Hollywood Park cancels turf racing at Autumn Meet

Citing dissatisfaction with its newly installed turf course, Hollywood Park

has canceled turf racing during its 31-day Autumn Meet, which begins November 9.

"The course did not meet our expectations," Hollywood Park General Manager

Eual G. Wyatt Jr. said. "We don't want to mislead anyone or put any individuals

or horses in jeopardy. We're doing what is right under the circumstances and

will begin work immediately on the installation of a new course."

The 11 stakes races scheduled for the turf course -- including the six Turf

Festival races over Thanksgiving Weekend -- will not be run. They include the

$500,000 Hollywood Derby (G1), $500,000 Matriarch S. (G1) and $400,000

Citation H. (G1).

The purse money from all eight graded races scheduled for the turf course will be

redirected to overnight purses. The other graded grass races that have been

cancelled are the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup H. (G1), $150,000 Dahlia H. (G2),

$150,000 Hollywood Turf Express H. (G3), $100,000 Generous S. (G3) and $100,000 Miesque S. (G3).

"The total monies for overnight purses will be increased significantly as a

result," Hollywood Park Racing Secretary Martin Panza said. "We will be working

with the Thoroughbred Owners of California on a revised purse structure that

will benefit those who participate at the meeting."