

Los Alamitos Race Course celebrates its 50th season of quarter horse racing Friday with an opening night that features the 29th running of the $20,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap.

The 141-day meet, which runs through Dec. 17, is expected to produce a course-record $2.5 million in stakes purses for quarter horses, Arabians, mixed breeds and thoroughbreds.

The draw will be announced today for the 350-yard Kaweah Bar, and horses being considered for berths include defending champion Gangster, as well as SV Blue Tornado, Fedexer, Mr. Clean Jeans, El Fujitivo, Debuts Effort, Cool Brown Dasher, Juvie and Jake Blues.

On Saturday the trials for the $120,000 El Primero Del Ano and $100,000 La Primero Del Ano derbies will be held.

The first major race of the meet is the $400,000 Kindergarten Futurity for 2-year-olds. Trials are scheduled May 6 and the race will be run May 20.

Several prized horses are expected to test the field, including Pure Dash, purchased for $500,000 at auction last August by a partnership led by trainer Wayne Lukas; Varsity Chick, a $235,000 filly from the Vessels Stallion Farm, and trainer Blane Schvaneveldt’s colt Corona Cocktail, also purchased during summer auction for $180,000.

Pure Dash isn’t wasting time testing her legs. The filly is expected to make her debut in Friday’s eighth race.

The track’s growth over the years has paralleled the development of Southern California.

After several years of Sunday afternoon racing, when gambling was prohibited, Los Alamitos owner Frank Vessels hosted his first official races in 1951 in the backyard of his ranch-style home on Katella Avenue west of Walker Street. The 11-day meet averaged 3,076 spectators a day and brought in $144,371 in total handle.

In 1954, the track was moved to its present location, just north of Katella, and grandstands and a clubhouse were built. Six years later, the track had become so popular that it was hosting two meets a year. Lights were added in 1968 and, in 1972, harness racing made its debut.

Horse breeder Edward C. Allred took control of the track in 1996 and has overseen a $25-million renovation project that continues. Today, nightly handle averages more than $1 million and races are simulcast throughout California and to more than 200 locations around the world.

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Quarter Horse Racing

* What: Los Alamitos Race Course’s 50th season of quarter horse racing.

* When: Opens on Friday; race days Fridays-Sundays through April 30, Thursdays-Sundays from May 4-Dec. 17.

* Where: 4961 Katella Ave., Cypress.

* First posts: 7:15 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 6:30 p.m. Saturdays; 5:30 p.m. Sundays.

* Admission: $3 for grandstand, $5 for clubhouse, $10 for Vessels Club.

* Parking: Free or $3 for preferred, $8 for premiere.

* Noteworthy: When Thursday night racing begins May 4, free grandstand admission will be offered to seniors 62 and older.

* Information: (714) 431-1361 or (714) 995-1235.

MAJOR EVENTS

* April 28: $120,000 El Primero del Ano Derby

* April 29: $100,000 La Primero del Ano Derby

* May 4: $400,000 Kindergarten Futurity

* June 24: $150,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap; $125,000 Governor’s Cup Derby, $400,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity

* July 28: $450,000 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity

* July 29: $150,000 Golden State Derby

* Aug. 5: $150,000 Vessels Maturity

* Sept. 1: $150,000 California Sires Cup Futurity

* Sept. 2: $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap

* Sept. 16: $100,000 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap

* Sept. 29: $300,000 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity

* Sept. 30: $125,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby

* Oct. 7: $200,000 Los Alamitos Invitational Championship

* Nov. 3: $425,000 Golden State Futurity

* Nov. 11: $250,000 Los Alamitos Derby

* Dec. 15: $125,000 Southern California Derby

* Dec. 16: $1,250,000 Los Alamitos Million Futurity

* Dec. 17: $400,000 Champion Of Champions