FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Big Fresno Fair announced there will be no live horse racing at this year’s fair, citing significant changes in Northern California’s horse racing landscape.

The decision, made by the Fair’s Board of Directors and Management, is driven by uncertainties surrounding horse availability, increased financial risks, and the absence of a racing management collective for Northern California fairs.

“This tough decision was made with careful consideration for the long-term economic health of The Big Fresno Fair,” said Christina Estrada, CEO of The Big Fresno Fair. “It is a necessary step to fully evaluate the future of a successful horse race meet in Fresno, which is one aspect of our annual event that serves our community – both at Fair-time and year-round. We remain committed to exploring all options in an ever-evolving industry situation, and will continue working closely with industry leaders to assess potential paths forward.”

The Big Fresno Fair is determining alternate entertainment options in the Grandstand for our community to enjoy.

Estrada emphasized the Fair’s commitment to exploring all options amid the evolving industry situation and noted that the Fair is working closely with industry leaders to assess potential paths forward. In the meantime, the Fair is exploring alternative entertainment options for the Grandstand.

Horse racing at the Fresno Fairgrounds, a tradition since 1883, faces unprecedented challenges due to recent industry shifts.

• Closure of Golden Gate Fields, a year-round racetrack in June 2024.
• Year-round racing would move to Pleasanton (Alameda County Fairgrounds) under new Golden State Racing (GSR) on October 19, 2024.

California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) Announcements:

• On January 28, 2025, citing financial challenges from the GSR meet and industry obstacles, CARF announced it was reorganizing to focus on Satellite Wagering facilities. As such, CARF would not seek race applications for or manage racing at Alameda County Fair, California State Fair, Humboldt County Fair and The Big Fresno Fair.
• On January 30, 2025, CARF announced all GSR stabling and training operations at the Alameda County Fairgrounds would conclude on March 25, 2025.

Also, the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) announced a reorganization to focus on Satellite Wagering facilities, ceasing race applications and management at several fairs, including The Big Fresno Fair.

Because of these developments and longstanding industry challenges, the decision was made to postpone horse racing in 2025, allowing for further analysis of its future viability in Fresno.

The Big Fresno Fair, the fifth largest in California, hosts over 250 interim events annually.