Elmer John was killed training at Pleasanton this morning. He was three years old. Pleasanton – or “Golden Gate Racing” – is attempting to fill the void left by Golden Gate Fields’ departure, with a short meet set to start there Saturday. Here are a few numbers to consider. In this, its final year, Golden Gate hosted 8 kills (just through June 9). During the fair season, of which Pleasanton was a part, 11 more were felled. And now this one. 20 kills in Northern California in 2024 – with more to come. Worth saving?
