Oak Tree to open first-ever meet at Hollywood Park
September 30, 2010INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - The Oak Tree meet opens at Hollywood Park on Thursday night, the first time in 42 years that it will be run at a different location than Santa Anita.
The change of venue was made after owners and trainers voiced concerns that the synthetic surface at Santa Anita wasn't safe.
The opening night feature of the 22-day meet is the $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap for older fillies and mares. The race will be run over six furlongs on the turf, a half-furlong less than it was contested at Santa Anita, where the course is configured differently.
On Saturday, undefeated Zenyatta goes for her 19th consecutive victory in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes, the final Southern California start for the 6-year-old mare.