When the races were Hollywood's place to be seen

In 1930s California, the movies were booming and there were a host of new horse racing tracks. Fred Astaire, Barbara Stanwyck and Gregory Peck were trackside regulars. Attending races was a crucial promotional tool for major studios. The state legalized betting on horses in 1933. In the 1920s, California's conservative gambling and alcohol laws kept rich actors' social lives in check. They went to Tijuana instead. Alan Shuback's new book "Hollywood at the Races" explores the two industries' intertwined histories. He says the newspapers loved them both.

The three most important racing venues of the era had close ties to the movie industry. Santa Anita Park was brought back to life in. 1909.

Hollywood's first racetrack was founded by Hal Roach in 1937. Bing Crosby co-founded the Del Mar raceway in San Diego county in the same year. Hollywood Park was established a year later. Racing-themed films were released between 1930 and 1960.  Horse racing featured in noirs like "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford" and Stanley Kubrick's "the Killing"

Hollywood's love affair with horse racing has had its share of victims. Mickey Rooney lost nearly $1 million at the races in 1940. Louis B. Mayer took up horse-racing to relieve stress. Fred Astaire trained and bred thoroughbred racehorses. Barbara Stanwyck bred and trained thoroughbids. Betty Grable bought a house on the beach at Del Mar. The house had easy access to the racecourse.

Hollywood's interest in horse racing declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Hollywood Park was closed in 2013 and the site is now being used to build a new stadium for the Los Angeles Rams.  There are a few people in Hollywood who own horses now, but the color and excitement that Hollywood produced at racetracks is long gone.