Hollywood numbers down

Hollywood Park concluded its 64-day spring/summer meet on Sunday with declines

in attendance and handle. Total wagering of $667,016,796 was

down compared to last year's total of $679,693,206. The daily average handle was $10.42 million,

compared to $10.45 million in 2004.

The daily average attendance of 7,801 declined 6.6 percent from 2004. The

daily average on-track handle was $1,733,157, down 1 percent compared to last

year.

The average field size of 7.7 was down 3.8 percent from 2004, while daily

purses averaged $432,078, an increase of 4.8 percent over last year.

Advance deposit wagering was a record $49,648,778, up 9.2 percent

compared to $46,155,279 in 2004.

"We're obviously concerned about the decline in on-track attendance, but we

had six Fridays without concerts this year and for the first time in four years

we did not have a horse shooting for the Triple Crown on Belmont Day," said

Rick Baedeker, president of Hollywood Park. "Our big events did give handle a

boost. We were up 6 percent the final three weeks of the meet."

Garrett Gomez earned his second leading jockey crown after booting home 62 winners,

seven more than runner-up Alex Solis.

Doug O'Neill was the leading trainer after saddling 31 winners, including

LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew), who captured the

Hollywood Gold Cup H. (G1) and Californian S. (G2). The former claimer was unanimously voted "Horse of the Meet" by

members of the media, as well as top older male.

The Lakeside Turf course will undergo a major renovation beginning Wednesday

and is expected to be completed well in advance of the 31-day Autumn Meet, which

opens November 9. The one-mile oval will receive a new drainage system, a new

growing medium, and a switch from Bermuda grass to SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum, a

mixture including grids for stabilization and baked clay particles to promote

drainage and root growth.