After closing in late December after 75 years of making horse racing history, Hollywood Park, officially known as Befair Hollywood Park, auctioned off year's of accumulated memorabilia this past weekend.
Horse racing at Hollywood Park
After closing in late December after 75 years of making horse racing history, Hollywood Park auctioned off year's of accumulated memorabilia this past weekend.
© 2013 by Hollywood Park
According to reports, more than 1,000 bidders nationwide participated in the auction which featured everything from photos and signage to kitchen equipment. Prices ranged from $25 for prints of famous horses, jockeys, and celebrities to $50,000 for industrial equipment.
The first lot in the auction that ended this past Saturday was a scale used to weigh winning jockeys at the racetrack. It sold for $4, 750 to an on-line bidder. Proceeds from the sale were not disclosed by the privately-held auction company.
Betfair Hollywood Park opened in 1938 under the direction of movie moguls Jack and Harry Warner. Hundreds of celebrities including movie stars and politicians became regulars over the years including Elizabeth Taylor, Bing Crosby and Jimmy Steward.
Plans are moving forward for a residential and retail development on the site. In the meantime, nostalgia was expressed by many people with close associations with the park over the years, including everyone from jockeys to food workers and ticket sellers.
The 260-acre track hosted famous horses including Seabiscuit and the first Breeders' Cup in 1984. It is the second major California racetrack to close since 2008, when Bay Meadows near San Francisco was shuttered after 74 years to make way for a similar development.