“It was a beautiful land where flowers bloomed, the flamingos basked in the sun and airplanes flew overhead. A land where horses became immortal, and jockeys became famous.” I wrote those words in December of 2013 on the final weekend of Hollywood Park Racetrack where I was absorbing the sadness of the end of an era.

Throughout the weekend, I carried a book with me called “Hollywood Park From Seabiscuit to Pincay” by Biff Lowry.  It is a “must own” for any racetrack historian. As I wandered about, I asked folks to autograph it. Little did I know that it would become one of the most unique artifacts and something that I treasure. There are over 100 autographs of jockeys, trainers, outriders, fans, media and more.  It brings back so many memories of that weekend.

Autographs enhance the history of a special place. (Julie June Stewart photo)

Many of the folks who signed the book have passed. There is a sense of loss. Pat the Hat, Julio Canani, Jack Van Berg, Dick Van Patten, and more. There are racing stalwarts. Kurt Hoover, Sarge Hines, Joe Steiner, Celia Gustavsson, Sharla Sanders, Simon Bray, Caleb Keller, Lava Man’s Sabos, Jimmy the Hat, Peter Miller, Jay Cohen, James Corral, Art Sherman, Jerry Hollendorfer, Drayden Van Dyke, Bob Baffert, Dottie Ingordo Shirreffs, and John Sadler. There are dozens of scribbled names that are illegible along with some sad sentiments. I remember standing with trainer Julio Canani as he searched through the book for a photo or mention of himself.  His eyes were flooded with emotion as he sighed “All that history and I don’t see myself.”     

It's hard to be at a track when it is closing. There were already signs of “letting go.” Items were being inventoried. The new owners (Hollywood Park Land Company) were all dressed up and celebrating. Landscaping and floral beds were dying from neglect. Fans were eager to grab anything they could as a souvenir. There was a large poster trumpeting the impending auction. Several fans were cutting vines from the grandstand in hope that they could coax them to grow at their homes as a living tribute to the track. One man was bragging in the elevator that he had scored six leather bound menus. 

“In a way, it was better that the final race was under the cloak of darkness. It might have been too painful to say goodbye to the Track of Lakes and Flowers as the sun gaily shined. Ironically, the back light from the track served to highlight the local seagull flock as they circled the grandstands. Sounds of ‘look out” and “heads up’ shattered the final post parade as the seagulls bombed the audience with a steady rain of poop.”

It is fitting in a way that most of my personal photos of that night are blurred. It’s as it should be when one is saying goodbye. Emotions are strong but through time develop soft edges. There was a harbinger of good things to come when a snappy-looking California Chrome won the King Glorious Stakes.    

Vic Stauffer’s final call echoed the 75-year history of the track as he invoked Seabiscuit, Citation, Swaps, Native Diver, Affirmed, John Henry, Lava Man and Zenyatta in his race call. “That’s a wrap!” We waited for the photo finish to determine that it would be jockey Corey Nakatani (elected to the Hall of Fame in 2023) who brought Woodmans Luck to the winner’s circle. Sadly, there was no closing ceremony by management. The crowd wandered around forlornly after the final race as souvenir hunters tried to drag chairs to the parking lot.

“The black night kept us from resting our eyes on the ducks and geese playing in the lake or admiring one final time the two flamingos that had eluded capture. The darkness hid the backside, and the palm trees became silent sentinels to history. It will all be torn up. It will all be sold. Each piece will be little shards of shrapnel that used to give us happiness. But we stood to witness one final race.” 

I have my wonderful Hollywood Park history book. I also have two champagne glasses from that day. Chris Aplin was at the track auction. She was successful in bidding on a lovely crystal bowl trophy, and she has several of the backside street signs. The cement jockeys have all found new homes as did the Hollywood Park benches.  Now and then, Hollywood Park relics surface on E-bay. 

But we have our memories. You try not to remember watching the implosion and demolition that was played online. Instead, you remember Zenyatta’s mane in the wind as she danced in the walking ring. You remember the great races and the good times. You remember the flamingos playing in the lake. You were lucky if you got to attend races at Hollywood Park. You saw history and some of its glamour. It’s a wise warning to treasure the racetracks that we have left. Nothing hurts more than watching one of our grand old cathedrals come down. Horse racing can still invoke dreams. Our tracks are filled with many special memories. It’s good to remember that.