Review Of Hollywood Park Articles | Horse Betting

By: Richard Bleuze

Review Of Hollywood Park

Hollywood Park is not as nice as the other Southern California tracks, but it does have character.  Hollywood Park is not like Santa Anita (See Review)or any of the nicer race tracks in the country, but with the current state of horse racing, you should feel fortunate to be able to go here and enjoy horse racing as well as getting to see celebrity sightings.  In addition the public areas of the venue are not the prettiest.

There is a lot of history at Hollywood Park, which offers a lot of flare for the horse facing fan.  However, for the casual fan, Hollywood Park would not be the first venue that I would choose to see horse racing in the Southern California area.  Visit Santa Anita or Del Mar.

You will enjoy watching degenerate gamblers slap their programs and papers around, make noise, and yell expletives when they lose.  Hollywood Park seems to draw a crowd of degenerates in the general admission area.  I like this, however than the high society snobbery that you sometimes do see at other tracks like Del Mar.    

Upon arrival, you are offered three different parking options, 1) Free Parking- still within walking distance, but pretty far 2) $5 Preferred Parking- much closer or 3) $10 valet.  I entered through gate B which was the entrance to the Turf Club.   Hollywood Park's Turf Club is fine.  Entrance for the races was $8 for the general admission and $20 for the entrance to the Turf Club.  Although, Hollywood Park is old, the grounds of the track are actually very well maintained and quite nice.

Upon getting into the Turf Club, I was met by a host to take me to the area where I was to meet my group.  They had a free buffet set up for us, so I took advantage! The food was actually pretty good for a buffet.  In addition, I was impressed that they had maintained pretty good quality of the food despite it being made on such a large scale.

The service in the Turf Clib at Hollywood Park was pretty good and the view of the races was pretty good as well!  Hollywood Park makes it easy to place a bet with plenty of betting areas throughout the building, so you can cash in your tickets and place bets between races.  That night there were 10 races, all of which I decided to bet on, and all of which left me standing at the rails of our section screaming.

Once the races are over, Hollywood Park has a full rock show in the area that has picnic tables.  After live racing there was a free concert.  Although, I am told on other nights it is $20.  The set up is very well done, and the sound is pretty good if you like rock! 

Friday night racing is the best time to go to Hollywood Park since they offer hot dogs for $1, and beers for $1 and $2 until 9p.  Bring your own food, if you can, when visiting this place. I do not like the food here, except for the buffet, as it is your basic run of the mill stadium food.  Friday night hot dogs and beer are $2 and $3 respectively, until a certain time 9pm as I mentioned, after which the prices triple. So buy 4 and make your way through them throughout the night.  Otherwise, it is expensive!  

The SoCal racing circuit draws some of the best race horses in the world, particularly at Hollywood Park. With this place being the former home of Zenyatta, this place has been drawing a lot of attention although it is not in the best part of Los Angeles.  In addition, maybe it is because I am like Santa Anita since it is so close to home!

Hollywood Park,  unlike Santa Anita or Del Mar, you will find some of the people are slow in making their bets and do not make decisions until they are at the betting machine or teller. Thus, I urge you to please make your decisions before getting up to the machine.  Some people, like myself, may be upset with waiting for you to finish making your bet.

However, for $20, you get to eat, drink, bet on horses AND listen to actual musicians play.  How the hell can this NOT be the best time ever?

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