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highnote
05-31-2015, 01:42 PM
You can see the video at the link below of Hollywood Park being demolished -- the end of an era.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/05/31/crews-implode-historic-hollywood-park-racetrack-grandstand-for-new-project/

magwell
05-31-2015, 04:28 PM
I spent many good and bad days there .......Sad

bella sera
05-31-2015, 04:32 PM
I about cried. so much history up in smoke. I never made it there as I live in the Midwest. :(

nijinski
05-31-2015, 04:57 PM
My only west coast trip , 78 , watched Flying Paster win his 1st race .
Lovely track , great memory .

horses4courses
05-31-2015, 05:03 PM
I have no inclination to watch that video.

Rex Phinney
05-31-2015, 05:19 PM
Did you guys catch the person who showed up to watch dressed in a Rams jersey and toting a Rams flag also?

Karma will get whoever ends up playing football there.

horses4courses
05-31-2015, 05:25 PM
Did you guys catch the person who showed up to watch dressed in a Rams jersey and toting a Rams flag also?

Karma will get whoever ends up playing football there.

The Rams haven't played anything resembling football in quite a while :lol:

highnote
05-31-2015, 06:10 PM
Did you guys catch the person who showed up to watch dressed in a Rams jersey and toting a Rams flag also?

Karma will get whoever ends up playing football there.

It's not the Rams fault that Hollywood Park management wasn't able or wasn't interested in saving the track.

Hollywood Park is to Santa Anita and Del Mar as Aqueduct is to Belmont and Saratoga. If AQU went away racing in NY would survive -- besides, it's about time the NY Jets and NY Giants play their games in NY.

I made a couple of trips to Hollywood Park. I won a big win bet there on Skip Away in the Breeders' Cup Classic. A lady sitting next to me got shit on right in the middle of the top of her head by a seagull. I told her to look on the bright side -- be thankful that it was organic. Glad it didn't hit me, though. However, I think it could have been intended for me. My mother said that she wanted to be reincarnated as a bird so she could shit on people she didn't like. Maybe mom had bad aim that day?

theiman
05-31-2015, 06:52 PM
I hope Goof on the Roof made it down before the boom boom.

dirty moose
05-31-2015, 07:38 PM
Jets and Giants just got a new stadium. Hopefully one day AQ will be a full blows casino. Doubt it tho.

Relwob Owner
05-31-2015, 07:44 PM
Jets and Giants just got a new stadium. Hopefully one day AQ will be a full blows casino. Doubt it tho.


Honeymooned there and loved it. Unfortunately, my marriage suffered the same fate as the track....

CryingForTheHorses
05-31-2015, 08:03 PM
Its always sad to see something that you have seen for your whole life gone,Just thrown away like it never had any effect on anybody .Im sure it was sad. Me I am dealing with my own feelings watching them do the same thing to the Calder backside..Funny thing is,I was there the winter Calder opened, 1972 Walking a hot horse in the still being built receiving barn after a race to winning the leading trainers title some 43 years later.. On the last day Calder ran Talk about memories, That and my old barn number before they demolished it.

Augenj
05-31-2015, 08:21 PM
Hollywood Park was the first track that I ever saw a horse race in person and is where I caught "the bug". My earliest memories were of Ack Ack, Couger II, Kennedy Road, race caller Harry Henson (and there they go), and the Goose Girl who would often walk through the Clubhouse. It's sad to see it go this way with so much history left behind.

whodoyoulike
05-31-2015, 08:24 PM
My only west coast trip , 78 , watched Flying Paster win his 1st race .
Lovely track , great memory .


Lately, I've been seeing posts from my early days. Flying Paster was very fast and I believe a very good sire.

Do you remember a speedster by the name of Cherry River?

iceknight
05-31-2015, 08:25 PM
You can see the video at the link below of Hollywood Park being demolished -- the end of an era.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/05/31/crews-implode-historic-hollywood-park-racetrack-grandstand-for-new-project/

Sad.

also, who does implosions at 6am Sunday morning? I hope there were no residential districts near by

horses4courses
05-31-2015, 08:52 PM
.TwinSpires.com retweeted
Peter Berry ‏@peterberry57 3m3 minutes ago
Omen bet of the century? On the day the Hollywood Park grandstand is razed, Bye Bye Hollywood wins at Mountaineer to the tune of $48.20.

codysakic
05-31-2015, 09:10 PM
Sad.

also, who does implosions at 6am Sunday morning? I hope there were no residential districts near by


Uh, it's in Inglewood CA. Not exactly the safest place on earth. I'm sure the people there are used to sounds like that in their neighborhood. I went a couple years back and it wasn't anyplace I would like to be at night.

tubesockshakur
05-31-2015, 09:13 PM
.that's crazy, to me it's very sad being from Los Angeles you went to santa Anita and Hollywood ... Hollywood was legendary, first breeders cup , first pick 6 wager, now we race at Los al :confused:

horses4courses
05-31-2015, 09:16 PM
that's crazy, to me it's very sad being from Los Angeles you went to santa Anita and Hollywood ... Hollywood was legendary, first breeders cup , first pick 6 wager, now we race at Los al :confused:

Absolutely, it's sad.
I feel most sorry for those who lost jobs.

SandyW
05-31-2015, 09:39 PM
Today will go down in history as a very dark day in horse racing.
As long as the track still stood there was hope that maybe it would be brought back, now all hope is gone. What a tragedy.:(:(

nijinski
05-31-2015, 09:54 PM
Lately, I've been seeing posts from my early days. Flying Paster was very fast and I believe a very good sire.

Do you remember a speedster by the name of Cherry River?

No I don't recall him but I looked him up and he raced until
he was about 10 .
I was still fairly new with racing and kept up mostly local east coast
until I worked in what they called back then "livestock insurance ".
California wasn't one of the states we could write in though .
Flying Paster , I'll always remember , having seen him and bet on him
first time out off his workouts . A very nice Cal bred .

whodoyoulike
05-31-2015, 10:23 PM
No I don't recall him but I looked him up and he raced until
he was about 10 .
I was still fairly new with racing and kept up mostly local east coast
until I worked in what they called back then "livestock insurance ".
California wasn't one of the states we could write in though .
Flying Paster , I'll always remember , having seen him and bet on him
first time out off his workouts . A very nice Cal bred .

I know. I used to follow him and his offspring. His offspring used to win similar to the way Bertrando and Candy Ride's in recent years.

One of the reasons I remember Cherry River was his speed or it could be my faulty memory. As I've noted, a lot of names have been popping up lately bringing back fond memories past.

AndyC
05-31-2015, 10:48 PM
One of the reasons I remember Cherry River was his speed or it could be my faulty memory. As I've noted, a lot of names have been popping up lately bringing back fond memories past.

Your memory is correct. Cherry River was one of my favorites along with Pataha Prince and King of Cricket from the 70s. I believe Doug Oliver trained Cherry River.

theiman
05-31-2015, 11:07 PM
Sad.

also, who does implosions at 6am Sunday morning? I hope there were no residential districts near by

They did the implosion at 6am Sunday morning, because there were no scheduled incoming flights to LAX at that time. HP sits directly between the two major runways for LAX. Cant imagine the panic on the planes if while landing you saw the dynamite flashes, the building imploding and the dust clouds rising. Neighborhood was well informed of events and time.

highnote
05-31-2015, 11:08 PM
Sad.

also, who does implosions at 6am Sunday morning? I hope there were no residential districts near by

I thought the same thing. Probably wanted as few people around as possible. You'd think there would be shrapnel flying everywhere!

Wickel
05-31-2015, 11:39 PM
One of my faves. Very sad.

v j stauffer
05-31-2015, 11:47 PM
Your memory is correct. Cherry River was one of my favorites along with Pataha Prince and King of Cricket from the 70s. I believe Doug Oliver trained Cherry River.

That's correct. Cherry River was trained by Doug Oliver. Doug was based at the track in Denver which was then called Centennial.

I'm pretty sure Cherry River won the Bing Crosby one year at Del Mar. He was from a wonderful golden age of sprinters who were around at that time.

Names like. Maheras, Lonetree, Bad N Big and Sure Fire. Sure Fire was the fastest TB I'd ever seen. Fastest until the emergence of the immortal Chinook Pass who IMO was the fastest TB that ever lived.

whodoyoulike
06-01-2015, 12:29 AM
That's correct. Cherry River was trained by Doug Oliver. Doug was based at the track in Denver which was then called Centennial.

I'm pretty sure Cherry River won the Bing Crosby one year at Del Mar. He was from a wonderful golden age of sprinters who were around at that time.

Names like. Maheras, Lonetree, Bad N Big and Sure Fire. Sure Fire was the fastest TB I'd ever seen. Fastest until the emergence of the immortal Chinook Pass who IMO was the fastest TB that ever lived.

Thanks for the info.

HP will always be a special place for me. I saw it during a time when there were a lot of on track fans. I was learning and really didn't appreciate I was seeing the legends (trainers, jockeys and horses). I know you were there at the end. I'm kind of sad I wasn't able to see the closing. Back then even the neighborhood had character as long as you left before night fall.

AndyC
06-01-2015, 01:01 AM
That's correct. Cherry River was trained by Doug Oliver. Doug was based at the track in Denver which was then called Centennial.

I'm pretty sure Cherry River won the Bing Crosby one year at Del Mar. He was from a wonderful golden age of sprinters who were around at that time.

Names like. Maheras, Lonetree, Bad N Big and Sure Fire. Sure Fire was the fastest TB I'd ever seen. Fastest until the emergence of the immortal Chinook Pass who IMO was the fastest TB that ever lived.

Cherry River won the Crosby 2 years in a row.

thespaah
06-01-2015, 11:19 AM
I thought the same thing. Probably wanted as few people around as possible. You'd think there would be shrapnel flying everywhere!
Nope..NO shrapnel....Demo companies that use explosives have procedures in place to limit the possibility of debris flying off the demo site

ReplayRandall
06-01-2015, 11:26 AM
Cherry River won the Crosby 2 years in a row.
Pincay aboard both wins in '76-'77. BTW, Doug Oliver not only trained Cherry River, he also owned the gelding.....

dilanesp
06-01-2015, 03:35 PM
I loved Betfair Hollywood Park, but it's worth noting, Santa Anita and Del Mar are doing much better wrt attendance and handle with the old BHP dates than BHP did. (Los Al, on the other hand, is hopeless.)

So basically, we've consolidated into one major LA track, plus the one in San Diego, and it's better for the sport.

And that's why I can't get too nostalgic about this, even though I miss going to the track. The reality is horse racing needs to close A LOT of venues, and second fiddle venues in large markets are a good example of the sorts of tracks that need to close.

Horse racing in Southern California still has a ton of problems, but it's stronger at SA and DMR than it was when BHP was still open.

Mystic
06-01-2015, 04:10 PM
Hollywood ~ 75 Great Years

https://vimeo.com/120534782

iceknight
06-01-2015, 10:44 PM
They did the implosion at 6am Sunday morning, because there were no scheduled incoming flights to LAX at that time. HP sits directly between the two major runways for LAX. Cant imagine the panic on the planes if while landing you saw the dynamite flashes, the building imploding and the dust clouds rising. Neighborhood was well informed of events and time. Cool, thanks for the detailed explanation.

:ThmbUp:

v j stauffer
06-02-2015, 05:07 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiN4exJbK8A

jimmy m
06-02-2015, 11:45 AM
Growing Up In So Cal I have so many memories. People forget the great Harness Racing there. Spent many Friday nights as a kid going to The Harness racing in the late 70's there would be 35,000 there. I went to all the Quarter Horse races as well. The Late 80's had a Daytime QH Meet I went too and the early 90.s it was night. I think I remember seeing the great Eddie B Walking on the roof between booths too call the different Distancies.There was a booth on the corner of the grandstand that was used for the Mile Chute races. Remember the Big Bullseye on the Turf Course too let the riders know the first finish line or the second finish line would be used. The Daily Seminars in The Cary Grant Pavilion. Andy Beyer did one. My favorite horse was Melair.What a race seeing the Big Grey come down the Stretch. The 70s was the years of the Sprinter.I think Bedside Promise was a great one as well. He was the mid 80s I think. I could go on all day about Hollywood Park.I also spent some time in the Infield for those few years it was open,My 2 Favorite racetracks Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows all gone. SAD.

whodoyoulike
06-02-2015, 04:28 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiN4exJbK8A


Thanks for providing the link and the memories, it was very well written and the narration was excellent.

In a couple of the scenes, I was able to see the spot on the second floor where I used to stand behind the box seats to view the races with my binocs.

GaryG
06-02-2015, 04:51 PM
The one race I will never forget is the 7 furlong duel between Native Diver and Viking Spirit in the LA Hcp 1965. The black horse got the bob in 1:20 if memory serves. That was 50 years ago....

Anybody else old enough to remember Hal Moore before Henson?

098poi
06-02-2015, 06:01 PM
Just saw this thread. Preakness day I flew into LA from Boston and as I was getting close I knew I would fly right over the track. I lived in LA for 20 years and have flown out many times since then. My smartphone was off and I told myself to turn it on but didn't (damn!!). I was seated at the window on the right side and we flew right next to HP. I mean I could practically stick my hand out the window and touch the track. I saw the Forum, and the casino. The track itself really wasn't there. It just looked like a big sandlot. I was really pissed because I could have easily taken a few pictures. I was able to watch the race with my 94 year old stepmother. She may live to see a Triple Crown winner!

goatchaser
06-02-2015, 06:39 PM
Some of my Greatest Memories in Horse Racing are from Hollywood Park. From the Typecast / Convience Match Race. Miss Musket / Chris Everet Match Race.
J.O. Tobin Beating the Undefeated Seattle Slew under Bill Shoemaker. Getting to see Albatross race when they had Harness Racing along with Sir Dalrae.

On a side note when I think of Cherry River I think of a horse who was fast as hell..and would carry up to 130 lbs.

Always came out when John Henry ran there. As a young race goer seeing the likes of Pink Pigeon, Fiddle Isle, Ack Ack, Cougar II , Remembering Jocks like Rudy Campas, Rudy Rosales, Steve Valdez, Jerry Lambert, William Mahorney, Donald Pierce, Not the biggest names..But Jocks that helped shape Hollywood.

tubesockshakur
06-02-2015, 09:26 PM
The Hollywood futurity was my fav, saw Alysheba run 2nd that year and was there for the B cup when he got nosed by Ferdinand.....that was a tough beat.

Appy
06-02-2015, 10:11 PM
Certainly didn't rank high for spectacular demo jobs. Onlookers cheering as this thing went down had to be seriously hard up for thrills.

chenoa
06-03-2015, 12:11 AM
Sad.

also, who does implosions at 6am Sunday morning? I hope there were no residential districts near by


Anything goes in Inglewood at anytime!!!

goatchaser
06-03-2015, 02:06 AM
I had forgotten I was there for the first Breeders Cup when there was a 3 horse Finish in the Classic. Wild Again , Gate Dancer and I believe Slew of Gold. Also Remember PAT V Winning a race with a Filly named Fran's Valentine if I remember right only to Get DQ'd.

plainolebill
06-03-2015, 02:33 AM
We lived just a few miles from Hollywood Park, I guess the first time I went was with my folks, probably when I was ~13 - that would have been about 1955. Didn't mean much to me back then, I really didn't start betting the horses regularly until 1970 and by that time I was long gone from California. Still, I feel a little sad to see it gone.

Rex Phinney
06-03-2015, 03:58 AM
I want to thank all the old timers for posting about their time at HP 50 or even 60 years ago. I'm a relative newbie to horse racing and I'm amazed at how long some of you guys have been around it.

Hats off to you guys.

I only made it to Hollywood twice, once to see Zenyatta in 2010 and again in 2013 to see Shared Belief in the CashCall. We have always been more fond of Santa Anita but I made my wife go to Hollywood Park for that CashCall before they closed it.

v j stauffer
06-03-2015, 04:44 AM
I want to thank all the old timers for posting about their time at HP 50 or even 60 years ago. I'm a relative newbie to horse racing and I'm amazed at how long some of you guys have been around it.

Hats off to you guys.

I only made it to Hollywood twice, once to see Zenyatta in 2010 and again in 2013 to see Shared Belief in the CashCall. We have always been more fond of Santa Anita but I made my wife go to Hollywood Park for that CashCall before they closed it.

Shared Belief's CashCall was the final Graded Stake I called.

The last Stakes of any kind was the 2013 King Glorious Stakes won by California Chrome.

What an honor.

thespaah
06-03-2015, 07:04 PM
Shared Belief's CashCall was the final Graded Stake I called.

The last Stakes of any kind was the 2013 King Glorious Stakes won by California Chrome.

What an honor.
Your earthquake call was the most humorous...
Your Zenyatta call ( her 19th straight I think) was IMO one of your best.
Don't know if I told you but on numerous occasions I have had the pleasure of chatting with your predecessor Jim Byers. He was doing radio for the Ok City Barons of AHL....I work as a stat guy for the AHL team here in Charlotte, NC.
We shared some of his memories behind the mic at Hollywood.

whodoyoulike
06-03-2015, 10:20 PM
I want to thank all the old timers for posting about their time at HP 50 or even 60 years ago. I'm a relative newbie to horse racing and I'm amazed at how long some of you guys have been around it.

Hats off to you guys.

I only made it to Hollywood twice, once to see Zenyatta in 2010 and again in 2013 to see Shared Belief in the CashCall. We have always been more fond of Santa Anita but I made my wife go to Hollywood Park for that CashCall before they closed it.

This thread has brought back a number of nostalgic memories at least for me. One of the things I'd like to ask these other "old timers" from the early 70's.

Were there TV monitors spread around the track for viewing during the race?

Or, replays after a race was run?

I really can't remember and I'm beginning to worry.

I just remember rushing the rails (aka railbirds) once the race started. You only really saw how the race was going only when the horses reached the top of the stretch which is one of the reasons I started to bring binocs. to the track(s). This was before the internet so no video replays or racing info once at home. I only received info from the DRF (the hard copy kind which was about $1.25 per). The only book I had read at the time was Ainslie's and I'm uncertain if there were even others available.

And, you young guys and girls think it's difficult handicapping now. Remember this was all pre-internet. You had to rely on your memories, the DRF or what others saw .

Thanks for any replies.

goatchaser
06-04-2015, 01:36 AM
Thought of one more thing about Hollywood. From about the 1/16th pole down to the wire on the apron where the crowd was. They use to have these so called seats. It was just a steel bar with round seats that just went down when you got off them. Anyone else remember?

davew
01-05-2016, 10:08 PM
Is there going to be a football stadium there for a new NFL team?

Donttellmeshowme
01-05-2016, 11:12 PM
Is there going to be a football stadium there for a new NFL team?


thought it was going to be a shopping center

Redbullsnation
01-08-2016, 02:07 PM
Zenyatta, YEEEESSSS!! :(

Stillriledup
01-08-2016, 03:38 PM
Zenyatta, YEEEESSSS!! :(

You mean Lava Man, right? :D

dilanesp
01-09-2016, 01:19 AM
FWIW this story is consistent with the rumors I am heaaring:

http://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2016/1/8/10738990/report-chargers-moving-to-la-with-rams-in-inglewood