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 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 existing 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."
Field size was up 5 percent at the recently concluded Spring/Summer meet to an average field of 8.1 starters - highest at Hollywood Park since 1997.
"This illustrates the continued commitment by the Bay Meadows Land Company to improve our facilities for the horses," Panza said.
Hollywood Park's Autumn Meet runs through Dec. 18.
