Pan Zareta - Racing Career

Racing Career

Known as "Panzy" (she was named for Panzy Zareta, the daughter of the once mayor of Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico), she traveled the country, appearing virtually anywhere. She was ridden by anyone handy and trained by an assortment of available conditioners: H.S. Newman, E. Foucon, and E.T. Colton are most frequently credited as trainers. She ran 151 races and won 76, winning and starting in more races than any other mare in U.S. racing history. On 24 different tracks, she always carried higher weights than any of her rivals, males as well as females, often up to 140 pounds (she once carried 146 pounds, giving away 46 pounds to the runner up. She carried 126 pounds or more 48 times, and won 21 of those races. Pan Zareta finished in the top three 128 times; she was in the money in 85 percent of her starts. She competed for relatively small purses that averaged $300 (the largest purse she ever earned amounted to $1,050). Her career earnings totalled $39,082.

Pan Zareta's most important wins came in the Senoritas Stakes, the Rio Grande Stakes, the Chihuahua Stakes, the Chapultepec Handicap, the Juarez Handicap, and the Katonah Handicap. In 1914, Pan Zareta was the Champion Older Female.

She equaled or set eleven track records during her racing career, most notably when at the age of five on February 10, 1915. She set the world record for five furlongs,(:57 1/5) at Juarez that went unbeaten for 31 years, running against Joe Blair, who carried ten pounds less than she did.

On March 24, 1917, Pan Zareta met Old Rosebud, winner of the 1914 Kentucky Derby, and Colonel Venie on the track. Pan Zareta won, with Colonel Venie receiving second, and Old Rosebud finishing last. When they met a second time on April 6, Old Rosebud gained first, and Pan Zareta came in third.