Hollywood Park goes out with a bang

If you close your eyes and listen real close, you can still hear the roar of the crowd at Hollywood Park.

You can hear the roar of the crowd from the afternoon in 1938 when California’s greatest rags to riches to story, Seabiscuit added to his growing legend by winning the very first Hollywood Gold Cup going away.

You can hear the roar of the crowd from 1956 when the greatest California-bred of all, Swaps set yet another record while winning the Inglewood Handicap under 130 pounds. The Kentucky Derby winner completed the 8 ½ furlongs in a World Record of 1:39 flat.

You can hear the roar of the crowd back in 1967 when California’s star gelding Native Diver had his last hurrah in front of his local fans at the ripe old age of eight by winning his third consecutive Gold Cup by five dominant lengths.  

You can hear the roar of the crowd from the afternoon in 1979 when America’s last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed battled on the lead all the way in fast fractions, before digging down deep to win Hollywood’s signature race like the true champion that he was.

You can hear the roar of the crowd of 1982 when a young daughter of Seattle Slew named Landaluce scorched the earth, and smoked her Hollywood Lassie competition by 21 lengths in 1:08 flat.

You can hear the roar of the crowd over the excitement of an unforgettable, three-horse stretch battle won by long shot Wild Again over Gate Dancer and Slew O’ Gold in the inaugural edition of the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1984.

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You can hear the roar of the crowd from 1995 when Cigar made a triumphant return to California by easily winning the Gold Cup for the future two-time Horse of the Year’s ninth consecutive victory.

You can hear the roar of the crowd when former claimer, and fan favorite, Lava Man won not one, not two, but three consecutive editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

You can hear the roar of the crowd from 2013 and the final stakes race ever held at Hollywood Park, when a talented young juvenile named California Chrome tipped his potential and ran away with the King Glorious Stakes. Sadly, the last roar of the crowd at Hollywood Park came from a few onlookers cheering the historic racetrack’s explosive demise. Now that is a shame.