Hollywood signal talks continue

Simulcast contract discussions were ongoing Wednesday between Churchill Downs Inc., the owner of Hollywood Park, and a group of at least 10 tracks in middle America that did not take the opening-day program from Hollywood on Tuesday.

The tracks are negotiating as the Southern Racing Cooperative.

"We're in the midst of a multiyear agreement, and we're awaiting clarification from the Southern Co-op as to whether they plan to live up to the agreement," said Karl Schmitt, president of the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network.

Among the tracks that are indefinitely suspending the Hollywood signal are Lone Star Park, which did take races from Hollywood on Tuesday, as well as Oaklawn Park, Fair Grounds, Prairie Meadows, Sam Houston Race Park, Retama, Delta Downs, Sunland Park, Sun Ray Park, and Beulah. The tracks continue to take the signal from Churchill.