The Hollywood Turf Club was formed under the chairmanship of Jack L. Warner (of the Warner Brothers film corporation). The 600 original shareholders included many stars, directors and producers of the film world, such as Al Jolson and Raoul Walsh (two of the original directors of the board), Joan Blondell, Ronald Colman, Walt Disney, Bing Crosby, Sam Goldwyn, Darryl Zanuck, George Jessel, Ralph Bellamy, Hal Wallis, Anatole Litvak, Hunt Stromberg, Wallace Beery, Irene Dunne and the late Mervyn LeRoy (director of Hollywood Park from 1941 until his death in 1986).
First Film PatrolThe "binocular camera", a lightweight movie camera attached to binoculars, was introduced in 1941. It was used by eight patrol judges, each recording a section of the race. The film was spliced and viewed by the stewards the following morning. This system was refined in 1945 when cameras were installed in towers.
Racing Suspended During World War II
Hollywood Park was used as a storage facility from 1942-44 in association with the war effort, opening only for a brief War Charities meeting in November, 1944.
First Transcontinental Air Shipper
Woolford Farm's Historian traveled by air from Chicago to start in the 1946 Gold Cup - the first time a runner was shipped by air to compete in a specific race. He finished third, but later equaled a then-world record in winning the 1 5/8-mile Sunset Handicap.
Fire of 1949
Two weeks before the 1949 meeting the grandstand and clubhouse became a quarter-mile-long inferno. The ’49 summer meeting was conducted at Santa Anita, with Hollywood Park re-opening in the summer of 1950.
Million-Dollar Horse
Citation became racing's first million-dollar earner by winning the 1951 Hollywood Gold Cup under Steve Brooks while making his final start.
Triple Dead-Heat
First triple dead-heat for win at Hollywood Park occurred on July 3, 1957, when $5,000 claimers Joe’s Pleasure (George Taniguchi), Challenger Tom (Bill Shoemaker) and Leaful (William Harmatz) could not be separated.
Turf Course Opens
The Lakeside Turf Course, featuring four chutes, opened on May 10, 1967. Old Mose, with Jerry Lambert up, won the first race on the course.
Exacta Wagering
Hollywood Park pioneered the exacta in 1971.
Major Expansion
A $3 million expansion project in 1972 doubled the size of the Turf Club, added the Winner's Circle Dining Room to the Clubhouse, and renovated the stable area.
Match RaceGlen Hill Farm’s Convenience, trained by Willard Proctor and ridden by Jerry Lambert, defeated Westerly Stud’s favored Typecast (Bill Shoemaker up) in a 1972 match race which drew 53,575 to Hollywood Park. Convenience won the $250,000 winner-take-all-purse by a head, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 3/5.
Sunday Racing
Sunday racing was introduced to Californians at Hollywood Park on April 15, 1973. (The legislation was introduced under Gov. Ronald Reagan's administration.)
Handle Record
Hollywood Park became the first track to average more than $4 million in daily handle in 1977.
Wagering Revolutionized
Amtote's TM 300 wagering system revolutionized wagering habits in 1979 with multiple bet tickets and betting and cashing at the same window. Early Bird Wagering was also introduced.
Two-Million Dollar Horse
Harbor View Farm's Affirmed became racing's first $2-million winner with a victory in the 1979 Hollywood Gold Cup under jockey Laffit Pincay Jr.
Attendance Record
Hollywood Park, a trendsetter in giveaway premiums, attracted a record crowd of 80,348 with a tote bag giveaway on May 4, 1980.
Pick Six
The Pick Six, an exciting and successful innovation in California and a forerunner to the Perfect Six, was introduced at Hollywood Park by Vernon O. Underwood on June 7, 1980.
Miss Musket-Chris EvertEastern standout Chris Evert, with Jorge Velasquez, defeated Aaron U. Jones’ western star Miss Musket, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., by 50 lengths in a 1974 match race. Each owner put up $100,000 and the track added $150,000 for record purse of $350,000.
Handle Record
Hollywood Park became the first track to average more than $5 million in mutuel handle in 1980.
Perfect Six
The Perfect Six was introduced to the U.S. on June 24, 1983. The bet, now known as the Pick Six, introduced the popular carryover provision.
Four-Million Dollar Horse
Dotsam Stable's seven-time Eclipse Award winner John Henry became the first horse to surpass $4 million in career earnings with a win in the 1983 Hollywood Turf Cup under jockey Chris McCarron.
Million-Dollar RaceWith a purse of $1,049,725, the 1983 Hollywood Futurity was not only the first million-dollar race for Thoroughbred 2-year-olds, it was the richest race staged for Thoroughbreds at the time. Sandy Hawley rode Gary Jones trainee Fali Time to victory for owners James L. Mamakos and Dr. Marc Stubrin.
New Main Track
The 1 1/8-mile main track, incorporating a 1,321-foot stretch, was opened on Nov. 7, 1984. The extended chute permits one-mile races around one turn.
Inaugural Breeders' Cup
Before a crowd of 64,625 and an estimated 50 million viewers, Hollywood Park was host to the inaugural Breeders' Cup on Nov. 7, 1984, handling a then-record $11,466,941.
Off-Track Wagering Outlets
Hollywood Park blazed the trail for off-track wagering in Southern California, with outlets at Del Mar, San Bernardino and Ventura during the 1987 autumn meeting. The three outlets handled $143,218,724 during the 27-day stand, an average of $855,881.