1938-2013: Goodbye to Hollywood Park
 

For those that missed Tom Shapiro on ATR today, the grandson of Louis K. Shapiro assuaged concerns regarding the relocation of Native Diver's remains and Hollywood Park Memorial statue. Though Shapiro preferred to remain mum on where the new site will be, he guaranteed the topic has been addressed with track management and an announcement will be made soon with specifics.

Though Landaluce and Great Communicator not come up as part of the conversation, it would be logical to expect similar arrangements are underway for them as well. I'll try to confirm that.

Shapiro was terrific recounting his growing up at Hollywood and the family's Canoga Park farm. Don't miss it. Includes Harry Henson call of '67 HOL Gold Cup: http://www.thoroughbredracingradione...y=10&Itemid=35

#ATRHollywoodMemories continue Wednesday with Tom Proctor.

Thanks Steve. Great piece to listen to. I grew up in Canoga Park, just down the street from the Shapiros' farm. The farm was gone by the time i reached my teens and became a race fan. But i have recollections of visiting the horses at the farm while i was in grade school. At the time i had no idea horses were used to run in races, just thought of them as riding horses. Thanks for bringing back some childhood memories...

I thoroughly enjoyed that segment, Steve, and look forward to the next.

......grew up there as well, never knew about a horse farm.

Or about Devonshire Downs? Google for some cool pics.

(I'm in Northridge)

Hopefully this link works, one cool pic of a wiggle runner with the hills in the back.

http://digital-library.csun.edu/cdm/...r/title/ad/asc

Northridge? Please tell me you didn't move from New England to Northridge!

Though I suppose one could make a case Northridge is better than Canoga Park.

Sherwood Forest is quite lovely this time of year. :D

Plus when Rockingham closed...what was one to do?!

.......this was back in the early to late seventies. the valley has taken a few steps back since then.

The west end of the valley was a great place to grow up in the 70's. The farm was just down the street on Cohasset i believe.

A Last Hurrah for Hollywood Park
 

From the New York Times....

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/sp...pagewanted=all

i reminded my youngest that he needed to try to get by there before they shut down. hopefully he'll make it.

In my lifetime, I have lost my hometown quarterhorse track ... twice (Parr Meadows, Suffolk Meadows) and I have lost my hometown harness track (Roosevelt Raceway).

Both of these venues have since been cleared to make room for housing and commercial progress. How I wish I could experience just one more day at either of the two; once they are rubble, the only thing that remains is your memory - and maybe some internet pictures.

Perhaps, I no longer understand what real-estate progress means.

Perhaps, I no longer understand the concept of an optimal use of prime real estate.

However, I do know that tearing down Hollywood Park is nothing more than a hollow sense of progress.

its sad when one of the biggest racetracks in the country on one of the biggest circuits in the country can't remain economically viable

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...million-595536

The old Great Western Forum gets to stay and Hollywood Park gets the boot?

I got to spend time with the Rosalind camp two weeks ago! I was inside the walking ring with all of them.

I'll be sad that it's gone. That was a good last visit ever though for me.

Native Diver to Del Mar, Landaluce to Spendthrift. Great Communicator in limbo.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ing-to-del-mar

Field size for this weekend should be large for the sendoff

From what i remember Parr Meadows didnt last very long, but Roosevelt Raceway ? That easily had the largest crowds on a friday and Sat night i have ever seen at a Racetrack...Great memories.

was thinking of going sunday, only live 35 miles away......last time i was there was last summer and it was kind of sad because it has become so run down.