Hollywood Park Racetrack: Difference between revisions

Hollywood Park Racetrack
	Hollywood Park Race Track (photographed circa 1939)
Location	1000-1050 South Prairie Avenue Inglewood, California, USA
Coordinates	33°57′1.61″N 118°20′16.11″W / 33.9504472°N 118.3378083°W
Owned by	Bay Meadows Land Co. (Stockbridge Capital Group)
Date opened	June 10, 1938
Date closed	December 22, 2013
Course type	Thoroughbred. Flat: Synthetic & Turf.
Notable races	Hollywood Gold Cup (G1); American Oaks Invitational (G1); Hollywood Derby (G1); Matriarch Stakes (G1); Oak Tree Racing Association:; Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G1); Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes (G1); Ancient Title Stakes (G1)

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Hollywood Park was a thoroughbred race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to the Forum indoor arena.^[1]^[2] In 1994, the original Hollywood Park Casino was added to the racetrack complex.^[1] Horse racing and training were shut down in December 2013 though the casino operations continued until the Hollywood Park Casino opened in October 2016.^[1]^[2]

The track was demolished in stages from 2014 until 2016 and the area is now the site of a master-planned neighborhood in development named Hollywood Park after the former track. The most prominent parts of the development are SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL), YouTube Theater, a 6,000-seat performance arts venue, Hollywood Park Casino, and the NFL Los Angeles building, which is home to the NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL.com, and the NFL app.

History

Founding and early years

The track was opened on June 10, 1938, by the Hollywood Turf Club^[3] the racetrack was designed by noted racetrack architect Arthur Froehlich. Its chairman was Jack L. Warner^[3] of the Warner Bros. film studio. Prominent shareholders included Jack Warner's brother and fellow Warner Bros. executive Harry, Hollywood studio executives Walt Disney, Samuel Goldwyn, Darryl Zanuck, actors Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, George Jessel, Ronald Colman and Ralph Bellamy. In addition to being shareholders film directors Raoul Walsh and Mervyn LeRoy were also founding members of the track's Board of Directors with Jack and Harry Warner and Al Jolson.

War closure and rebuilding

Hollywood Park closed from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, where it was used as a storage facility for North American Aviation. In 1944, the California Horse Racing Board permitted Hollywood Park to hold a new charitable season. The board approved an “extensive war relief program” for both 1944 and 1945 and Hollywood Park raised more than $1 million for charities and schools.^[4] In 1949, shortly after $1 million in upgrades were made, the grandstand and clubhouse were destroyed by fire. The rebuilt facility reopened in 1950. Both Thoroughbred racing and harness racing took place at the venue.^[5]

Marje Everett, who sold Arlington Park to Gulf & Western in 1968, became part-owner of Hollywood Park.^{[citation needed]}

Everett became director in 1972 and CEO in 1985.^[6] Circa 1979, the Los Angeles Times said Hollywood Park was "one of the West Coast’s largest and most popular racetracks." Thoroughbred racing took place until July (post time 2 p.m, Wednesday through Sunday), harness racing began in late August.^[7]

In 1984, the racetrack was extended from one mile (1.6 km) around to 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) around prior to the first Breeders’ Cup race.^{[citation needed]}

By the late 1980s the racetrack Hollywood Park, though frequented by celebrities, was near the point of bankruptcy.^[8] In 1989, a group of investors was working to buy Los Alamitos Racetrack in California for $68 million.^[9] Los Alamitos, owned by Hollywood Park, was still under its original ownership as of 1991, though a significant portion of the stock had been bought by external investors.^[10]^[11] RD Hubbard became CEO of Hollywood Park in April 1991, after having purchased a portion of the company's stock in late 1990.^[8] He was assisted in the ouster of Marje Everett by company shareholder Tom Gamel and sports businessman Harry Ornest.^[10] In 1991, $20 million was spent improving the racetrack. That year the park earned its first profit in five years, and despite rioting in nearby Los Angeles in 1992, annual profits that year increased to $5.4 million.^[8] By 1993, the Los Angeles Times wrote that "shareholders at Hollywood Park... are enjoying substantial investment gains."^[12] A card club casino was added to the complex in 1994,^{[citation needed]} as Hollywood Park underwent a $100 million expansion into Hollywood Park Casino, which opened in the summer of 1994. Also in 1994, Hollywood Park Inc. purchased the Arizona-based Turf Paradise Race Track for $34 million in stock.^[8]

In May 1995 after the departure of the Rams for St. Louis, the owners of the National Football League teams approved with a 27–1 vote with two abstentions, a resolution supporting a plan to build a $200 million, 65,000-seat, privately financed stadium on property owned by Hollywood Park for the Los Angeles Raiders.^[13] The deal was put together by Hubbard who envisioned a sports complex with the new stadium and the racetrack together.^[14] Raiders owner Al Davis later balked and refused the deal over a stipulation that he would have to accept a second team at the stadium. After the deal fell through the Raiders returned to Oakland, California. While the stadium plan was never realized, the site became a focus of plans by the National Football League to bring the league back to the Los Angeles Area.

Hollywood Park Inc. suffered losses in 1995, though at the end of 1996, Hollywood Park bought Boomtown, Inc. for $188 million. Boomtown was headquartered in Reno, Nevada, and operated and owned casinos in several other cities such as Las Vegas and New Orleans. Boomtown merged with the casino operator Pinnacle Entertainment in 1998. Hollywood Park was purchased by Churchill Downs Incorporated on September 10, 1999^[8] for $140 million.^[15] Churchill Downs acquired Hollywood Park-Casino in the process, which was in turn leased by Hollywood Park Inc. (later named Pinnacle Entertainment).^[8] The previous owners of the track renamed their company Pinnacle Entertainment to concentrate on its gambling interests.^[16]

Sale and later developments

In July 2005, Churchill Downs Incorporated sold the track to the Bay Meadows Land Company which was owned by Stockbridge Capital Group for $260 million in cash.^[17] Under the terms of the deal, the company, which at the time also operated Bay Meadows in San Mateo, was to continue thoroughbred racing at Hollywood Park for at least three years. According to Bay Meadows officials, the continuation of Hollywood Park as a racing venue after that depended on California allowing more gambling, like slot machines, to the track.^[18]

Some of the Hollywood Park land was sold to real estate developers to build a new housing community called the Inglewood Renaissance. Development began in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

New grass was planted on the turf course after Hollywood Park's spring-summer meet in 2005. Due to safety concerns, however, turf racing was not conducted for that year's autumn meet. As a result, several major stakes races that comprised Hollywood's Autumn Turf Festival were cancelled that year.^{[citation needed]}

After the conclusion of Hollywood's spring-summer meet in 2006, it was announced that a second chute would be built inside the turf course to accommodate sprint races at six furlongs. This followed a similar move by Monmouth Park to build a turf chute for sprint races.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, Hollywood Park played host for the first time to Oak Tree.^[19]

Betfair/Hollywood Park Agreement

The Hollywood Park Racing Association and Betfair US, the Los Angeles-based subsidiary of Betfair that also owns TVG Network, completed a historic agreement March 13, 2012 intended to transform the customer experience for fans at the venue as well as online and on television. Under terms of the five-year deal, Hollywood Park was renamed "Betfair Hollywood Park" in what was the first naming rights agreement for a horse racing venue in the United States.^[3]

Closure and redevelopment

On May 9, 2013, in a letter to employees, Hollywood Park president F. Jack Liebau announced that the track would be closing at the end of their fall racing season in 2013. In the letter, Liebau stated that the 260 acres (110 ha) on which the track sits "now simply has a higher and better use", and that "in the absence of a favorable change in racing's business model, the ultimate development of the Hollywood property was inevitable". It was expected that the track would be demolished and replaced by housing units, park land and an entertainment complex, while the casino would be renovated.^{[citation needed]}

On December 22, 2013, at 6:11pm the final race^[20] was run with Woodsman Luck taking first place, Depreciable in second place and Danderek in third place, concluding 75 years of near-continuous racing in Southern California. The complex was demolished in 2014 to make way for a new residential complex.

In 2014, Stan Kroenke, owner of the NFL's St. Louis Rams, purchased a 60-acre (24 ha) parcel of land adjacent to the track property and The Forum with the intentions of building a National Football League stadium on the land.^[21] Kroenke's 60 acres (24 ha) was not big enough for an NFL stadium and parking, but his announced partnership for the neighboring track land with Stockbridge Capital Group, would fold the stadium into the larger office/retail/residential project planned for the track site by master planner Hart Howerton.^[22]

On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council approved a plan to build a 70,000-seat football stadium on the site in anticipation of the St. Louis Rams moving back to Los Angeles (which was the team's previous home from 1946 until 1994).^[23] On May 31, 2015, with Inglewood mayor James T. Butts Jr. on hand sporting a Rams cap, the grandstand was reduced to rubble in a flurry of timed explosions.

On January 12, 2016, the NFL voted to move the Rams back to Los Angeles by a vote of 30–2, a move of the Chargers would soon follow next year after a failed attempt at getting a new stadium built in downtown San Diego. In October 2016, the last part of the former track, the Casino, was demolished and a new Hollywood Park Casino was opened next door. Construction of the new stadium and redevelopment of the former track site began in earnest.

The graves of horses buried at the track such as Native Diver, Landaluce, and Great Communicator and their monuments were moved to other tracks in the area or to the horses' breeding grounds.^[24] The statue of Swaps and Bill Shoemaker that stood at the clubhouse entrance gardens was placed into storage and will be placed either at the new development or in a new location.

Several 13-foot (4.0 m) ficus trees were saved from the former track property and re-planted within the new development around SoFi Stadium.^{[citation needed]}

Notable events at the track

In 1951, Citation became the first million-dollar-winning horse by winning the Hollywood Gold Cup in his final start.^{[citation needed]}
On July 3, 1977, recent Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew, finished fourth in the Swaps Stakes, a major upset.^{[citation needed]}
Niatross wins the American Pacing Classic in a world record 1.52 1/5.^[25]
The track hosted the inaugural Breeders' Cup in 1984 and also hosted the event in 1987 and 1997.^{[citation needed]}
1991 introduced Friday night racing on 12 Fridays during the summer meet.^{[citation needed]}
The Quarantine Barn, with four six-stall sections, was constructed adjacent to the main stable gate for the 1992 Autumn Meet.This facility permitted international shippers to come directly to Hollywood Park upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.^{[citation needed]}
The 3,000-square-foot (280 m²) Noble Threewitt/Charlie Whittingham Horsemen's Lounge opened in December, 1993.^{[citation needed]}
On December 10, 1999, Laffit Pincay, Jr. surpassed Bill Shoemaker's all-time record for race wins by a jockey.^{[citation needed]}
Cesario (JPN) becomes the first Japanese-bred, Japan-based racehorse to win an American stakes race in nearly 50 years, winning the July 2005 American Oaks.^{[citation needed]}
The race course is replicated in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.^{[citation needed]}
Stafford Repp, who played Chief O'Hara on the 1960s Batman TV series, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 56 on November 5, 1974.^{[citation needed]}

Physical attributes

The track had a 1+1⁄8-mile (1.8 km) dirt oval, plus a 1-mile 145 foot (1.654 km) turf oval. The track regularly seated 10,000 people. A new Cushion Track racing surface was installed in September, 2006 to replace the existing dirt, making Hollywood Park the first track in California to meet the California Horse Racing Board's guideline that all tracks in the state replace dirt surfaces with a safer artificial surface by the end of 2007.

Racing

These races were the graded stakes races run at Hollywood Park. Most of the races were moved to Santa Anita Park, Los Alamitos Race Course, and Del Mar Racetrack after Hollywood Park closed. (All turf stakes listed below were put on hiatus during the 2005 Autumn Meet.)

Grade 1 :

Grade 2 :

Grade 3 :

Ungraded stakes :

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Fast, Erik. "Hollywood Park Casino's Grand Opening Oct. 21". Card Player. No. October 21, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Mazza, Sandy (August 9, 2016). "Take a peek inside the new Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood before it opens". Daily Breeze.
^ ^a ^b ^c History of Hollywood Park, Retrieved October 20, 2012.
^ Meares, Hadley (2018-09-20). "The glitz and glamour of Hollywood Park". Curbed LA. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
^ SC Rewind: Hollywood Park, Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 11 June 2016
^ Marje Everett dies at 90; legendary figure in horse racing - Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 24 March 2012
^ Smith, Doug (1979-06-17). "There's No End of Things to Do Close to Home". Los Angeles Times. pp. CS1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stallings, Dianne (August 26, 2010). "A complicated life". Ruidoso News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
^ Christine, Bill (June 29, 1989). "Horse Racing : Get Out of Dodge: Hubbard Selling Interests in Kansas Tracks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Christine, Bill (February 19, 1991). "Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-06-16.
^ Christine, Bill (February 19, 1991). "Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
^ Christine, Bill (November 17, 1993). "Change for the Bettor : Hollywood Park's Hubbard Fuels Innovation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
^ "The day Al Davis walked away". espn.com. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
^ "First Hollywood Park stadium scenario would have helped horse racing". Los Angeles Times. 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
^ "Churchill completes sale of Hollywood Park". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
^ "Hollywood Park Is Now Pinnacle Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. 2000-02-29. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
^ "Churchill Downs Incorporated to Sell Hollywood Park to Bay Meadows Land Company; Racing Operations to Continue at Historic Inglewood Racetrack". businesswire.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
^ The Orange County Register, July 7, 2005.
^ "Inaugural Oak Tree At Hollywood Park Meet Will Begin Sept. 30; Zenyatta Scheduled To Return In $250,000 Lady's Secret On Oct. 2". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
^ Final Race at Hollywood Park on December 22, 2013 Video on YouTube (Retrieved May 8, 2014 from the OFFICIAL Hollywood Park YouTube channel).
^ Vincent, Sam Farmer, Roger (5 January 2015). "Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Architect Paul Milana on Revitalization and Revival | Hollywood Park". www.hollywoodparklife.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
^ "Inglewood approves stadium plans". ESPN. Associated Press. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
^ Kudler, Adrian Glick (2014-03-10). "They're Digging Up All the Dead Racehorses at Hollywood Park". Curbed LA. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
^ Was this the greatest of them all?, www.harnessbred.com, Retrieved 11 June 2016

External links

Churchill Downs

[cardplayer-20936-1] Fast, Erik. "Hollywood Park Casino's Grand Opening Oct. 21". Card Player. No. October 21, 2016.

[dailybreeze-20160809-2] Mazza, Sandy (August 9, 2016). "Take a peek inside the new Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood before it opens". Daily Breeze.

[hphist-3] History of Hollywood Park, Retrieved October 20, 2012.

[4] Meares, Hadley (2018-09-20). "The glitz and glamour of Hollywood Park". Curbed LA. Retrieved 2020-05-17.

[5] SC Rewind: Hollywood Park, Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 11 June 2016

[6] Marje Everett dies at 90; legendary figure in horse racing - Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 24 March 2012

[gascrisis-7] Smith, Doug (1979-06-17). "There's No End of Things to Do Close to Home". Los Angeles Times. pp. CS1.

[rdwcopilicatedlife-8] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stallings, Dianne (August 26, 2010). "A complicated life". Ruidoso News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.

[rdxlosangelestimes-9] Christine, Bill (June 29, 1989). "Horse Racing : Get Out of Dodge: Hubbard Selling Interests in Kansas Tracks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 19, 2015.

[futurehollyparkb-10] Christine, Bill (February 19, 1991). "Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-06-16.

[11] Christine, Bill (February 19, 1991). "Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 2015.

[aBettor-12] Christine, Bill (November 17, 1993). "Change for the Bettor : Hollywood Park's Hubbard Fuels Innovation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2015.

[13] "The day Al Davis walked away". espn.com. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2018.

[14] "First Hollywood Park stadium scenario would have helped horse racing". Los Angeles Times. 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2020-05-17.

[15] "Churchill completes sale of Hollywood Park". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.

[16] "Hollywood Park Is Now Pinnacle Entertainment". Los Angeles Times. 2000-02-29. Retrieved 2021-12-28.

[17] "Churchill Downs Incorporated to Sell Hollywood Park to Bay Meadows Land Company; Racing Operations to Continue at Historic Inglewood Racetrack". businesswire.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.

[18] The Orange County Register, July 7, 2005.

[19] "Inaugural Oak Tree At Hollywood Park Meet Will Begin Sept. 30; Zenyatta Scheduled To Return In $250,000 Lady's Secret On Oct. 2". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.

[20] Final Race at Hollywood Park on December 22, 2013 Video on YouTube (Retrieved May 8, 2014 from the OFFICIAL Hollywood Park YouTube channel).

[21] Vincent, Sam Farmer, Roger (5 January 2015). "Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[22] "Architect Paul Milana on Revitalization and Revival | Hollywood Park". www.hollywoodparklife.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.

[23] "Inglewood approves stadium plans". ESPN. Associated Press. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.

[24] Kudler, Adrian Glick (2014-03-10). "They're Digging Up All the Dead Racehorses at Hollywood Park". Curbed LA. Retrieved 2020-05-17.

[25] Was this the greatest of them all?, www.harnessbred.com, Retrieved 11 June 2016

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{Infobox racecourse
 |name         = Hollywood Park Racetrack
-|image        = [[File:Hollywood Park.jpg|250px]]
+|image        = File:Hollywood Park Race Track Inglewood California late 1930s.jpg
-|caption      = Aerial view of Hollywood Park in 2006. The [[L.A. Forum]] is visible to the upper left.
+|caption      = Hollywood Park Race Track (photographed circa 1939)
 |location     = 1000-1050 South Prairie Avenue [[Inglewood, California]], USA
 |coordinates  = {{Coord|33|57|1.61|N|118|20|16.11|W|type:landmark|display=inline, title}}
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 |attendance   =
 }}
-'''Hollywood Park''' was a [[thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|race course]] located in [[Inglewood, California]], about 3 miles (5&nbsp;km) from [[Los Angeles International Airport]] and adjacent to [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|the Forum]] indoor arena.<ref name="cardplayer-20936">{{cite news|last1=Fast|first1=Erik|title=Hollywood Park Casino's Grand Opening Oct. 21|url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/20936-hollywood-park-casino-s-grand-opening-oct-21|work=[[Card Player]]|issue=October 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="dailybreeze-20160809">{{cite news|last1=Mazza|first1=Sandy|title=Take a peek inside the new Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood before it opens|url=http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/20160809/take-a-peek-inside-the-new-hollywood-park-casino-in-inglewood-before-it-opens|work=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=August 9, 2016}}</ref> In 1994, the original Hollywood Park Casino was added to the racetrack complex.<ref name="cardplayer-20936"/> Horse racing and training were shut down in December 2013 though the casino operations continued until a new state of the art casino building, the new [[Hollywood Park Casino]], opened in October 2016.<ref name="cardplayer-20936"/><ref name="dailybreeze-20160809"/>
+'''Hollywood Park''' was a [[thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|race course]] located in [[Inglewood, California]], about 3 miles (5&nbsp;km) from [[Los Angeles International Airport]] and adjacent to [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|the Forum]] indoor arena.<ref name="cardplayer-20936">{{cite news|last1=Fast|first1=Erik|title=Hollywood Park Casino's Grand Opening Oct. 21|url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/20936-hollywood-park-casino-s-grand-opening-oct-21|work=[[Card Player]]|issue=October 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="dailybreeze-20160809">{{cite news|last1=Mazza|first1=Sandy|title=Take a peek inside the new Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood before it opens|url=http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/20160809/take-a-peek-inside-the-new-hollywood-park-casino-in-inglewood-before-it-opens|work=[[Daily Breeze]]|date=August 9, 2016}}</ref> In 1994, the original Hollywood Park Casino was added to the racetrack complex.<ref name="cardplayer-20936"/> Horse racing and training were shut down in December 2013 though the casino operations continued until the [[Hollywood Park Casino]] opened in October 2016.<ref name="cardplayer-20936"/><ref name="dailybreeze-20160809"/>
 The track was demolished in stages from 2014 until 2016 and the area is now the site of a master-planned neighborhood in development named [[Hollywood Park, Inglewood|Hollywood Park]] after the former track. The most prominent parts of the development are [[SoFi Stadium]], home of the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and [[Los Angeles Chargers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), [[YouTube Theater]], a 6,000-seat performance arts venue, Hollywood Park Casino, and the NFL Los Angeles building, which is home to the [[NFL Network]], [[NFL RedZone]], [[NFL.com]], and the NFL [[Mobile app|app]].
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 [[File:196, There They Go, Hollywood Turf Club (NBY 10424).jpg|thumb|Hollywood Turf Club, circa 1940s]]
-The track was opened on June 10, 1938 by the '''Hollywood Turf Club'''<ref name=hphist>[http://www.hollywoodpark.com/about-hollywood/history History of Hollywood Park], Retrieved October 20, 2012.</ref> the racetrack was designed by noted racetrack architect [[Arthur Froehlich]]. Its chairman was [[Jack L. Warner]]<ref name=hphist/> of the [[Warner Bros.]] film studio. Prominent shareholders included Jack Warner's brother and fellow Warner Bros. executive [[Harry Warner|Harry]], Hollywood studio executives [[Walt Disney]], [[Samuel Goldwyn]], [[Darryl Zanuck]], actors [[Al Jolson]], [[Bing Crosby]], [[Joan Blondell]], [[George Jessel (actor)|George Jessel]], [[Ronald Colman]] and [[Ralph Bellamy]]. In addition to being shareholders film directors [[Raoul Walsh]] and [[Mervyn LeRoy]] were also founding members of the track's Board of Directors with Jack and Harry Warner and Al Jolson.
+The track was opened on June 10, 1938, by the '''Hollywood Turf Club'''<ref name=hphist>[http://www.hollywoodpark.com/about-hollywood/history History of Hollywood Park], Retrieved October 20, 2012.</ref> the racetrack was designed by noted racetrack architect [[Arthur Froehlich]]. Its chairman was [[Jack L. Warner]]<ref name=hphist/> of the [[Warner Bros.]] film studio. Prominent shareholders included Jack Warner's brother and fellow Warner Bros. executive [[Harry Warner|Harry]], Hollywood studio executives [[Walt Disney]], [[Samuel Goldwyn]], [[Darryl Zanuck]], actors [[Al Jolson]], [[Bing Crosby]], [[Joan Blondell]], [[George Jessel (actor)|George Jessel]], [[Ronald Colman]] and [[Ralph Bellamy]]. In addition to being shareholders film directors [[Raoul Walsh]] and [[Mervyn LeRoy]] were also founding members of the track's Board of Directors with Jack and Harry Warner and Al Jolson.
 ===War closure and rebuilding===
-Hollywood Park closed from 1942 to 1944 due to [[World War II]], where it was used as a storage facility for [[North American Aviation]]. In 1944, the [[California Horse Racing Board]] permitted Hollywood Park to hold a new charitable season. The board approved an “extensive war relief program” for both 1944 and 1945 and Hollywood Park raised more than $1 million for charities and schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The glitz and glamour of Hollywood Park|url=https://la.curbed.com/2018/9/20/17691686/hollywood-park-inglewood-race-track-history|last=Meares|first=Hadley|date=2018-09-20|website=Curbed LA|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> In 1949, shortly after $1 million in upgrades were made, the grandstand and clubhouse were destroyed by fire. The rebuilt facility reopened in 1950. Both [[Thoroughbred racing]] and [[Harness racing|harness racing]] took place at the venue.<ref>[http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/11-28-15/sc-rewind-hollywood-park.html SC Rewind: Hollywood Park], Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 11 June 2016</ref>
+Hollywood Park closed from 1942 to 1944 due to [[World War II]], where it was used as a storage facility for [[North American Aviation]]. In 1944, the [[California Horse Racing Board]] permitted Hollywood Park to hold a new charitable season. The board approved an “extensive war relief program” for both 1944 and 1945 and Hollywood Park raised more than $1 million for charities and schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The glitz and glamour of Hollywood Park|url=https://la.curbed.com/2018/9/20/17691686/hollywood-park-inglewood-race-track-history|last=Meares|first=Hadley|date=2018-09-20|website=Curbed LA|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> In 1949, shortly after $1 million in upgrades were made, the grandstand and clubhouse were destroyed by fire. The rebuilt facility reopened in 1950. Both [[Thoroughbred racing]] and [[harness racing]] took place at the venue.<ref>[http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/11-28-15/sc-rewind-hollywood-park.html SC Rewind: Hollywood Park], Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 11 June 2016</ref>
-Marje Everett, who sold [[Arlington Park]] to [[Gulf & Western]] in 1968, became part-owner of Hollywood Park.
+Marje Everett, who sold [[Arlington Park]] to [[Gulf & Western]] in 1968, became part-owner of Hollywood Park.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-Everett became director in 1972 and CEO in 1985.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2012-mar-24-la-me-marje-everett-20120324-story.html Marje Everett dies at 90; legendary figure in horse racing] - Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 24 March 2012</ref> Circa 1979, the ''Los Angeles Times'' said Hollywood Park was “one of the West Coast’s largest and most popular racetracks.” Thoroughbred racing took place until July (post time 2 p.m, Wednesday through Sunday), harness racing began in late August. <ref name="gascrisis">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Doug |date=1979-06-17 |title=There's No End of Things to Do Close to Home |pages=CS1 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=}}</ref>
+Everett became director in 1972 and CEO in 1985.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2012-mar-24-la-me-marje-everett-20120324-story.html Marje Everett dies at 90; legendary figure in horse racing] - Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 24 March 2012</ref> Circa 1979, the ''Los Angeles Times'' said Hollywood Park was "one of the West Coast’s largest and most popular racetracks." Thoroughbred racing took place until July (post time 2 p.m, Wednesday through Sunday), harness racing began in late August.<ref name="gascrisis">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Doug |date=1979-06-17 |title=There's No End of Things to Do Close to Home |pages=CS1 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=}}</ref>
 In 1984, the racetrack was extended from {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} around to {{convert|1+1/8|mi|km}} around prior to the first [[Breeders’ Cup]] race.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-By the late 1980s the racetrack Hollywood Park, though frequented by celebrities, was near the point of bankruptcy.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife>{{cite news|title=A complicated life|first=Dianne|last=Stallings|url=http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-ruidoso_news/ci_15908295?source=rss|newspaper=[[Ruidoso News]]|date=August 26, 2010|access-date=June 19, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619201338/http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-ruidoso_news/ci_15908295?source=rss|archive-date=June 19, 2015}}</ref> As of 1989, a group of investors was working to buy Los Alamitos Racetrack in California for $68 million.<ref name="rdxlosangelestimes">
+By the late 1980s the racetrack Hollywood Park, though frequented by celebrities, was near the point of bankruptcy.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife>{{cite news|title=A complicated life|first=Dianne|last=Stallings|url=http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-ruidoso_news/ci_15908295?source=rss|newspaper=[[Ruidoso News]]|date=August 26, 2010|access-date=June 19, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619201338/http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-ruidoso_news/ci_15908295?source=rss|archive-date=June 19, 2015}}</ref> In 1989, a group of investors was working to buy Los Alamitos Racetrack in California for $68 million.<ref name="rdxlosangelestimes">
-{{cite news|title=Horse Racing : Get Out of Dodge: Hubbard Selling Interests in Kansas Tracks|first=Bill|last=Christine|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1989-06-29/sports/sp-3751_1_dee-hubbard-dog-track-quarter-horse-track|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=June 29, 1989|access-date=June 19, 2015}}</ref> Los Alamitos, owned by Hollywood Park, was still under its original ownership as of 1991, though a significant portion of the stock had been bought by external investors.<ref name="futurehollyparkb">
+{{cite news|title=Horse Racing : Get Out of Dodge: Hubbard Selling Interests in Kansas Tracks|first=Bill|last=Christine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-29-sp-3751-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=June 29, 1989|access-date=June 19, 2015}}</ref> Los Alamitos, owned by Hollywood Park, was still under its original ownership as of 1991, though a significant portion of the stock had been bought by external investors.<ref name="futurehollyparkb">
-{{cite news|title=Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener.| first=Bill|last        =Christine|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-19/sports/sp-1573_1_hollywood-park|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 19, 1991|access-date=2015-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener.|first=Bill|last=Christine|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-19/sports/sp-1573_1_hollywood-park|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 19, 1991|access-date=June 16, 2015}}</ref> RD Hubbard became CEO of Hollywood Park in April 1991, after having purchased a portion of the company's stock in late 1990.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> He was assisted in the ouster of Marje Everett by company shareholder Tom Gamel and sports businessman [[Harry Ornest]].<ref name="futurehollyparkb"/> In 1991, $20 million was spent improving the racetrack. That year the park earned its first profit in five years, and [[1992 Los Angeles riots|despite rioting in nearby Los Angeles in 1992]], annual profits that year increased to $5.4 million.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> By 1993, the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that "shareholders at Hollywood Park... are enjoying substantial investment gains."<ref name="aBettor"/> A card club [[casino]] was added to the complex in 1994,{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} as Hollywood Park underwent a $100 million expansion into Hollywood Park Casino, which opened in the summer of 1994. Also in 1994, Hollywood Park Inc. purchased the [[Arizona]]-based Turf Paradise Race Track for $34 million in stock.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/>
+{{cite news|title=Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener.| first=Bill|last        =Christine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-19-sp-1573-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 19, 1991|access-date=2015-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hubbard Looks to Track's Future : Hollywood Park: He is working 15-hour days in his new role as president to get things ready for the April 24 opener.|first=Bill|last=Christine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-19-sp-1573-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 19, 1991|access-date=June 16, 2015}}</ref> RD Hubbard became CEO of Hollywood Park in April 1991, after having purchased a portion of the company's stock in late 1990.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> He was assisted in the ouster of Marje Everett by company shareholder Tom Gamel and sports businessman [[Harry Ornest]].<ref name="futurehollyparkb"/> In 1991, $20 million was spent improving the racetrack. That year the park earned its first profit in five years, and [[1992 Los Angeles riots|despite rioting in nearby Los Angeles in 1992]], annual profits that year increased to $5.4 million.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> By 1993, the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that "shareholders at Hollywood Park... are enjoying substantial investment gains."<ref name="aBettor"/> A card club [[casino]] was added to the complex in 1994,{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} as Hollywood Park underwent a $100 million expansion into Hollywood Park Casino, which opened in the summer of 1994. Also in 1994, Hollywood Park Inc. purchased the [[Arizona]]-based Turf Paradise Race Track for $34 million in stock.<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/>
 [[File:Hollywood park 12NOV1951.jpg|thumb|Harness Racing at Hollywood Park, November 1951 (Harry Birdsey, Trainer)]]
-In May 1995 after the departure of the Rams for [[St. Louis]], the owners of the National Football League teams approved with a 27-1 vote with two abstentions, a resolution supporting a plan to build a $200 million, 65,000 seat privately-financed stadium on property owned by Hollywood Park for the [[Los Angeles Raiders]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/nfl/post/_/id/97/al-davis-is-back-where-he-started|title=The day Al Davis walked away|website=espn.com|date=23 September 2011 |access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> The deal was put together by Hubbard who envisioned a sports complex with the new stadium and the racetrack together.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First Hollywood Park stadium scenario would have helped horse racing|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-hollywood-park-racing-20160123-story.html|date=2016-01-23|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> Raiders owner [[Al Davis]] later balked and refused the deal over a stipulation that he would have to accept a second team at the stadium. After the deal fell through the Raiders returned to [[Oakland, California]]. While the stadium plan was never realized, the site became a focus of plans by the National Football League to bring the league back to the Los Angeles Area.
+In May 1995 after the departure of the Rams for [[St. Louis]], the owners of the National Football League teams approved with a 27–1 vote with two abstentions, a resolution supporting a plan to build a $200 million, 65,000-seat, privately financed stadium on property owned by Hollywood Park for the [[Los Angeles Raiders]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/nfl/post/_/id/97/al-davis-is-back-where-he-started|title=The day Al Davis walked away|website=espn.com|date=23 September 2011 |access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> The deal was put together by Hubbard who envisioned a sports complex with the new stadium and the racetrack together.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First Hollywood Park stadium scenario would have helped horse racing|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-hollywood-park-racing-20160123-story.html|date=2016-01-23|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> Raiders owner [[Al Davis]] later balked and refused the deal over a stipulation that he would have to accept a second team at the stadium. After the deal fell through the Raiders returned to [[Oakland, California]]. While the stadium plan was never realized, the site became a focus of plans by the National Football League to bring the league back to the Los Angeles Area.
-Hollywood Park Inc. suffered losses in 1995, though at the end of 1996, Hollywood Park bought [[Boomtown, Inc.]] for $188 million. Boomtown operated and owned casinos in several cities such as [[Las Vegas]] and [[New Orleans]]. Boomtown merged with the casino operator [[Pinnacle Entertainment]] in 1998. Hollywood Park was purchased by [[Churchill Downs Incorporated]] on September 10, 1999<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> for $140 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Churchill completes sale of Hollywood Park|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/09/19/daily45.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Churchill Downs acquired Hollywood Park-Casino in the process, which was in turn leased by Hollywood Park Inc. (later named [[Pinnacle Entertainment]]).<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> The previous owners of the track renamed their company [[Pinnacle Entertainment]] to concentrate on its gambling interests.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2000-02-29|title=Hollywood Park Is Now Pinnacle Entertainment|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-29-me-3858-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
+Hollywood Park Inc. suffered losses in 1995, though at the end of 1996, Hollywood Park bought [[Boomtown, Inc.]] for $188 million. Boomtown was headquartered in [[Reno]], Nevada, and operated and owned casinos in several other cities such as [[Las Vegas]] and [[New Orleans]]. Boomtown merged with the casino operator [[Pinnacle Entertainment]] in 1998. Hollywood Park was purchased by [[Churchill Downs Incorporated]] on September 10, 1999<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> for $140 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Churchill completes sale of Hollywood Park|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/09/19/daily45.html|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Churchill Downs acquired Hollywood Park-Casino in the process, which was in turn leased by Hollywood Park Inc. (later named [[Pinnacle Entertainment]]).<ref name=rdwcopilicatedlife/> The previous owners of the track renamed their company [[Pinnacle Entertainment]] to concentrate on its gambling interests.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2000-02-29|title=Hollywood Park Is Now Pinnacle Entertainment|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-29-me-3858-story.html|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
 ===Sale and later developments===
 In July 2005, [[Churchill Downs Incorporated]] sold the track to the Bay Meadows Land Company which was owned by [[Stockbridge Capital Group]] for $260 million in cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050706005928/en/Churchill-Downs-Incorporated-Sell-Hollywood-Park-Bay|title=Churchill Downs Incorporated to Sell Hollywood Park to Bay Meadows Land Company; Racing Operations to Continue at Historic Inglewood Racetrack|website=businesswire.com|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Under the terms of the deal, the company, which at the time also operated [[Bay Meadows]] in [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], was to continue thoroughbred racing at Hollywood Park for at least three years. According to Bay Meadows officials, the continuation of Hollywood Park as a racing venue after that depended on California allowing more gambling, like slot machines, to the track.<ref>''[[The Orange County Register]]'', July 7, 2005.</ref>
-Some of the Hollywood Park land was sold to real estate developers to build a new housing community called the Inglewood Renaissance. Development began in 2005.
+Some of the Hollywood Park land was sold to real estate developers to build a new housing community called the Inglewood Renaissance. Development began in 2005.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-New grass was planted on the turf course after Hollywood Park's spring-summer meet in 2005. Due to safety concerns, however, turf racing was not conducted for that year's autumn meet. As a result, several major stakes races that comprised Hollywood's Autumn Turf Festival were cancelled that year.
+New grass was planted on the turf course after Hollywood Park's spring-summer meet in 2005. Due to safety concerns, however, turf racing was not conducted for that year's autumn meet. As a result, several major stakes races that comprised Hollywood's Autumn Turf Festival were cancelled that year.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-After the conclusion of Hollywood's spring-summer meet in 2006, it was announced that a second chute would be built inside the turf course to accommodate sprint races at six furlongs. This followed a similar move by [[Monmouth Park]] to build a turf chute for sprint races.
+After the conclusion of Hollywood's spring-summer meet in 2006, it was announced that a second chute would be built inside the turf course to accommodate sprint races at six furlongs. This followed a similar move by [[Monmouth Park]] to build a turf chute for sprint races.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
 In 2010, Hollywood Park played host for the first time to Oak Tree.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hollywoodpark.com/news/inaugural-oak-tree-at-hollywood-park-meet-will-begin-sept-30-zenyatta-scheduled-to-return-in-250000-lady-s-secret-on-oct-2 |title=Inaugural Oak Tree At Hollywood Park Meet Will Begin Sept. 30; Zenyatta Scheduled To Return In $250,000 Lady's Secret On Oct. 2 |access-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307055712/http://hollywoodpark.com/news/inaugural-oak-tree-at-hollywood-park-meet-will-begin-sept-30-zenyatta-scheduled-to-return-in-250000-lady-s-secret-on-oct-2 |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 ===Closure and redevelopment===
 [[File:Futur SoFi Stadium - N607AS 737 Alaska Airlines flights PDX-LAX.jpg|thumb|Former racetrack site, in 2015]]
-On May 9, 2013 in a letter to employees, Hollywood Park president F. Jack Liebau announced that the track would be closing at the end of their fall racing season in 2013. In the letter, Liebau stated that the 260 acres on which the track sits "now simply has a higher and better use", and that "in the absence of a favorable change in racing's business model, the ultimate development of the Hollywood property was inevitable". It was expected that the track would be demolished and replaced by housing units, park land and an entertainment complex, while the casino would be renovated.
+On May 9, 2013, in a letter to employees, Hollywood Park president F. Jack Liebau announced that the track would be closing at the end of their fall racing season in 2013. In the letter, Liebau stated that the {{convert|260|acre|ha}} on which the track sits "now simply has a higher and better use", and that "in the absence of a favorable change in racing's business model, the ultimate development of the Hollywood property was inevitable". It was expected that the track would be demolished and replaced by housing units, park land and an entertainment complex, while the casino would be renovated.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-On December 22, 2013 at 6:11pm the final race<ref>{{YouTube|31e7Rd_OtcI Final Race at Hollywood Park on December 22, 2013}} (Retrieved May 8, 2014 from the OFFICIAL Hollywood Park YouTube channel).</ref> was run with Woodsman Luck taking first place, Depreciable in second place and Danderek in third place, concluding 75 years of near-continuous racing in [[Southern California]]. The complex was demolished in 2014 to make way for a new residential complex.
+On December 22, 2013, at 6:11pm the final race<ref>{{YouTube|31e7Rd_OtcI Final Race at Hollywood Park on December 22, 2013}} (Retrieved May 8, 2014 from the OFFICIAL Hollywood Park YouTube channel).</ref> was run with Woodsman Luck taking first place, Depreciable in second place and Danderek in third place, concluding 75 years of near-continuous racing in [[Southern California]]. The complex was demolished in 2014 to make way for a new residential complex.
-In 2014, [[Stan Kroenke]], owner of the NFL's [[St. Louis Rams]], purchased a 60-acre parcel of land adjacent to the track property and [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] with the intentions of building a National Football League stadium on the land.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-0105-nfl-la-stadium-20150105-story.html|title=Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood|first=Sam Farmer, Roger|last=Vincent|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=5 January 2015 |access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Kroenke's 60 acres was not big enough for an NFL stadium and parking, but his announced partnership for the neighboring track land with Stockbridge Capital Group, would fold the stadium into the larger office/retail/residential project planned for the track site by master planner Hart Howerton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodparklife.com/hpl/paul-milana-on-revitalization-and-revival/|title=Architect Paul Milana on Revitalization and Revival {{!}} Hollywood Park|website=www.hollywoodparklife.com|access-date=2016-04-11}}</ref>
+In 2014, [[Stan Kroenke]], owner of the NFL's [[St. Louis Rams]], purchased a {{convert|60|acre|ha|adj=on}} parcel of land adjacent to the track property and [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] with the intentions of building a National Football League stadium on the land.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-0105-nfl-la-stadium-20150105-story.html|title=Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood|first=Sam Farmer, Roger|last=Vincent|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=5 January 2015 |access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Kroenke's {{convert|60|acre|ha}} was not big enough for an NFL stadium and parking, but his announced partnership for the neighboring track land with Stockbridge Capital Group, would fold the stadium into the larger office/retail/residential project planned for the track site by master planner Hart Howerton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodparklife.com/hpl/paul-milana-on-revitalization-and-revival/|title=Architect Paul Milana on Revitalization and Revival {{!}} Hollywood Park|website=www.hollywoodparklife.com|access-date=2016-04-11}}</ref>
-On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council approved a plan to build a [[SoFi Stadium|70,000-seat football stadium]] on the site in anticipation of the [[St. Louis Rams]] moving back to Los Angeles (which was the team's previous home from 1946 until 1994).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nfl/story/_/id/12378821/inglewood-city-council-oks-fast-tracking-st-louis-rams-backed-nfl-stadium|title=Inglewood approves stadium plans|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=February 25, 2015}}</ref> On May 31, 2015, with Inglewood mayor [[James T. Butts Jr.]] on hand sporting a Rams cap, the grandstand was reduced to rubble in a flurry of timed explosions.
+On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council approved a plan to build a [[SoFi Stadium|70,000-seat football stadium]] on the site in anticipation of the [[St. Louis Rams]] moving back to Los Angeles (which was the team's previous home from 1946 until 1994).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nfl/story/_/id/12378821/inglewood-city-council-oks-fast-tracking-st-louis-rams-backed-nfl-stadium|title=Inglewood approves stadium plans|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=February 25, 2015|access-date=February 25, 2015}}</ref> On May 31, 2015, with Inglewood mayor [[James T. Butts Jr.]] on hand sporting a Rams cap, the grandstand was reduced to rubble in a flurry of timed explosions.
-On January 12, 2016, the NFL voted to move the Rams back to Los Angeles by a vote of 30-2, a move of the Chargers would soon follow next year after a failed attempt at getting a new stadium built in downtown San Diego. In October 2016, the last part of the former track, the Casino, was demolished and a new Hollywood Park Casino was opened next door. Construction of the new stadium and redevelopment of the former track site began in earnest.
+On January 12, 2016, the NFL voted to move the Rams back to Los Angeles by a vote of 30–2, a move of the Chargers would soon follow next year after a failed attempt at getting a new stadium built in downtown San Diego. In October 2016, the last part of the former track, the Casino, was demolished and a new Hollywood Park Casino was opened next door. Construction of the new stadium and redevelopment of the former track site began in earnest.
 The graves of horses buried at the track such as [[Native Diver]], [[Landaluce]], and [[Great Communicator]] and their monuments were moved to other tracks in the area or to the horses' breeding grounds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=They're Digging Up All the Dead Racehorses at Hollywood Park|url=https://la.curbed.com/2014/3/10/10134174/theyre-digging-up-all-the-dead-racehorses-at-hollywood-park|last=Kudler|first=Adrian Glick|date=2014-03-10|website=Curbed LA|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> The statue of [[Swaps (horse)|Swaps]] and [[Bill Shoemaker]] that stood at the clubhouse entrance gardens was placed into storage and will be placed either at the new development or in a new location.
-Several {{convert|13|ft|m|adj=on}} [[ficus tree]]s were saved from the former track property and re-planted within the new development around SoFi Stadium.
+Several {{convert|13|ft|m|adj=on}} [[ficus tree]]s were saved from the former track property and re-planted within the new development around SoFi Stadium.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
 ===Notable events at the track===
-*In [[1951 in sports|1951]], [[Citation (horse)|Citation]] became the first million-dollar-winning horse by winning the [[Hollywood_Gold_Cup_Stakes|Hollywood Gold Cup]] in his final start.
+*In [[1951 in sports|1951]], [[Citation (horse)|Citation]] became the first million-dollar-winning horse by winning the [[Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes|Hollywood Gold Cup]] in his final start.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*On July 3, 1977, recent [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown]] winner, [[Seattle Slew]], finished fourth in the [[Swaps Stakes]], a major upset.
+*On July 3, 1977, recent [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown]] winner, [[Seattle Slew]], finished fourth in the [[Swaps Stakes]], a major upset.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
 *[[Niatross]] wins the American Pacing Classic in a world record 1.52 1/5.<ref>[http://www.harnessbred.com/story-no-40-was-this-the-greatest-of-them-all/ Was this the greatest of them all?], www.harnessbred.com, Retrieved 11 June 2016</ref>
-*The track hosted the inaugural [[Breeders' Cup]] in [[1984 in sports|1984]] and also hosted the event in [[1987 in sports|1987]] and [[1997 in sports|1997]].
+*The track hosted the inaugural [[Breeders' Cup]] in [[1984 in sports|1984]] and also hosted the event in [[1987 in sports|1987]] and [[1997 in sports|1997]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*1991 introduced Friday night racing on 12 Fridays during the summer meet.
+*1991 introduced Friday night racing on 12 Fridays during the summer meet.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*The Quarantine Barn, with four six-stall sections, was constructed adjacent to the main stable gate for the 1992 Autumn Meet. This facility permitted international shippers to come directly to Hollywood Park upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.
+*The Quarantine Barn, with four six-stall sections, was constructed adjacent to the main stable gate for the 1992 Autumn Meet.This facility permitted international shippers to come directly to Hollywood Park upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*The {{convert|3000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} [[Noble Threewitt]]/[[Charlie Whittingham]] Horsemen's Lounge opened in December, 1993.
+*The {{convert|3000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} [[Noble Threewitt]]/[[Charlie Whittingham]] Horsemen's Lounge opened in December, 1993.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*On December 10, 1999, [[Laffit Pincay, Jr.]] surpassed [[Bill Shoemaker]]'s all-time record for race wins by a jockey.
+*On December 10, 1999, [[Laffit Pincay, Jr.]] surpassed [[Bill Shoemaker]]'s all-time record for race wins by a jockey.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*Cesario (JPN) becomes the first Japanese-bred, Japan-based racehorse to win an American stakes race in nearly 50 years, winning the July 2005 [[American Oaks]].
+*Cesario (JPN) becomes the first Japanese-bred, Japan-based racehorse to win an American stakes race in nearly 50 years, winning the July 2005 [[American Oaks]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*The race course is replicated in the 2013 video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''.
+*The race course is replicated in the 2013 video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
-*[[Stafford Repp]], who played [[List_of_Batman_(TV_series)_characters#Chief_O'Hara|Chief O'Hara]] on the 1960s [[Batman (TV series)|Batman]] TV series, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 56 on November 5, 1974.
+*[[Stafford Repp]], who played [[List of Batman (TV series) characters#Chief O'Hara|Chief O'Hara]] on the 1960s [[Batman (TV series)|Batman]] TV series, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 56 on November 5, 1974.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
 ==Physical attributes==
+{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
 The track had a {{convert|1+1/8|mi|km|adj=on}} dirt oval, plus a 1-mile 145 foot (1.654&nbsp;km) turf oval. The track regularly seated 10,000 people. A new [[Cushion Track]] racing surface was installed in September, 2006 to replace the existing dirt, making Hollywood Park the first track in California to meet the California Horse Racing Board's guideline that all tracks in the state replace dirt surfaces with a safer artificial surface by the end of 2007.
 ==Racing==
+{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
 These races were the graded stakes races run at Hollywood Park. Most of the races were moved to [[Santa Anita Park]], [[Los Alamitos Race Course]], and [[Del Mar Racetrack]] after Hollywood Park closed. (All turf stakes listed below were put on hiatus during the 2005 Autumn Meet.)
@@ Line 172: / Line 174: @@
 <ref name="aBettor">
-{{cite news|title=Change for the Bettor : Hollywood Park's Hubbard Fuels Innovation|first=Bill|last=Christine|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1993-11-17/sports/sp-57883_1_hollywood-park|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 17, 1993|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref>
+{{cite news|title=Change for the Bettor : Hollywood Park's Hubbard Fuels Innovation|first=Bill|last=Christine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-17-sp-57883-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 17, 1993|access-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref>
 }}
@@ Line 184: / Line 186: @@
 [[Category:2013 disestablishments in California]]
 [[Category:Defunct horse racing venues in California]]
+[[Category:Defunct horse racing venues in the United States]]
 [[Category:Hollywood Park]]
 [[Category:1938 establishments in California]]