Episode 106: The Other Champions of 1935: Azucar and the first Santa Anita Handicap
While the name Seabiscuit is synonymous with horse racing in the 1930’s, there was another who rose to the greatest height on the largest stage: Azucar.
What connects a Hollywood blockbuster, a forgotten champion racehorse, and Detroit's golden sporting era? The answer lies in one of the most spectacular sporting events of the Great Depression – the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap of 1935.
While most fans know Seabiscuit's story through film, few realize that the first-ever Santa Anita Handicap – offering an unprecedented $100,000 purse when houses cost just $4,000 – was won by a Detroit-owned horse named Azucar. This seven-year-old former steeplechaser defeated the most celebrated horses in America while Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Clark Gable watched from the stands.
The victory wasn't just another win; it was part of Detroit's extraordinary "City of Champions" era when the Lions captured the NFL championship, the Tigers won the World Series, and the Red Wings claimed the Stanley Cup – all in 1935. Joe Louis was simultaneously beginning his boxing dominance, creating a perfect storm of championship success that transformed Detroit's sporting identity.
What makes the Azucar story even more fascinating is its connection to Seabiscuit. The jockey who rode Azucar to victory, George "The Iceman" Woolf, later piloted Seabiscuit in the same prestigious race and appeared as a character in the Hollywood film. Yet the dramatic post-race scene – where Azucar violently rejected his winner's blanket and dragged Woolf nearly 100 yards while spectators screamed – never made it into newspaper accounts.
When Azucar returned to Detroit, an astonishing 8,000 fans filled the racetrack grandstands on a Sunday morning just to witness a workout. As track officials noted, "It proves that Detroiters are a great deal more interested in racing than they were at this time last year" – a testament to how championship fever had captivated the city during America's most challenging economic period.
Join us as we uncover this forgotten chapter in Detroit's remarkable sporting history and explore how this championship fits into the larger story of a city that defied the Depression through athletic excellence.
https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions
www.DJJamieDetroit.com
www.WearingFunny.com
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