Oak Tree to negotiate with Hollywood Park, Del Mar

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The Oak Tree Racing Assn., unable to finalize a lease to hold its autumn meeting at Santa Anita, will begin negotiations with officials from Hollywood Park and Del Mar next week, according to Sherwood Chillingworth, executive vice president of Oak Tree.

A meeting scheduled Friday between Chillingworth and officials from Santa Anita’s parent company, Magna International Developments, was postponed until June 22, the day Magna Chairman Frank Stronach is scheduled to address the California Horse Racing Board.

Chillingworth did not rule out signing a lease with Santa Anita, but he said he will proceed with talks with Hollywood Park and Del Mar, both of whom have offered to hold the Oak Tree meeting.

‘We can’t stall them,’ he said. ‘It’s not fair.’

Oak Tree has run its annual autumn meeting at Santa Anita since 1969.

--Eric Sondheimer