Unzip Me Wins Maddy in Oak Tree Opener

Hollywood Park, known as “the track of the lakes and flowers” has a new mantle as “the track of the lakes and the Oak Tree” now that the Oak Tree Racing Association has officially commenced its annual fall meeting at the Inglewood, California, facility.

Oak Tree had conducted its meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia since 1969 but moved cross-town to Hollywood for this year following issues with Santa Anita’s new owner, MI Developments Inc., as well as the surface there.

Yellow letters spelled out Oak Tree on a terrace behind an infield lake. A graphic of a gold oak tree on the Oak Tree Racing Association logo was visible on the toteboard.

“Oak Tree at Hollywood Park is under way!” said track announcer Vic Stauffer as the field broke from the gate in the first race at 7:05 PDT to open a nine-race card followed by a Sugar Ray concert during a balmy evening.