Start of meet features $70,000 stakes race
Hollywood Park will open its spring/summer meet quietly today, with the biggest attraction a $70,000 stakes race that features a horse named after a baseball announcer’s call.
The first post will be at 1 p.m., which is 20 minutes earlier than in the past, and leading jockey Rafael Bejarano will be the favorite when he climbs aboard high-weight favorite (121 pounds) Backbackbackgone in the Harry Henson Stakes, the seventh race.
The Hollywood Park Meeting, which runs through July 19, will feature the May 25 Shoemaker Mile, the July 5 American Oaks and the July 11 Hollywood Golf Cup. The latter two are $700,000 races.
The biggest day of the meeting, however, will be May 2, Kentucky Derby Day, when Hollywood Park will open its gates at 7:30 a.m. for wagering on the first race at Churchill Downs and start live racing at 11 a.m. Last year, as the main Southern California track in operation during the Derby, Hollywood Park handled $29 million in wagering from all sources on Derby Day.
The track will continue its Friday night racing tradition, and will also have free general admission each Thursday, as well as $1 hot dogs, soda and beer each Thursday and Friday nights.
The first big day of racing will be Saturday’s California Gold Rush Day, featuring the $250,000 Snow Chief stakes. Snow Chief, trained by Mel Stute and ridden by Alex Solis won the 1986 Preakness. Saturday’s race program will be all California-bred horses.
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