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According to the 12/11/04 Barn Notes on the Hollywood Park website:

Hollywood Park management, meanwhile, took the fifth race and the ninth race off the turf approximately 20 minutes to post for the fifth after jockeys expressed concern on the safety of the course following last week's rain.

"It became a safety issue and we had to act," track president Rick Baedeker said. "We do not put the jockeys in that position, it's not their call, it's our call. If in our opinion, if we're putting them at risk or the horses at risk, then we take the races off the turf."

And the LA Times had this to say in their Sunday edition:

The crowd booed loudly when it was announced, 19 minutes before the fifth race, that the fifth and ninth races were being moved from the grass to the main track. Bets were already in for the pick six, which had a two-day carry-over of $300,358 and started with the fourth race.

Rick Baedeker, president of Hollywood Park, said that jockeys who had ridden in the third race, which was on the grass, had expressed concern for their safety because of soft spots on the course. Baedeker said that track officials needed to talk more with jockeys riding the fourth race before the decision was made.

Clearly such a move has a significant effect on handicapping. Thus, Pick Six bettors were at a disadvantage by this late change. Some jurisdictions have addressed this problem by changing the rules to say that when a race is moved from turf to dirt after Pick Six wagering has closed, that race is declared an ALL for Pick Six purposes. This seems like a logical and fan-friendly rule.

Since this is not the rule in California, many fan were left with Pick Six tickets that featured turf-meant runners now having to run on the main track. The disgruntled took to the internet to voice their displeasure. Below are some of their comments:

Here's what Del Mar Forum members had to say:

• The President of Hollywood could apologize all he wants, but the fact remains that nothing will be done to compensate the fans who were harmed by this. Hollywood isn't giving anyone's money back anytime soon. I don't think anyone needs Hollywood's apology because if you aren't going to refund everyone's money, your hollow apology isn't worth the paper its written on
• I agree that if the favorites hadn't crossed the wire first it would've and should've been a whole lot worse. But they did, so there really wasn't a whole lot to cry about. Even if your horses scratched out, you still could have won... In that respect the track got lucky. Hopefully there won't be a next time.
• The problem was they did not announce the changes before the 4th race, which they certainly could have done. Nobody is questioning the jockeys. We are questioning the management, which wanted to get the pick 6 money without a care for the players.
• With all the anger about how Saturday's P6 at Hollypark evolved, keep the CHRB in mind as being accountable for part of the blame. Almost two years ago, I submitted a proposed regulation (on behalf of a group) that would have made the situation better on Saturday. The $300K P6 carryover would have been moved to Sunday, the two races (for P6 purposes) would have been declared "no contest" and the P6 would have evolved into a P4. Unfortunately, the CHRB did nothing with the proposal.
• This makes me so angry, that racing officials would treat the bettors like this. They could have announced the changes after the 3rd, but decided to wait
• It's an absolute joke. I played the Pick 6 and left on Saturday, only to later find out that they had taken the races off the turf. It's very troubling, and Hollypark won't get a nickel of my money the last two weeks.

Opinions of Derby Listers:

• If the jockeys told track officials this after the third race, then why did the Hollywood management wait until the fourth race was completed to make the announcement. Why didn't they just make the announcement before the 4th race and extend the post time to give the bettors a chance to make the adjustments.
• I'm glad to hear that the fans on-track were in an uproar at the announcement, but the fact is nothing will change because (yawn) nobody cares enough to make a stink. At a certain point being a downtrodden racing fan is no longer a cross to bear. It's a label we embrace and have a hand in affixing to ourselves.
• You people writing complaint letters, be sure to also write to the CHRB. They are the ones who would drive any California rules changes about how P6 washoffs would be handled.

From fans at the Pace Advantage Forum:

• While safety for the horses and riders is important, repeated episodes of blatant disregard for the betting public continues on a national level.
• This is the third complaint I've heard about this situation, and I still don't get it! Sure there was a pick-6 carryover and and the bettors would like to know if the race is going to be run on the turf or the dirt, but what do you want Hollywood mangement to do? Whatever they do, whether they cancel all turf racing at 0700 or 1000 or 1230 or right before the race, they are not going to please everybody.
• The bottom line is that it seems like all race day decisions made at racetracks repeatedly screw the horseplayers. This isn't an isolated example, it's one of many, and we're sick of it. To suggest that you " don't get it " or wonder what " the big deal is " shows you aren't a horseplayer ( which is fine ) but you also have ZERO understanding of the plight of the horseplayer.
• Its all about the timing! If the turf course was in poor condition when they cancelled, it was certainly in poor condition before the P6 betting closed, and even more certainly before Post for the 1st race. Its common sense to cancel early if there is going to be a question.
• Hollywood Park got their takeout on a $1,269,925 pick 6 pool & I'm beginning to think that's all that really matters.
• You SoCal bettors don't know how good you have it. The races come off the turf, what, 10 times a year?? Those of us who play Midwest and Northeastern tracks deal with this all the time. I've seen races come off the turf plenty of times halfway thru a Pic 4.

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