The American Pacing Classic is a defunct three-race series in harness racing for Standardbred pacers aged three and older. It was run annually between 1955 and 1981 at three different racetracks with the final hosted by Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California.Los Angeles Times - June 14, 1990 Retrieved September 19, 2016 During the same period, these tracks also offered the corresponding American Trotting Classic.Sports Illustrated December 5, 1955 article titled "A Roundup of the Week's News", subtitle "Harness Racing" Retrieved September 19, 2016
The American Pacing Classic replaced the Golden West Pace which had been run from 1946 through 1954 under the auspices of the Western Harness Racing Association with races at both Santa Anita Park and Hollywood Park.
Historical race events In the inaugural American Pacing Classic series, Hillsota, Diamond Hal and Times Square each won a heat of the Pacing Classic in the identical time of 1:59 flat. As a result, Hillsota and Times Square were awarded a tie for the series based on their final standing in a summary of the three heats.New York Times November 26, 1955 article titled "Times Square First In Final Leg Of Pace" Retrieved September 17, 2016
Los Alamitos Race Course created a short-lived one mile race they called the American Pacing Classic which was run from 1990 to 1992.Los Angeles Times June 14, 1990 article titled "Los Alamitos Takes a Page From Past With the American Pacing Classic" Retrieved September 19, 2016
Records Most wins by a driver 4 – Joe O'Brien (1959, 1963, 1975, 1979)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – Stanley Dancer (1965, 1971, 1972)
Stakes record 2:07 3/5 – Niatross (1980) at 1 1/8 miles 1:55 3/5 – Adios Butler (1960) at 1 mile
Winners of the American Pacing Classic Year Winner Age Driver TrainerOwnerDist. (Miles) Time Purse1981Genghis Khan4Sheldon GoudreauEddie CobbEddie Cobb, Nevacal Stable, Jet Star Farms1 1/8 m2:09 0/0$288,0001980Niatross3Clint GalbraithClint GalbraithNiatross Syndicate1 1/8 m2:07 3/5$98,5001979Flight Director4Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien Thurman S. Downing 1 1/8 m$150,0001978Rambling Willie8Robert G. FarringtonRobert G. FarringtonFarrington Stable Inc. 1 1/8 m$110,7501977Le Baron Rouge5Bernard Gervais Bernard Gervais Paul-Henri Lavoie1 1/8 m2:10 3/5$110,250 1976Oil Burner3Ben WebsterCharlie WingateWilliam Brooks & Ben Webster1 1/8 m2:10 0/0$113,750 1975Young Quinn6Joe O'Brien Charlie Hunter Bud & Des Baynes1 1/8 m2:12 4/5$100,0001974Keystone Smartie4Peter Haughton Billy HaughtonD.D.M Stable1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$113,3501973Invincible Shadow4Jim MillerJim MillerJohn F. Graham 1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$114,100 1972Albatross4Stanley DancerStanley DancerAmicable Stable1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$100,0001971Albatross3Stanley DancerStanley DancerAmicable Stable1 1/8 m2:13 4/5$100,0001970Laverne Hanover4George SholtyBilly HaughtonThomas W. Murphy, Jr.1 1/8 m2:14 4/5$100,0001969Overcall 6Del InskoDel InskoHelen R. Buck1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$100,0001968Overcall5Del InskoDel InskoHelen R. Buck 1 1/8 m2:15 3/5$75,0001967Easy Prom5Robert G. FarringtonRobert G. FarringtonFarrington Stables & Arnold Cattle Co.1 1/8 m2:13 3/5$60,0001966True Duane3Norman "Chris" BoringLeon BoringRichard Oldfield 1 1/8 m2:09 1/5$50,0001965Cardigan Bay9Edward T. Wheeler Stanley DancerIrving W. Berkemeyer, Lawrence Slobody, et al.1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$50,0001964Meadow Skipper4Earle AveryEarle AveryNorman S. Woolworth1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$50,0001963Gamecock4Joe O'Brien John F. Simpson Sr.Lawrence B. Sheppard1 1/8 m2:13 3/5$50,0001962Irvin Paul5Charles KingCharles KingCharles King & Abraham Wilsker 1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$50,0001961Adios Butler5Paige H. WestPaige H. West Paige H. West & Angelo Pellillo1 1/8 m2:11 1/5$80,0001960Adios Butler4Clint HodginsPaige H. West Paige H. West & Angelo Pellillo1 m1:55 3/5$75,0001959Sunbelle4Joe O'Brien Joe O'Brien S. A. Camp Farms, Inc.1 m1:57 2/5$75,0001958Gold Worthy5Curly SmartCurly SmartDr. A. B. Thompson1 m1:57 1/5$75,0001957Widower Creed4Jimmy Wingfield Jimmy Wingfield Tom Loss1 m1:58 3/5$75,0001956Dotties Pick4Delvin MillerDelvin MillerJ. Elgin & Charles E. Armstrong1 m1:57 4/5$75,0001955Times Square 5McKinley KirkMcKinley KirkEddie Kirk1 m1:59 0/0$75,0001955Hillsota5Earle AveryEarle AveryClearview Stables1 m1:59 0/0$75,000
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