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Alameda County Fairgrounds

The days of horse racing in Northern California, other than the fairs, are drawing to a close.

After Golden Gate Fields was shuttered in June, Northern California horsemen attempted to keep a circuit going at Pleasanton. But the board of the California Association of Racing Fairs plans to withdraw its application for a Dec. 25-June 10 racing meet at Pleasanton, according to a report by John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times. The board is unlikely to change its mind about that decision given its increasing deficits.

A 26-day fall meet at Pleasanton, which started Oct. 19 and ends Wednesday, did not attract the level of handle that horsemen originally expected. This led to two rounds of purse cuts. The Pleasanton meet attracted 62% lower handle than Golden Gate Fields, and it accounted for only 2.1% of national horse racing wagering market share, as opposed to the 5% share Golden Gate Fields claimed.

The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita under its 1/ST Racing banner, has proposed a plan of funding off-season stabling at Pleasanton, writing more races that fit Northern California horses, and contributing toward vanning and relocation expenses for Northern California horsemen. Some of the Northern California horses also might fit in races at Los Alamitos, though like Pleasanton, Los Alamitos has only a dirt course, meaning Golden Gate horses who preferred turf or synthetic would not get their preferred footing.

Summer fair races in Northern California are still expected to happen, though the horse population for those races might suffer without Northern California racing the rest of the year as connections either move south, leave California or shift out of the business.