Hollywood closing now official..

[my miss storm cat]

What happens to the Hollywood Gold Cup wall and the Native Diver monument? The final resting places of Great Communicator and Landaluce, the statue of Swaps... what happens now?

The first time I ever went to the track was for the 2004 Hollywood Derby. I was awestruck and those horses were always my favorites to follow.

Inglewood or not it's a fantastic place overflowing with history. Not a great neighborhood but once you're inside the track itself it is its own world.

I'll miss going there.

[Aly-Sheba]

This day at Hollywood Park was amazing back in 1977. We had to get there around 9am to get a seat and the place was packed. I just remember getting goosebumps as everyone was yelling Shoe, Shoe, Shoe coming down the stretch of the swaps Stakes!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFmKe4t-V8s

[alysheba4]

i believe the Great Native Diver is buried there

[robfla]

Originally Posted by alysheba4

i believe the Great Native Diver is buried there

He is buried in the Garden Paddock under a monument

[alysheba4]

you are correct, its sad....... the track was influencial in so many ways.

[hi_im_god]

12/26-7/6 santa anita
7/16-9/3 del mar
9/4-9/23 fairplex
9/25-11/2 santa anita
11/5-12/7 del mar
12/11-12/21 los alamitos

http://www.drf.com/news/california-d...ns-next-agenda

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

12/26-7/6 santa anita
7/16-9/3 del mar
9/4-9/23 fairplex
9/25-11/2 santa anita
11/5-12/7 del mar
12/11-12/21 los alamitos

http://www.drf.com/news/california-d...ns-next-agenda

Opening day on a Tuesday ?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

What happens to the Hollywood Gold Cup wall and the Native Diver monument? The final resting places of Great Communicator and Landaluce, the statue of Swaps... what happens now?

Partial update...

http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-pa...find-new-homes

[Arletta]

Maybe the Zoo will take the Flamingos

[Rudeboyelvis]

Any one else see a problem with running from Christmas to the 4th of July at SA, then giving the turf course 9 weeks to recover, then run the fall meet over it, THEN hosting the Breeders Cup on it?

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Any one else see a problem with running from Christmas to the 4th of July at SA, then giving the turf course 9 weeks to recover, then run the fall meet over it, THEN hosting the Breeders Cup on it?

Details, details.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Any one else see a problem with running from Christmas to the 4th of July at SA, then giving the turf course 9 weeks to recover, then run the fall meet over it, THEN hosting the Breeders Cup on it?

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

Details, details.

Rest assured, Rick Hammerle is working on those details and expects he'll be able to engineer 'turf rest periods' at certain junctures to alleviate potential overuse.

[joeydb]

Sad to hear this.

There is an episode of Dragnet 1970 where Joe Friday narrates about Hollywood Park and how many thousands of people go there each day to try their luck.

It hasn't been that kind of track for a long time but it is sad to think that it will be physically gone and permanently deprived of any chance of improving.

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

What happens to the Hollywood Gold Cup wall and the Native Diver monument? The final resting places of Great Communicator and Landaluce, the statue of Swaps... what happens now?

The first time I ever went to the track was for the 2004 Hollywood Derby. I was awestruck and those horses were always my favorites to follow.

Inglewood or not it's a fantastic place overflowing with history. Not a great neighborhood but once you're inside the track itself it is its own world.

I'll miss going there.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-b...#axzz2vUK5tqYh

remains will eventually go to del mar.

fyi: don't click the link if sight of the remains will disturb you. there's a photo.

[OldDog]

LA Times photos and video
http://framework.latimes.com/2013/12...ywood-park/#/0

CBS News brief on Native Diver
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/remain...-closed-track/

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by OldDog

LA Times photos and video
http://framework.latimes.com/2013/12...ywood-park/#/0

CBS News brief on Native Diver
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/remain...-closed-track/

Still hard to believe and sad to look at, but Thank you for sharing OD.

[Arletta]

Picture of the year.

Los Angeles Times
"The Lights Go Out at Hollywood Park"
Videography- Spencer Bakalar, Bethany Mollenkof; Production- Spencer Bakalar; Executive Producer- Robert St. John

http://www.poyi.org/71/22/index.php

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Arletta

Still hard to believe and sad to look at, but Thank you for sharing OD.

Not to beat . . .

but the local ABC news team is on the story, too.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...les&id=9461573

I wonder, did they give as much attention to the actual closing of the track?

[Arletta]

Sign the petition to save Hollywood from being torn down.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/su...0z5c/questions

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Arletta

Sign the petition to save Hollywood from being torn down.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/su...0z5c/questions

I recall something similar to this being done with Roosevelt Raceway, which also involved a corrupt deal with corrupt politicians and a corrupt District Attorney who refused to investigate the fraud behind the sale of the land to owners who borrowed the money to buy it on the basis that they would run it as a racetrack, which they never had any intent to do. Unfortunately, it did not go anywhere and the land now has condos which were poorly built that had to be evacuated at one point and a bunch of stores that Long Island doesn't need.

I wish those trying to save Hollywood the best of luck, but I have serious doubts about their chances for success.