Hollywood Park will build a new six-furlong chute for the Lakeside Turf Course for the opening of the 36-day Autumn Meet on Nov. 1, the track announced July 19.The chute will be constructed on the inside of the one-mile course."It will tuck up against the clubhouse turn," said Martin Panza, vice president of racing. "We took several riders out to have a look at the layout, and they were all very happy with the idea."
Turf sprints will now be contested at six furlongs rather than 5 ½ furlongs, including the Hollywood Turf Express during the annual Turf Festival.A starting gate will remain in the infield for races beginning in the current 1 ¼-mile chute and the new six-furlong chute."It will reduce traffic on the course because the gate won't be rolling on the backstretch every time we schedule a sprint," Panza said. "The distance will be advantageous if horsemen have a route horse they are trying to get ready. This should help us with field size."
