The American Trotting Classic at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California is a defunct three-race series in harness racing for Standardbred trotters aged three and older. It was run annually between 1955 and 1981 at three different racetracks with the final hosted by Hollywood Park Racetrack. Los Angeles Times - June 14, 1990 Retrieved September 19, 2016 During the same period, these tracks also offered the corresponding American Pacing Classic.Sports Illustrated December 5, 1955 article titled "A Roundup of the Week's News", subtitle "Harness Racing" Retrieved September 19, 2016
The race was run at a distance of one mile from 1955 through 1960, after which it was run at a mile and an eighth.
The American Trotting Classic replaced the Golden West Trot which had been contested from 1946 through 1954 under the auspices of the Western Harness Racing Association at both Santa Anita Park and at Hollywood Park.Sports Illustrated November 15, 1954 article titled "A Roundup of the Weeks News" Retrieved September 3, 2016
Historical race events In 1955, Scott Frost capped off a brilliant season of racing when he took the first of his consecutive wins in the American Trotting Classic, and in both 1955 and 1956 he was voted Harness Horse of the Year. Earlier in 1955, Scott Frost had become the first horse to win the U.S. Trotting Triple Crown.Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Scott Frost Retrieved September 23, 2016
In addition to back-to-back wins by Scott Frost in 1955 and 1956 and Savoir in 1974 and 1975, two other horses have also won the race twice. Fresh Yankee accomplished the feat in 1969 and again in 1971, plus Dayan in 1970 and 1972.
Hall of Fame driver/trainer Joe O'Brien won the American Trotting Classic six times, which was the most by any trainer as well as by any driver. In addition, O'Brien drove to victory in the American Pacing Classic a record four times.
Records Most wins by a driver 6 – Joe O'Brien (1955, 1966, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1977)
Most wins by a trainer 6 – Joe O'Brien (1955, 1966, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1977)
Stakes record 2:11 3/5 – Classical Way (1980) at 1 1/8 miles 1:57 3/5 – Senator Frost (1959) at 1 mile
Winners of the American Trotting Classic Year Winner Age Driver Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse1981Dante Jay7Etienne S. Desomer Robin ClementsDesomer Stable1 1/8 m2:12 2/5$123,5001980Classical Way4John F. Simpson, Jr.John F. Simpson, Jr.Clarence F. Gaines1 1/8 m2:11 3/5$94,0001979Jurgy Hanover5Peter HaughtonBilly HaughtonKosmos Horse Breeders, Inc.1 1/8 m2:12 3/5$92,0001978Keystone Pioneer6Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonDorothy Haughton & Patricia Bachner1 1/8 m2:15 2/5$100,8001977Ima Lula4Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienDuncan A. MacDonald1 1/8 m2:13 4/5$100,7501976Keystone Pioneer4Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonDorothy Haughton & Patricia Bachner1 1/8 m2:12 3/5$109,800 1975Savoir7James D. DennisMel SmorraAllwood Stables (Leonard J. & Helen R. Buck)1 1/8 m2:14 1/5$104,9001974Savoir6James D. DennisMel SmorraAllwood Stables (Leonard J. & Helen R. Buck)1 1/8 m2:13 3/5$109,550 1973Elesnar5Percy RobillardPercy Robillard Argyle Farms (George Henderson)1 1/8 m2:16 0/0$100,0001972Dayan6William MyerWilliam MyerAdonis Stable (Murray Tobin & Eric Kirstein)1 1/8 m2:19 4/5$100,0001971Fresh Yankee8Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienDuncan A. MacDonald1 1/8 m2:20 4/5$100,0001970Dayan4William MyerWilliam MyerAdonis Stable (Murray Tobin & Eric Kirstein)1 1/8 m2:13 2/5$100,0001969Fresh Yankee6Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienDuncan A. MacDonald1 1/8 m2:15 0/0$100,0001968Lady B Fast4William PopfingerWilliam PopfingerButtonwood Tree Farm1 1/8 m2:15 2/5$75,0001967Grandpa Jim5Robert G. FarringtonRobert G. FarringtonJim & Marie Trainor1 1/8 m2:13 4/5$60,0001966Earl Laird6Robert J. Williams, Sr.Jimmy CruiseJoan Cruise1 1/8 m2:13 2/5$50,0001965Armbro Flight3Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienArmstrong Bros.1 1/8 m2:15 3/5$50,0001964Marco Hanover5Richard J. Buxton Richard J. Buxton Garrett S. Claypool1 1/8 m2:14 0/0$50,0001963Porterhouse 5Earle AveryEarle AveryNorman S. Woolworth1 1/8 m2:15 0/0$50,0001962Duke Rodney4Billy HaughtonEdward T. WheelerPatrick & Elisabeth DiGennaro1 1/8 m2:15 2/5$50,0001961Air Record5George SholtyGeorge Sholty George Sholty & Faye Ross1 1/8 m2:17 2/5$80,0001960Silver Song5Howard B. CamdenHoward B. CamdenMercury Stable Farm, Inc.1 mile2:01 3/5$85,0001959Senator Frost4Richard J. BuxtonRichard J. Buxton Wayne Galvin1 mile1:57 3/5$85,0001958Charming Barbara4Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonJohn Froehlich1 mile2:00 1/5$75,0001957Galophone5Robert WalkerRobert WalkerWilliam T. Maybury1 mile2:00 4/5$75,0001956Scott Frost4Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienS. A. Camp Farms1 mile1:58 3/5$75,0001955Scott Frost3Joe O'BrienJoe O'BrienS. A. Camp Farms1 mile1:59 3/5$75,000
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