ARCADIA, Calif. – Originally presented on Dec. 9, 1950 and on loan from the California Thoroughbred Foundation, the 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup trophy will adorn a Winner’s Circle ceremony for this Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, to be run at the North American classic distance of a mile and one quarter over the Santa Anita main track.
Originally run in 1938 at Hollywood Park, the inaugural Gold Cup was won by the legendary Seabiscuit. When Hollywood Park was shuttered following their 2013 season, the race was moved to Santa Anita and renamed the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.
Recently restored to its original name, the Hollywood Gold Cup will be run for the 81st time on Saturday and Santa Anita has announced that in commemoration of the renaming, the track has commissioned a new issue of the Gold Cup trophy which will be presented to this year’s winner upon completion.
Crafted by Shreve & Co., the 1950 trophy consists of more than 42 ounces of 14-Karat Gold, and is more than a foot long.
Won by racing Hall of Famer Noor, who was ridden to victory by Johnny Longden and was owned by the estate of Charles S. Howard (the man who also owned Seabiscuit), the 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup trophy is proudly displayed as part of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s Charles S. Howard collection.
Noor, who carried co-high weight of 130 pounds, defeated Palestinian by one length while covering the mile and a quarter in 1:59 4/5. With seven wins from 12 starts that year, including a 1 ¼ length triumph over the mighty Citation in the Santa Anita Handicap on Feb. 25, Noor was 1950’s leading money earner with $346,940.
Noor’s Hollywood Park 1950 Gold Cup
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: John Velazquez accepts the 2019 Gold Cup trophy for his victory on Vino Rosso. Credit: Santa Anita Park
