The decades-old tradition of horse racing at the Sonoma County Fair is unlikely to happen this year due to rising costs and a shortage of steeds, officials said.

Fair organizers are looking for new entertainment to take place during the August festivities in lieu of horse racing, which costs upwards of $1.2 million, Sonoma County Fair CEO Matthew Daly said Monday.

“Unless something extraordinary happens that makes it financially viable, we’re gonna use our contingency plan,” he said. “We’re basically planning a fair with it and without it.”

Also fueling the problems are the increased purses for winners and the closures of Bay Area horse track and training facilities such as, Berkeley’s Golden Gate Fields in June.

Fewer tracks and training facilities forced California’s horse racing industry to move to Southern California and deplete entries for the Sonoma County Fair.

Daly said concerns about the feasibility of horse racing had been growing in recent years but only now has become a reality.

County Fair officials, on Feb. 4, announced they would not apply to the state Horse Racing Board for a license to hold racing this year.

Daly said they have until May, when the application process begins, to decide if they want to reverse course and lift the suspension.

Until then, officials will consider other activities for the fairgrounds’ horse track.

Daly mentioned tractor pulling as a possible option, but added existing entertainment could also be relocated to the track. Another option could be turning lower stands into a shaded, seating and hospitality area with entertainment.

Entertaining as they may be, horse racing has historically been one of the Sonoma County Fair’s main events.

Historically, the fair has had about six races per day, Thursday through Sunday, each with five to seven horses. At least 100 horses comprise the event, with others also on the property.

“This property was built on horse racing,” Daly said. “It’s the identity of the fair. Since day one, we’ve had horse racing.”

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi