Malamud Award Launched for Top 'Anita Handicapper

(from Santa Anita release)
Santa Anita Park will launch the Allan Malamud Memorial Handicapping Award on its opening day Dec. 26. The award is named in honor of the late Allan Malamud, who passed away in September of 1996.

Affectionately known as "The Jacket" by his colleagues, Mallamud's column was a must-read for sports fans in the now-defunct L.A. Herald Examiner and later on in the Los Angeles Times.

"Allan Malamud was a legendary figure in sports journalism here in Southern California and he truly loved handicapping the races," said Ron Charles, Santa Anita's president. "He loved the camaraderie of being at the races and he was never more at home than he was in the Santa Anita press box.

"We want to acknowledge the contributions and importance of our public handicappers," Charles added. "They do a lot to stimulate interest in our sport and we feel without question, that we have the most talented group of newspaper handicappers anywhere in America here at Santa Anita."

The Malamud will be contested over a race meeting spanning 86 days. Updated handicapping standings, with newspaper affiliation, will appear in each day's racing program. A top prize of $3,000 will go to the top selector by races and money won. In the event two different handicappers finish atop each category, the money will be split. Additionally, half of all monies won will go to a charity of the individual handicapper's choice.