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Step 1
Visit the paddock.Hollywood has one of the nicest horse paddocks you will ever see. It's called the Garden Paddock and it is located just behind the grandstand. It is usually full of people out to watch their horse walk around before it's shipped out to the track, so arrive early to get a good spot along the railing. Be sure to claim your area early for bigger races because the paddock will get full in a hurry.
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Step 2
Go see the statues.Two of Hollywood's nicest attractions are the Swaps statue and the Native Diver monument.The famous Swaps was a California-bred who set world records while in his racing days at Hollywood. He broke his maiden and won nine-career stakes races while at the track. The bronze statue is located in the Clubhouse entrance gardens.Native Diver is one of the most famous and well-known horses in the entire sport. He won the Gold Cup a record three times and was the state's first millionaire horse. The 20-foot long monument sits in the Garden Paddock and has been the final resting place of the horse since 1969.
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Step 3
Hollywood offers more than just horse racing. The Hollywood Park-Casino, a $20 million facility offers live casino games and is open 24-hours. It also has a 24-hour fitness center, restaurants, personal massage centers and a full service beauty salon/barbershop.
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Step 4
Learn the stakes schedule.If you're going to take the time to go out to Hollywood, do yourself a favor and try to attend during a big stakes race. The park features some of the best horses in the country in all divisions of horse racing which offers you the unique opportunity to see one of the sport's best athletes. The average racing day is very high quality, but going on one of the meet's special days, like the Shoemaker Mile or California National Gold Rush Day, will greatly improve the scenery.
