HANDICAP racing "in harness" will be an innovation for the major California fairs in 1938. Ever alert for improvements and attractions, these fairs, long prominent centers for horse racing, will join with the leaders of the country—by adopting handicaps—­which is the start of a new era in American harness racing. While "caps" are not new to the sport, they have received earnest approval only in recent years. The plan is designed to produce high‑class racing and also to add greater pari‑mutuel interest in the Standard‑bred.

There can be no doubt but what west coast fans will receive this method of starting and classifying, with open arms. The performers will benefit, as it will present opportunities for more starts through the circuit and, at the same time , such racing does not call for the drilling and taking away of speed and endurance by excessive scoring before they are off.

Year after year, since the advent of legal betting in California, there has been major construction carried on, at the fairs, throughout the state that would call for a Hollywood press‑agent to describe with the illimitable adjectives they so often command. Of vast importance and a veritable backbone for the continued success of our fairs and race meetings is wagering. The construction that is being carried on and which will be completed for the 1938 season is the answer. That answer includes additional pari‑mutuel facilities, additional parking space, additional stabling, additional exhibit buildings and other appointments so necessary to keep up with the steady growth and to provide more convenience for even greater record‑breaking crowds. At the same time it lends greater co­operation in the direction of the campaigning horsemen.

During the course of a year, in California, there are many annual events in which the horse plays a large part. Throughout the length and breadth of the Golden State there are some thirty‑seven county and district fairs, including the State Fair. Of this number held each year a small minority present harness racing. There is need for more meetings. From six harness programs in 1936, three additional fairs, though of short duration, were represented in 1937. These three fairs were at Ukiah, Merced and Tulare. The growth of smaller fairs will be assured of greater success‑when more fairs of the same size and allowance, program harness racing and effect short hauls from one to the other within a reasonable radius.

A number of the smaller fairs feature running races, some conduct rodeos, while others attract their attendance by way of the tanbark, or horse shows. As for rodeos, there are about twenty‑six held each year in the state.

California, noted for its color, continues to display traditionally important festivals and fiestas‑in tune with its Spanish originality. Too, there is a Gold Rush celebration. While mentioning Gold Rush, I might add: there is much gold, not only in "them thar mountains," but in the valleys that hold these anxiously awaited carnivals. Gold! And more, with continued co­operation for further expansion of harness and running races for added attractions.
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Building and improvements at a cost of $2,000,000 paved the way for the Los Angeles County Fair to be held this fall. "Bigger" is the word again, and now with a recent annexation of thirty acres, the plant covers a total of 250 acres to care for parking facilities and to confine an even more beautiful landscaped park with picturesque buildings.

The progress each season of the Los Angeles County Fair is manifested by the attendance. With progressive members of the board and the reins of management in the bands of C. B. ("Jack") Afflerbaugh, these men play their roles well ‑by expanding. They are not content with the now, but are always looking forward with the thought of an exposition second to none.

In a nutshell, this wealthy county of Los Angeles has a fair that commands a $15,000,000 panorama. The 650,000 persons that attended last fall will do their part to influence their friends in enjoying the 35,000 exhibits centered within the 250 beautiful acres.

This will, without a doubt, be the greatest fair to be held at Pomona. Two million dollars have been spent in new buildings and for increasing the beauty of the plant. Here, there is unexcelled parking for 30,000 cars with trains and buses direct to the entrance‑for those who prefer that mode of transportation. Ample highways run in every direction without dirt, dust, or congestion.

More than ever before, horses of all breeds, will rule as leading attractions. As for the horse show, plans and preparations have been in progress for months with the thought of making it the largest show and most comprehensive on the coast. Competition will be for the richest purse on the Pacific circuit. In eighty‑two classes, $22,000 in premiums will be distributed.

Added significance and importance is attached to the forthcoming event with the announcement that the annual show of the Percheron Horse Association of America will be held in conjunction with the exposition., It will be the first time that it has been moved west of the Mississippi. The Percheron show will bring the cream of this splendid breed from all parts of the country.

Los Angeles County Fair dates are September 16 through October 2. The horse show will be held the first nine evenings only, the dates being from the 16th to 24th of September. The Percheron show will be held for the entire seventeen days.
Manager Afflerbaugh says that there has never before been so much interest shown from out‑of‑state stables, and this coming season promises an unusually large number of prominent eastern horses.

Frank Lieginger, racing secretary for the Western Fairs Circuit, is jubilant over the outlook for the harness and running events. He looks for a thousand entries and work is being speeded on several new barns to accommodate the expected influx. A total of some $80,000 will go out in purses, these embracing eight early closing stakes‑four for $1,000 each. The final date of entrance in these is July 1. In addition to two harness races, there will be six and eight running races each afternoon.

 Arrangements have also been made for three night meetings as the light is brightly illuminating. The entire pari­mutuel layout has been greatly augmented and as last season's handle was nearly $2,000,000, in the fourteen programs, this figure is expected to be passed.

In prepaation for the premier livestock show, the entire department has been rearranged and enlarged‑so that the stock can be shown to much better advantage. There are now show pens for 4,000 head of cattle, sheep, swine and goats, and coops have been provided for more than 5,000 bead of poultry, pigeons and rabbits. Yet, the chance is for an overflow.

In the list of a dozen or more buildings, there are half a dozen horse barns, thus assuring the best of stable accommodations for. a much larger number of entries than ever before. Two huge new steel and concrete buildings will afford space for new attractions. As in the past, the show ring in front of the grandstand will be a riot of color through the planting of a million flowering plants, that will be at the height of their glory in color during fair time.

Among the new work at Pomona which is rapidly nearing completion are three new draft horse barns, two new cattle barns and two new bog barns, also two concrete and steel exhibition buildings, each 100 by 350 feet. The livestock barns formerly located near the entrance have been moved to the north side of the track to make way for an Exposition Center which will be in the form of eight individual small buildings with land‑scaped water gardens. The track has been reconditioned and 25 pari‑mutuel machines have been added to the cast of the grandstand.

Mr. Afflerbaugh informed the writer that Frank Lieginger, the efficient race secretary, has arranged the race program, also that the race schedule for the Coast meetings will soon be ready for distribution. The stake race program will apparently be the same as last year. There will be only a few two‑beat races; all others will be single dashes. The dash races are arranged so that slower‑class horses that win will move down in class and have plenty of opportunity to race. No entry fee will be charged in the dash races and the purse will be divided in five monies: 50, 20, 15, 10 and 5 per cent. The program calls for $26,600.

The largest purses will be for the fastest classes: Slow classes, 17 and slower­and non‑winners of races, $300 a dash; 2.16 class, $350; and 2.15 class and down $400.

There will be a one‑mile handicap race, each for trotters and pacers, for a purse of $450; also a mile and a half handicap for trotters and one for pacers, the purse to be $500. These four handicaps will be tried out with the hope that more will be used in the future.
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The following is the list of heat winning trotters for the nine California meetings in 1937. The list gives the total heats won by each performer for the season. Four trotters won as many as twelve beats; ten won more than five, fifteen won five or more, thirty‑nine won one or more heats. There was a total of 173 trotting heats for the nine meetings.
 
TROTTERS
Santa Margarita 2.013/4, bl m, by Pegasus B                      16
Stellite 2.011/4, b g, by Azoff                                             14
Leon 2.011/4, b g, by Leon June                                        13
Ishbel 2.033/4, b in, by Peter the Brewer                            12
Palomin, 3, 2.07, br g. by Palo Cres                                   8
Doctor McElwyn 2.041/4, b g, by Mr. McElwyn                7
Pacific Hall 2.05, b h, by The Laurel Hall                            7
Peter F. J. 2.011/2, br g, by Frisco June                             7
Guy the Tramp 2.041/4, b g, by Jerry Harvester                  6
Sam Neal, 3, 2.061/4, b c, by Volomite                              6
Galley Woollen, 2, 2:111/2, br c, by Peter Woollen             5
Maxie Jay 2.041/2, ch in, by Jay Chenault                           5
Park Silk 2.091/4, b g, by Bingen Silk                                 5
Tessie Hall 2.03, b m, by The Laurel Hall                            5
Tulare Express 2.07, b g, by Peter's Express                       5
Eleanor Volo 2.02, b m, by Peter Volo                               4
Estella Frisco 2.041/2, br in, by Judge Frisco                      4
Worthy Lincoln 2.051/4, b g, by Peter Lincoln                    4
Doctor Bob 2.023/4, bl h, by Maxey Bingen                       3
Miss Guy Patch, 2, 2.111/2, ch f, by Peter Patch                3
Mr. Leon, 2, 2.101/2, b g, by Leon June                             3
Princess Helen, 3, 2.131/4, br f, by Black Pegasus              3
True McKinney 2.07, b g, by Truax                                    3
Calumet Darnell 2.063/4, b in, by Belwin                            2
Eddie Brewer 2.151/2, b g, by Pacific Brewer                    2
Hollyrood Beth 2nd 2.061/4, b m, by Hollyrood Harkaway 2
Irish Mc, 2, 2.19, b g, by Mr. McElwyn                              2
Louise the Great, 3, 2.06, b f, by Truax                               2
Louise Woollen, 3, 2.081/4, b f, by Peter Woollen              2
Pegasus Blossom 2 .09, b g, by Pegasus B                          2
Proman Aid 2.141/2, b m, by Harvest Aid                          2
Trudustan 2.091/4, bl m, by Truax                                      2
Doc Newman 2.131/4, b g, by David Guy                          1
Dooney 2.151/2, b m, by Mr. McComas                            1
Gaylworthy D., 3, 2.101/2, b g, by Gaylworthy                   1
Hallie Guy 2.063/4, b m, by Arion Guy                               1
Laureate 2.063/4, br g, by The Laurel Hall                          1
Margaret Express 2.081/4, b m, by Peter's Express            1
Peter Moore 2.08, b g, by Chestnut Peter                           1
 
The heat winning pacers, fifty‑six in number, won a total of 192 beats at the nine meetings. Of the fifty‑six, four won ten or more heats; fourteen won five or more.
 
PACERS
Buddy Maxey 1.593/4, b g, by Judge Maxey                      13
Borden Day 2 .05, b g, by Borden Pegasus                         11
Royal Gale 2.041/2, ro g, by Cavalier Gale                         10
Wayne Hedgewood 2.001/4, b h, by Hedgewood Bay      10
C. A. Harrison 2.01, b g, by Pegasus B                              9
Hollyway 2.01 b g, by Hollyrood Walter                             9
T. D. Van 2.01, bl g, by Bank Director                               8
Walter Logan 2.01, b g, by Jim Logan .                              7
Alta Direct 2.04, b m, by Merry Direct                               6
Bessie Logan 2.03, b m, by Jim Logan     ­                           6
Vernon Bingen 2.051/2, bl h, by Maxey Bingen                   6
Barbara Volo 2.041/2, b m, by Volo Peter                         5
Joy Bond 2.08, b m, by Peter Ettarah                                 5
Miller Brooke, 2, 2.091/2, b c, by Justice Brooke               5
Hollywood McKinney 2,07, b g, by Hollywood Bob           4
Lyda Woollen 2.013/4, br m, by Peter Woollen                  4
Santa Anna, 3, 2.08, b f, by Pegasus Pointer                       4
A. J. Boyle 2.083/4, b b, by Peter Worthy                          3
Helen Strong 2.021/2, br m, by Colonel Armstrong             3
La Marie, 2, 2.093/4, b f, by Chestnut Axworthy                3
Marie's Pat 2.061/4, br g, by Pat Harvester                        3
Santa Paula 2.011/2, b m, by Pegasus B                             3
Woollen D. 2.081/4, b g, by Peter Woollen                        3
Worthy Henley 2.04, b in, by Peter Henley                         3
Beautiful Logan 2.06, b in, by Jim Logan                             2
Broncho, 3 (2, 2.05), b c, by Truax                                    2
Chandu 2.02, b g, by The Sign                                            2
Conchita 2.10, b m, by Jim Logan                                       2
Cowell Logan 2.051/2, h g, by Jim Logan                           2
Edna Cincofield 2.061/2, br m, by Cincofield                      2
Fred Hamer, 3, 2.06, b g, by Real Frisco                            2
Jerry Patch 2.071/2, b h, by Arion Patch                             2
J. Lincoln Forbes 2.081/2, bl h, by Mount Sterling Forbes   2
Last Chance, 3, 2.09, b g, by Pegasus Pointer                     2
L. B Woollen, 3, 2.093/4, b g, by Peter Woollen                2
Mae S. Hall 2.053/4, b m, by The Laurel Hall                     2
Marietta Worthy, 2, 2.081/2, b f, by Gaylworthy                 2
Mary Margaret, 3, 2.091/4, b f, by Pat Junior                     2
Pacific Brewer 2.04, b h, by Peter the Brewer                     2
Rose Marie Abbe 2.001/2, b in, by Abbedale                     2
San Benito 2.11, bl g , by Pegasus B                                   2
Abbe K. 2.061/2, bl g, by Bert Abbe                                 1
Belvoir 2.06, b g, by Pegasus B                                          1
B. Express 2.06, b g, by Peter's Express                             1
Chuck Vonian 2.081/4, br h, by Favonian                           1
Crusader 2.04, b g, by Prince Argot Hal                             1
De Oro Chimes 2.07, b m, by Zombro Chimes                   1
Donna Maxey 2.09, b m, by Judge Maxey                          1
Joe Logan 2.06, b g, by Jim Logan                                     1
Logan Montgomery 2.031/2. b h, by Jim Logan                  1
Money Forbes, 3, 2.121/4, br g, by Mount Sterling Forbes 1
Northern Belle 2.08, b m, by Northern King                       1
Peanuts 2.131/2, b g, by Bondalin                                       1
Peter Melvin 2.11, b h, by Double Peter                             1
Shirley Temple 2.07, b in, by Lone Eagle                            1
Star Woollen, 2, 2.151/4, b g, by Peter Woollen                 1
 
In the April issue of HOOF BEATS, due to a typographical error, Bi Shively is listed as winner of four heats at Pomona. It should read five heats, and his total number of heats should read 20—not 23.
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Frank Lieginger, well known to all who have had any connection with racing interests on the Pacific Coast, is one of the busiest of men this year, and his place as racing secretary of the big meeting at Pomona is enough to keep an ordinary man going. A qualified horseman, be ranks up with any of the field in this particular division.

Rumors were flying earlier in the year that other fairs of the lesser kind might be putting harness racing into their attractions, but to date there has been little to back up this assertion.

 
 
As the crowds watch racing at the Los Angeles County Fair at Pomona, Calif.