The Golden West Trot is a defunct three-race series in harness racing for Standardbred trotters aged three and older. It was first run in 1946 with a purse of $50,000 which at the time was the richest offered in the sport. The race final was hosted on an alternating basis, until the final running in 1954,Sports Illustrated November 15, 1954 article titled "A Roundup of the Weeks News" Retrieved September 3, 2016 by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, and Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. During the same period, these tracks also offered the corresponding Golden West Pace.Standardbred Canada SC Rewind May 21, 2016 article titled "Meet of the Century" Retrieved August 28, 2016
Historical race events The only multiple winner of the race was 1951 American Harness Horse of the Year and a future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Pronto Don who won three straight editions of the Golden West Trot between 1951 and 1953.Long Beach, California Independent Press-Telegram - November 22, 1953 Retrieved September 3, 2016
Records Most wins by a driver 3 – Benny Schue (1951, 1952, 1953)
Most wins by a trainer 2 – Benny Schue (1952, 1953)
Stakes record 2:30 3/5 – Pronto Don (1951) at miles 2:22 4/5 – Scotch Victor (1954) at 1 3/16 miles
Winners of the Golden West Trot Year Winner Age Driver Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Track1954Scotch Victor5Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienS. A. Camp Farms1 3/16 m.2:22 4/5$32,500 Hol1953Pronto Don8Benny SchueBenny SchueHayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene Hayes)1 3/16 m.2:25 3/5$30,550Hol1952Pronto Don7Benny SchueBenny SchueHayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene Hayes)1 1/4 m.2:34 4/5$30,650Sa1951Pronto Don6Benny SchueFay FitzpatrickHayes Fair Acres Stable (Eugene Hayes)1 1/4 m.2:30 3/5$32,000Hol 1950Proximity8Clint HodginsClint HodginsRalph & Gordon Verhurst1 1/4 m.2:31 2/5$50,000Sa1949Chris Spencer7Billy HaughtonDunbar BostwickDunbar Bostwick1 1/4 m.2:33 4/5$50,000Hol 1948Rodney4Bion ShivelyBion ShivelyR. Horace Johnston1 1/4 m.2:31 3/5$50,000Sa1947Algiers5Harry C. FitzpatrickHarry C. FitzpatrickBaker Acres Stable (Edward J. Baker)1 1/4 m.2:32 3/5 $50,000Hol1946Kaola 6Carl Hatchell Carl Hatchell S. and W. Stable1 1/4 m.2:32 0/0 $50,000Sa
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