Hollywood Park

Those so inclined will be able to place wagers on three kinds of horse racing from seven tracks in three countries and one other state today and tonight at Hollywood Park. The betting binge will begin at 9:55 a.m. with the first of six stakes from Churchill Downs--including the Kentucky Derby. Five minutes later, the card from Woodbine in Toronto will begin. At 1 p.m., the local program will start. Golden Gate Fields will go at 1:15.

Hollywood Park, known best to date for fading in the stretch in its quest to secure a professional football team, has decided to go to the whip with the enlistment of agent Leigh Steinberg. Steinberg, who represents many of the NFL's top quarterbacks, says he believes the NFL has no plans to expand and no intention of returning to Orange County before coming back to the Los Angeles area.

What a homecoming it was Monday for jockey Corey Nakatani, who left the Southern California racing scene in January to restart his career in the Midwest and returned to guide the 21-1 longshot Victor's Cry to a win by a head over Karelian in the Grade I, $250,000 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park. Finishing in the swift time of 1:32.88, Victor's Cry rallied from next to last in the nine-horse field to overtake pacesetter Mr Gruff, who finished third after opening a two-length lead in the deep stretch.

Longshot Michadilla, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, took the lead in deep stretch and won the $32,000 feature race by three-quarters of a length Thursday at Hollywood Park. Ultimate Pleasure, ridden by Pat Valenzuela, finished second, 1 lengths in front of the odds-on favorite Koshare, ridden by Laffit Pincay. Michadilla ran the mile in 1:34 4/5 and paid $19, $7.60 and $2.60. Ultimate Pleasure returned $7.40 and $3.20, and Koshare paid $2.20 to show.

Heavily favored Laguna Native, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, opened a long lead early and held on to win by a head in the $24,000 feature race for 3-year-olds Wednesday at Hollywood Park. Contact Game, ridden by Chris McCarron, finished second, four lengths in front of Mountaincamellia, ridden by Fernando Toro. Laguna Native covered 1 1/16 miles on the turf course in 1:41 2/5 and paid $4.20, $3 and $2.40. Contact Game returned $4.80 and $3.20, and Mountaincamellia paid $2.40 to show.

Good gracious, I must be a miracle worker. I've finally come up with a splendid way of resolving two of the most pressing dilemmas on the L.A. sports scene. First of all, let's eliminate the joke of a race track called Hollywood Park. Then, with the space created, how about if we can convince Al Davis to construct a new "Raider Bowl." This probably sounds good to anyone who enjoys "real" sports in Los Angeles. WESTLEY NISHI Los Angeles

Hollywood Park Inc. said it hired investment banker Morgan Stanley & Co. to help evaluate proposals from other groups as it seeks a special tax status that could make it an attractive partner or buyout candidate. The Inglewood-based operator of racetracks, hotels and casinos is trying to regain its status as a real estate investment trust that can also operate businesses other than real estate. There are only four other so-called paired-share REITs.

Exchange, who won three consecutive races at Santa Anita after finishing second in her first start of the year, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the $165,200 Gamely Handicap today at Hollywood Park. Rested since her close victory over Trishyde in the Santa Barbara Handicap on April 4, the 5-year-old Explodent mare has two victories in three Hollywood Park grass starts and has won 12 of 20 races overall. Laffit Pincay will ride the 123-pound highweight.

If the company that runs Santa Anita can't make a deal with the nonprofit Oak Tree Racing Assn. to run its annual fall meeting at the Arcadia track, then Hollywood Park and Del Mar are prepared to offer their facilities, executives at both tracks said Saturday. Jack Liebau, president of Hollywood Park, said his track has made an offer to open its facility "rent free" to Oak Tree. And Joe Harper, president of Del Mar, said, "Of course we would be open to running their meet at Del Mar."