Hollywood Park Releases $9.475 Million Stakes Schedule

Hollywood Park has released its $9.475 million stakes schedule for its spring/summer meet that begins April 26. There are 31 graded races on the schedule.

The meet begins with the Wilshire Handicap (gr. III) and concludes July 16 with the Sunset Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).

Hollywood Park is offering a record $2.8 million in stakes Fourth of July weekend. The CashCall Mile (gr. III), an invitational sponsored by J. Paul Reddam's consumer loans company, will be run July 1. Formerly run as the Royal Heroine Stakes, the CashCall Mile will be accompanied by the A Gleam Invitational Handicap (gr. II) and the Landaluce Stakes.

The fifth American Oaks program July 2 will feature the American Oaks (gr. IT) and two other grade I races, the Triple Bend Breeders' Cup and Vanity Handicaps. The program also includes the American Handicap (gr. II) and the Flawlessly Stakes. The 2005 American Oaks Day generated a handle of $22 million.

The holiday weekend concludes with the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) July 4.

"We're pleased to have American Airlines continue as sponsor of the American Oaks and delighted to have Paul Reddam's company involved in creating another major event," racing secretary Martin Panza said.

The 67th running of the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) will be July 8.

Seabiscuit won the inaugural Hollywood Gold Cup in 1938 and became the first of nine winners to be named Horse of the Year. The 2006 running will be accompanied by the Swaps Stakes (gr. II) and the Redondo Beach Stakes.

Other multiple stakes programs include Jim Murray Memorial Handicap Day May 13; Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile Day May 29 (Memorial Day), and Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap Day June 10.