Unrest Puts Friday Night Hollywood Park Cards on Hold

For the time being, there will be no Friday night racing at Hollywood Park.

Because of the recent unrest in the city, which caused Hollywood Park to be shut down for the last four days, Chairman of the Board R.D. Hubbard said Friday night racing has been suspended temporarily.

According to a track spokesman, that means at least the next two or three weeks. Post time on Fridays will be the usual 1 p.m. The temporary suspension didn’t appease the California Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Assn. They want a permanent halt to Friday night racing and the cross-simulcasting of quarter-horse racing from Los Alamitos and the harness races from Sacramento.

“We haven’t signed a contract with Hollywood Park, and in that (proposed) contract all we’ve asked for is to have a 1 p.m. post, no Friday night racing and no cross-simulcasting,” said Brian Sweeney, a director of the CHBPA. “We’re not asking for much.”

Although enough entries were taken last Wednesday to fill what would have been the first Friday night card, many trainers and owners declined to enter and said they would continue to do so throughout the meeting. Until a contract is signed, Sweeney predicts Hollywood Park will have trouble filling any racing card. He added that some trainers who entered for last Friday night have said they won’t enter again.

Track spokesman Rick Simon said that more than 50 entries were taken Sunday morning for Wednesday’s card. The entry box was left open, and the card will be drawn today.

“We need to work together to salvage the meeting,” said Hubbard in a statement to horsemen. “Our industry is simply too fragile to withstand a constant test of wills, particularly in view of recent events.”

On his way back to California after watching the Kentucky Derby Saturday, Hubbard was unavailable for comment Sunday, but he is expected to meet with horsemen to try and reconcile their differences.