By Bloodhorse.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 27, 2020) — The framework for a summer racing season in Northern California was discussed during a May 27 teleconference of the California Horse Racing Board Race Dates Committee, though the finalization of dates will not take place until the CHRB regular monthly meeting June 11.
Under dates mentioned by committee members Oscar Gonzales and Wendy Mitchell, the summer racing season in Northern California could include an Alameda County Fair race meet at Pleasanton from June 19-July 12 followed by a Cal Expo at Pleasanton meet from July 17-Aug 2.
Those dates would be contingent on Pleasanton receiving authorization from the Alameda County Public Health Department to race amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and CHRB approval at the June 11 meeting.
Golden Gate Fields, currently running spectatorless and set to race through June 14, could pick up summer fair dates, resuming racing Aug. 7 and staging a Santa Rosa at Golden Gate meet through Aug. 16. It could then continue with other race dates through Oct. 4, after which Fresno could potentially race.
The committee heard from track officials and California horsemen representatives over a 70-minute discussion.
Thoroughbred Owners of California president and CEO Greg Avioli said his organization backs continued racing at Golden Gate until which time that fair racing in California would actually take place during active fairs, which draw thousands of visitors for carnival rides and other festivities. Many fairs in California have been canceled due to COVID-19, including the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton.
Jerome Hoban, Alameda County Fair CEO, said his organization would be excited to race for seven weeks, keeping a portion of fair racing intact.
“Hundreds of jobs are at stake here for us, as well as for the racing industry,” he said. “We’re excited about this. We’re also lockstep with the county health with all our events on the fairgrounds, not just horse racing, to reopen and get things going again. We’re very confident we can perform in this uncertain time and we look forward to this decision and all the support that has been shown.”
Aidan Butler, the acting executive director of California operations for The Stronach Group, which operates Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate in the state, was agreeable to keeping Golden Gate open for training beyond its scheduled race meet. He said the California Authority of Racing Fairs would need to compensate TSG for the normal cost of training operations, $17,000 a day for six days of a week, though he stated current costs are higher due to cleaning requirements from COVID-19 health protocols.
In response to a question from a horseperson, he said Golden Gate would be willing to host periodic Arabian races during a fair meet at the track.
Ian McLean, a Thoroughbred owner and breeder that races in Northern California, expressed frustration that a determination on the racing schedule would not be made by the CHRB until June 11, roughly a week before Pleasanton would begin racing.
“I have five of 12 turf horses. I need to know today if those horses are staying in the state for the summer or if I need to make arrangements to race on grass elsewhere,” he said.
Gonzales answered that the CHRB was obligated by California procedures that require a notification period before race dates are decided. This comes in a year in which racing schedules are in flux due to COVID-19.