GOLDEN GLIMPSES SPECIAL EDITION
HOLLYPARK TO REMAIN OPEN: HUBBARD
By ED GOLDEN
First it was Santa Anita, now it�s Hollywood Park.
Both tracks have been rumored that they�d close their doors, but after a $12-million renovation at Santa Anita, racing seems safe at the Arcadia track, at least for the immediate future. And R.D. Hubbard, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Hollywood Park, says rumors that the Inglewood track will close are just that -- rumors. Nov. 8 is supposed to be our key day, Hubbard said, tongue-in-cheek, referring to the 14th Breeders� Cup at Hollywood Park on Nov. 8, because we�ll be shutting down on Nov. 9. That�s the rumor, anyway. Regardless of all rumors, R.D. Hubbard is staying and Hollywood Park will remain open. I don�t know how these things get started. On other issues, Hubbard said: Hollywood Park and Santa Anita have initiated a spirit of cooperation between the two tracks that�s better than it�s been for the last 50 years. His goal and Santa Anita�s is to have the Breeders� Cup rotated in Southern California every three years, between Hollywood and Santa Anita. Del Mar doesn�t fit in (date-wise), in my opinion, Hubbard said. Friday night racing will remain a constant, except on Nov. 7, the day before the Breeders� Cup. It�s just too hard on fans and track personnel. On Hollywood�s involvement on bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles: We�re discussing what we�re going to do. After the Breeders� Cup, we might come forward with our plans. Gentlemen, owned in part by Hubbard, worked a mile Sunday in 1:38 4/5, and will go in the Breeders� Cup Classic despite a supplemental fee of $800,000. I hope Skip Away will come. It would be a great challenge and great for racing. Besides, I�d like to have somebody else dumb enough to put up that kind of money. (Sonny Hine would only have to pay $480,000 to supplement Skip Away, who is not expected to run). We are dedicated to making this the best Breeders� Cup experience ever. This is our day. This is our Super Bowl. |
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