75 year old Horse Racing Track to to close, not immune to low attendance

After 75 years in operation the Historic Hollywood Park is set to close at the end of the 2013 season. Lower attendance and wagering has forced the owner to close the track and develop the land. The owner spent more than $8 million to replace the track's dirt surface with synthetic cushion track in 2006 as a statewide mandate. The track located Inglewood, Calif. hosted Seabiscuit and the first Breeder's Cup in 1984. Some notable star horses to run were Seabiscuit, and Triple Crown winners Citation, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. The track originally opened in 1938 under the management of movie moguls Jack and Harry Warner. Celebrities were regular attendees during it's 75 year run.

Horse racing attendance is not immune from the decline in fan based race tracks across the country. For years auto race tracks have given way to lower fan attendanceresulting indevelopment and this story is a testimony that no racing venue is safe. If race tracks cannot persuade people to attend racing events with promotions, advertising, big races, improved tracks and facilities they will eventually have to close the gates. Either someone else will purchase or lease the track and try their luck or, the land will be developed.

What are possible solutions to keep local race tracks a popular place spend a day or evening? How do promoters appeal to today's population to entice people to come watch a race and spend money? If a 75 year old horse race track near Hollywood, Calif. is not popular enough among America's Elite, what can the auto racing tracks do to appeal to the blue collar urban population that is the main fan base and income for this weakening entertainment?

Jim, I guess nothing is immune.

Ironic that just this morning I posted an article about Carrell Speedway, near Gardena, California - site of the first ever NASCAR race west of the Mississippi - that included this passage below:

Carrell Speedway was built by Emmett J. Malloy in 1940 on land owned by Judge Frank R. Carrell, a longtime justice of the peace and community leader in Gardena. Carrell was a member of the first graduating class of Gardena High School in 1907, and over the years owned a large amount of property in the area, including a share of Hollywood Park racetrack. (Judge Carrell died of a heart attack on Sept. 27, 1947, and hundreds turned out to pay tribute to him at his memorial service.)

Wow, good timing.

Thanks for posting this Jim, When i was about 11 years old, My Dad worked for North American Aircraft in Inglewood. I learned to drive a car in the hugh parking lot. I also sold The LA Times-Examiner newspaper in the stables every morning before school and a big sat and sun paper, I won a new Shwinn bicycle for most sales in a month at the stables. We lived on Century Blvd across from the track.

That's some really interesting background, Jimmy.

Thanks for sharing that Jimmy, it's a small world, and one that personally shaped your childhood. How do you feel about the track being developed? Is there any sorrow there?