Hollywood Park Horseracing
Hollywood Park was a legendary 240-acre thoroughbred racing facility located in Inglewood, California. As one of the Golden State's most iconic sporting venues, it served as a cornerstone of American horse racing for three-quarters of a century.
During its operation, the track hosted two primary racing seasons annually:
- The Spring / Summer Meet: Generally held from April through July.
- The Fall Meet: Typically spanning November and December.
The facility was renowned for hosting a prestigious lineup of stakes races that attracted top-tier talent from across the globe. These included the Hollywood Gold Cup, the Californian, the Vanity Handicap, the Beverly Hills Handicap, and the American Oaks.
After 75 years of storied history, Hollywood Park officially closed its doors on December 22, 2013. Following its closure, the site underwent a massive transformation; the grandstands were demolished to make way for the SoFi Stadium complex and the Hollywood Park entertainment district, forever changing the landscape of Inglewood.
Hollywood Park Facts
- Main Track Dimensions
- One and one eighth miles with 7½ furlongs chute
- Length of stretch from last turn: 991 feet
- Finish line to first turn: 600 feet
- Distance from 1 1/16 mile start to first turn: 352 feet
- Distance from 1 1/8 mile start to first turn: 682 feet
- Distance from 1¼ mile start to first turn: 1,342 feet
- Distance from final turn to finish line: 990 feet
- Distance from 6 furlong start (backstretch) to first turn: 1,647 feet
- Width of stretch: 92 feet
- Banking on turns: 6 percent
- One mile, 165-foot oval, with diagonal chute
- Main turf oval: 64 feet wide
- Length of stretch from last turn: 990 feet
- Finish line to first turn: 600 feet
- Distance from 1 mile start to first turn: 530 feet
- Distance from 1½ mile start (infield chute) to first turn: 443 feet
- Distance from final turn to finish line: 990 feet
- Banking on turns: 6 percent
Turf Course Dimensions
Hollywood Park Records
Main Track
| DISTANCE | TIME | HORSE | AGE | DATE | WGT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duc 4 1/2 | :50 2/5 | Bridge Of Royalty | 2 | 05/04/95 | 117 |
| 5 F | :56 2/5 | Magical Mile | 2 | 05/18/89 | 117 |
| :56 2/5 | Goodtimesinexcess | 2 | 07/03/99 | 118 | |
| 5 1/2 F | 1:01 3/5 | Hombre Rapido | 5 | 12/20/02 | 118 |
| 6 F | 1:07 2/5 | Apalachee Ridge | 3 | 12/12/97 | 114 |
| 6 1/2 F | 1:13 1/5 | Lucky Forever | 6 | 05/20/95 | 118 |
| 7 F | 1:19 4/5 | Mazel Trick | 4 | 06/27/99 | 118 |
| 7 1/2 F | 1:26 1/5 | Awesome Daze | 5 | 11/23/97 | 119 |
| 1 M | 1:32 3/5 | Greinton | 4 | 06/09/85 | 119 |
| 1 1/16 M | 1:40 | Power Forward | 4 | 12/19/87 | 115 |
| Crafty Friend | 4 | 07/12/97 | 116 | ||
| New Journey | 4 | 11/27/97 | 116 | ||
| 1 1/8 M | 1:45 1/5 | Gentlemen | 4 | 12/22/96 | 121 |
| 1 3/16 M | 1:54 4/5 | Dig For It | 6 | 05/30/01 | 118 |
| 1 1/4 M | 1:58 2/5 | Greinton | 4 | 06/23/85 | 120 |
| 1 3/8 M | 2:13 2/5 | Golden Ticket | 4 | 12/21/02 | 116 |
| 1 5/8 M | 2:42 2/5 | Ol' Henry | 5 | 06/27/97 | 115 |
| 1 3/4 M | 2:56 3/5 | Roman Cuzzin | 4 | 07/21/97 | 113 |
Turf Course
| DISTANCE | TIME | HORSE | AGE | DATE | WGT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 1/2 F | 1:00 2/5 | Pembroke | 5 | 07/15/95 | 120 |
| 6 F | 1:07 | Answer Do | 4 | 12/15/90 | 115 |
| 1 M | 1:32 3/5 | Megan's Interco | 5 | 05/22/94 | 119 |
| Fastness | 6 | 06/16/96 | 124 | ||
| Spinning World | 4 | 01/18/97 | 126 | ||
| 1 1/16 M | 1:38 3/5 | Fantastic Fellow | 4 | 04/26/98 | 118 |
| 1 1/8 M | 1:44 3/5 | Fastness | 5 | 11/25/95 | 120 |
| Abt 1 1/8 M | 1:44 4/5 | Zoffany | 5 | 11/16/85 | 116 |
| 1 3/16 M | 1:51 4/5 | Kudos | 5 | 04/25/01 | 123 |
| 1 1/4 M | 1:57 3/5 | Bien Bien | 4 | 05/31/93 | 119 |
| 1 1/2 M | 2:23 2/5 | Talloires | 6 | 07/21/96 | 116 |
| Abt 1 3/4 M | 2:50 2/5 | Big Warning | 4 | 12/22/90 | 117 |
History of Hollywood Park
1938
Hollywood Park opened its gates to the public on June 10, 1938. The Hollywood Turf Club was formed under the chairmanship of Jack L. Warner (of the Warner Brothers film corporation). The 600 original shareholders included many show business stars, directors and producers.
1941
The so-called "binocular camera", a movie camera attached to binoculars, was introduced in 1941 and was used to record sections of the track during races.
1942-44
Racing was suspended during World War II and the track was used as a storage facility from 1942-44 as part of the war effort.
1950
A fire hit the track in 1949 and the '49 summer meeting was conducted at Santa Anita Park instead. Hollywood Park re-opened in the summer of 1950.
1967
The Lakeside Turf Course, featuring four chutes, opened on May 10, 1967. Old Mose won the first race on the course.
1971
Hollywood Park pioneered the exacta in 1971.
1972
A $3 million expansion project in 1972 doubled the size of the Turf Club, added the Winner's Circle Dining Room to the Clubhouse, and renovated the stable area.
1973
Sunday racing was introduced at Hollywood Park on April 15, 1973.
1980
The Pick Six, an exciting and successful innovation in California and a forerunner to the Perfect Six, was introduced at Hollywood Park by Vernon O. Underwood on June 7, 1980.
1980
In 1980, Hollywood Park became the first track to average more than $5 million per day in pari-mutuel handle.
1984
The 1 1/8-mile main track, which has a 1,321-foot stretch, was opened on Nov. 7, 1984.
1984
Hollywood Park was host to the first Breeders' Cup on Nov. 7, 1984, handling a then-record $11,466,941.
1987
Hollywood Park again hosted the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 21, 1987, becoming the first track to host the prestigious event twice. It set a Breeders Cup handle record of $14,352,515 for the event. The total handle, including simulcast handle, of $36,398,366 was also a single-day Breeders Cup record.
1991
The Turf Festival, a series of six grass races which attracts turf stars from across the country and Europe, was introduced at the 1991 Autumn Meeting.
1994
The $20-million Hollywood Park-Casino opened on July 1, 1994.
1995
A Hollywood Park record of $21,287,723 was wagered on the 1995 Kentucky Derby Day.
1997
In 1997, Hollywood Park hosted the Breeders' Cup Championship for third time and total wagering on this 10-race program reached $79,741,030.
1998
An increase in on-track attendance helped the 1998 Autumn Meeting attain a daily average handle of $9.1 million - a record for a non-Breeders' Cup meeting.
1999
Churchill Downs Inc. acquired Hollywood Park for $140 million on Sept. 10, 1999.