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Handle Off Slightly at Hollywood Park's 36-Day Autumn Meet

INGLEWOOD, California --(PRESS RELEASE) -- Hollywood Park finished its 36-day Autumn Meet on Monday with daily average handle of $8.94 million, down less than one percent from the daily average of $8.99 million during a 30-day meeting in 2003.

Total handle for the 2004 meeting was $321,995,649 million, including on-track handle of $47,287,928. The on-track daily average of $1.3 million was down two percent from 2003.

Total attendance for the meeting was 506,303, including 223,766 on-track. The daily averages of 14,064 overall and 6,216 on-track were down 5.1 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.

"While we are generally pleased with the results, we continue to see erosion of the fan base," Hollywood Park track president Rick Baedeker said. "There is no question, the competition from the $8-billion Native American gaming industry continues to take its toll and we're doing our best to work with the Governor and legislature to protect the future of the industry in California."

The Autumn Meet stakes program attracted 17 starters from the 2004 Breeders' Cup, including Turf winner Better Talk Now and Juvenile winner Wilko. In addition, 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Cajun Beat was moved to the turf to win the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express.

The highlight of the meet, however, came in the Hollywood Futurity as unbeaten Declan's Moon prevailed over Wilko and Champagne Stakes winner Proud Accolade in a showdown expected to determine the 2-year-old champion of 2004.

Average field size for the 308 races at the meet was 7.53, a 1.8 percent increase from 2003. Purses averaged $349,717 per day, down five percent from 2003.

Rene Douglas rode 37 winners to claim his first Southern California riding title after dominating in the Midwest in recent years. Doug O'Neill saddled 17 winners to capture his second Autumn Meet title and third Hollywood Park title.

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