Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Vintage Photos Of Hollywood Park's Golden Era Before Its Very Last Horse Race
The historic Hollywood Park will be having its very last horse race on Dec. 22 before it shuts its gates to the public forever.
The 75-year-old race track that was once popular with the glamorous stars of early Hollywood cinema will be torn down come January. The 238-acres will be transformed into a mixed-use space of commercial retail and office spaces, parks, and nearly 3,000 homes, according to HollywoodParkTomorrow.com.
Bob Hope and Joan Crawford were among the first celebrities of 40,000 people to participate in the park's opening day on June 10, 1938, according to The New York Times. Celebrities spent time in ritzy Hollywood Park's members-only Turf Club.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported:
"Fred Astaire used to sit next to me in the box seats," said Vince DeGregory, 81, a jockeys' agent who was dazzled when he arrived from New York in 1970. "Burt Bacharach was my good friend. Vince Edwards ('Ben Casey') would always be here."
Just over a month after the opening of Hollywood Park, Seabiscuit (remember that movie with Tobey Maguire?) won the first Hollywood Gold Cup, and Citation was the first racehorse that made over $1 million in earnings, reported Los Angeles Daily News. Hollywood Park's rich history includes how it was chosen as a host to the first Breeders' Cup, and also had to be rebuilt after a harrowing fire in 1949.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems.
-
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028.
-
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach.
-
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk.
-
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain.
-
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.