When did Friday night racing start at Hollywood Park

[so.cal.fan]

Some of us have a trivia bet going.
Thanks. :confused:

[Tom]

7:30?

[BlueShoe]

Some of us have a trivia bet going.
Trivia answer, but not the one you are looking for; in the late 60's and early 70's Hollypark hosted night harness racing, when it still was a one mile oval. Tb's? Darned if I can pinpoint the exact year.

[so.cal.fan]

Tom,
post time is around 7:20 pm.
I was referring to the year it started.
I think it was 1991, but others say much later than that.
Anyone remember?

[so.cal.fan]

Blue Shoe,
I remember Harness racing there, it was back in the l960's and early 1970s

I know when R.D. Hubbard owned Hollywood Park, he had Friday night racing, because I can still remember being out there and hearing/seeing him go up on the PA system in the paddock, he always had plenty of drinks down him, and would yell at everyone to "have a good time". He would have the Budwiser girls in scanty outfits parading around the clubhouse!

[Greyfox]

I wouldn't know if this is the definitive answer but I found:

"Friday Night Racing

The success of six Friday night cards at the 1991 Spring/Summer Meet led to 12 Fridays in the summer of 1993, and a full slate of Fridays through the 1998 Spring/Summer Meet."

http://hollywoodpark.com/about-history

In 2001 they stopped Friday night racing and then started it again a few years later, if memory serves me correctly.

[so.cal.fan]

Thanks, GreyFox.
I think they did miss one year, due to "energy crisis" or something like that.
A couple of longtime horsemen I know (won't mention the names) didn't think they had Friday nights all that long.
I suppose they "blocked" it out of their minds. LOL
I remember how difficult it used to be to get up and drive 30 miles over there on Saturday morning after not getting home until after midnight the night before.

I haven't been to Friday night racing for sometime now, but I still remember being in the paddock out there and seeing horse after horse, come over fractious as hell. Handicappers would do well to consider that factor.

[BlueShoe]

I haven't been to Friday night racing for sometime now, but I still remember being in the paddock out there and seeing horse after horse, come over fractious as hell. Handicappers would do well to consider that factor.
One angle that will produce an occasional good priced winner at Hollypark is to note the dates of Friday night racing. If a runner turns in a puzzling bad race after showing good form, check to see if it last raced on a Friday night. Some horses detest racing at night, and will not extend themselves, and turn in a stinker. When they return to a daytime race, they often return to form, and may win at an overlaid price.

[delayjf]

I remember how difficult it used to be to get up and drive 30 miles over there on Saturday morning after not getting home until after midnight the night before.

Not exactly the safest part of town either. I imagine there are several barns that don't race on Friday nights and others that take advantage of that fact. I remember one angle was to play Gary Stevens on any horse he rode in the night cap on Fridays - as it was a live mount and he would not stay for the last race if it were not. The night racing can raise hell with a stables work hours and with handicapper. Does anyone on the east coast bother with the friday night card??

[skate]

rough guess, but i think 91 was too early.


I'd move it up to around 95, my guess.

[so.cal.fan]

I suppose I could go to the TB library in Arcadia and check old chart books.
The Equibase charts don't list the times the races went off.

[jimmy m]

I thought it was earlier then that,Some where between 1988-1990,they had 1 Friday night card honoring Bill Shoemaker maybe 1990 cause that was the year he retired one of those fridays in the early 90s they had a 15 race card.

[jimmy m]

Well i know it was not 1990 because Shoe retired in Feb of 1990 but im pretty sure they had a night card in 1988.

[so.cal.fan]

I sort of recall that 14 race card, jimmy m.
I'm pretty sure it was a daytime card. They never did it again, it was way, way over the top.

[1st time lasix]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: 7:30?

[jimmy m]

My longterm memory seems to be fading your right SCF it was 14 it was 1992 they lost 3 or 4 days because of the riots including Derby day so they made it up by running 6 day weeks.

[owlet]

the 14 race card was 1994. still have the Form.

[098poi]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

7:30?

Don't laugh. I just saw this thread and thought it should have ended with that one post. It's 7:30 (am) right now and I am still asleep I think.

[clore1030]

Does anyone on the east coast bother with the friday night card??

I can remember going to Meadowlands after work on a few Fridays - but I'm going back 30 years. I haven't even played a horse racing there in almost twenty years.