1950: Third Decade, Third Big 'Cap


Of all the horses that might be considered synonymous with the Santa Anita Handicap, there is a good chance Seabiscuit might rank number one in that category. The race eluded him for three seasons, but he finally captured it in what turned out to be his swan song in 1940.

To be sure, there have been plenty of legends who went on to become champion of the Big 'Cap, like Noor, Round Table, Ack Ack, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid and John Henry, Seabiscuit has always found himself at the forefront of the grand race's history. Being a local horse no doubt contributed to that, along with his rags-to-riches tale as he raced during the Great Depression. A former claimer, he transformed into a win machine and multiple stakes winner en route to becoming 1938's Horse of the Year after defeating 1937 Triple Crown champion War Admiral.

But the 1940 Big 'Cap was a fitting conclusion to the career of this great and popular equine. It was the race everyone wanted him to win, and it stands as one of the most popular victories in all of Thoroughbred racing.

Among horses, Seabiscuit is arguably the horse most closely associated with California's biggest horse race. And when it comes to owners, the same can be said for the man who campaigned the Biscuit.

His red silks with the white "H" are legendary. Fans saw those colors in the winner's circle many times between the 1930s and 1950s, and he collected several stakes across the country back in those days.

Despite all that terrific success, however, Charles Howard is forever linked with California racing. And in particular, he is forever linked with the Big 'Cap.

Like the fans of his greatest horse, Howard endured the tough beats with Seabiscuit in the 1937 and 1938 renewals of the Hundred Grander. So close both times, only to just miss at the wire. Seabiscuit missed out on the 1939 edition, but Howard did not. Sending out the favored coupled entry of Kayak II and Sorteado, Howard finally experienced the joy of winning the Big 'Cap as Kayak II overcame fifteen rivals to become the fifth champion of the famed event.

Howard loved the moment, and praised Kayak's II performance. But the feeling of what might have been was palpable. "Thrilled? Sure. Who wouldn't be? Kayak's was one of the greatest races I ever saw. I think if Seabiscuit would have been in the race they would have run one-two."

It turned out Howard was right with that prediction, only it happened the following season.

After missing most of the 1939 campaign, Seabiscuit returned to the races in 1940. Back for a third time in the Big 'Cap with Red Pollard, he was out to win it for the first time while Kayak II sought to defend his title after taking the title of Champion Older Male the year before. The Biscuit was in early contention from the start, while Kayak II came from off the pace early to rally. The fans watched in wonder, many hoping this was the day for Seabiscuit.

Whether Howard remembered his comment about Seabiscuit and Kayak II running one-two from the year before is unknown, but he was proven right in 1940. Both horses were in the top two as they headed for the wire. And to the delight of the crowd, Seabiscuit finally added the title of Big 'Cap champion to his name. Kayak II came in second, and Howard exited the race as the first two-time winning owner of the Hundred Grander. He described the feeling in three words: "It was perfect."

That race ranks as the biggest win of Howard's career as a owner, and definitely the most endearing. But it would not be the last time a Howard horse navigated those ten magical furlongs.

The rest of the 1940s saw racing on hiatus for a time due to World War II, and horses like Olhaverry and Vulcan Forge joined the growing group of Big 'Cap winners. But after winning two straight editions of the race in 1939 and 1940, Howard did not see another Big 'Cap victory of several years. But that all changed in 1950 thanks to his last great horse.

Noor came to the United States in 1949, picking up a win and minor awards after spending two seasons in Europe. But he really came into his own in 1950. He went on to take Champion Handicap Horse honors for that year thanks to wins in major events like the San Juan Capistrano and Hollywood Gold Cup. But one race towered above them all: the Big 'Cap.

Taking on three Calumet Farm horses, including his greatest rival, Citation, Noor made his way through the eleven horse field with John Longden in the saddle to become the first Big 'Cap winner of the 1950s. And that made Howard the race's first three-time winning owner. He still shares the record for most Big 'Cap triumphs by an owner, for it was not until 2020 when Hronis Racing equaled the mark after three consecutive victories in the event.

To capture three Big 'Caps in as many decades is symbolic. Howard was one of the most recognizable owners of his day, and he is still one of the biggest personalities to ever be a part of California racing. His association with Seabiscuit is a significant factor in that status, but with horses like Kayak II and Noor, Howard found multiple champions in his years as a Thoroughbred owner. The fact he was the lone three-time winning owner of the Big 'Cap for almost seventy years, and is still a co-holder of the record as of the winter of 2022, says a lot about his longevity as a major figure in California racing history.

He was there in the Hundred Grander's early days, and he campaigned its most popular champion. And he is one of its most successful owners. The Big 'Cap's history simply cannot be told without Charles Stewart Howard.

Sources:

"Thrilled? Sure. Who wouldn't be?..." Author unknown. "Howard Elated Over Victory," Los Angeles Times March 5, 1939

"It was perfect." Ray, Bob. "Trainer Smith Nearly Smiles at Victory," Los Angeles Times March 3, 1940


Entry added February 10, 2022 by AF.