During 1942, the horse racing season was extremely successful despite the curbs of gas-rationing and other wartime measures. In New York, $10,000,000 in taxes was collected, and the wagering total hit a record of $175,000,000. Approximately $3,000,000 was raised for service men.
Three horses stood out in the year's activities and vied for top-ranking honors — Whirlaway, Alsab, and Shut Out.
Having long since passed the $500,000 earnings mark, Whirlaway, who made the largest winnings in 1941, became the world's greatest money-winning thoroughbred.
Alsab had a larger crowd of admirers than any other horse, and was considered by many to be the best three-year-old. However, it was Shut Out who won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes over Alsab, and was the year's greatest money winner with a total of $238,972.
Count Fleet was conspicuous among the two-year-olds, setting a world mile record for two-year-olds at Belmont Park that may well stand a long time.
The famous Santa Anita Derby and Handicap were not held this year because of the war.
No comments:
Post a Comment