By DRF.com
PLEASANTON, Calif. (Oct. 17, 2024) — The Golden State Racing meeting begins on the Alameda County fairgrounds in Pleasanton on Saturday, with the intent of providing Northern California racing with something absent on the circuit for more than a year.
Stability.
In July 2023, California racing was stunned by the announcement that Golden Gate Fields, the flagship track in the northern part of the state, would close. The track’s parent company, 1/ST Racing, which also owns Santa Anita in Southern California, intended to shut Golden Gate Fields last December, but were coaxed into racing through June of this year.
Since the announcement of Golden Gate’s closure, a group of breeders, owners, and trainers, working with the California Authority of Racing Fairs, have sought to develop replacement meetings for Golden Gate Fields.
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The consortium, known as Golden State Racing, was granted racing dates for the upcoming fall meeting by the California Horse Racing Board in the spring, and received approval to conduct the meeting last month. Golden State Racing is planning a lengthy winter-spring meeting from late December to early June.
Launching the new meeting has not been easy. There is concern that all-sources handle will be insufficient to support average daily purses of $170,000. Track officials sought a lower purse distribution, but reached an impasse with the Thoroughbred Owners of California, who must approve purse agreements.
The two sides agreed last month on $170,000 with the caveat purses will be lowered if handle figures fail to meet expectations.
Successful meetings at Pleasanton are key to the long-term viability of racing in Northern California. Without the new Pleasanton meetings, only the fair circuit would remain. Many participants fear such a scenario would lead some trainers to close or leave California.
The season starts with a nine-race program on Saturday. Racing will be held on Saturday and Sunday this weekend before settling into a Friday-through-Sunday format through Dec. 15.
Saturday’s program is highlighted by the $75,000 Bart Heller Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, which drew a field of seven, including the stakes winners Anthonys Cleopatra and Arctic Breeze.
There are approximately 900 horses based at Pleasanton, with capacity for 1,000 following the recent construction of new barns. Field size will be pivotal to attracting attention from simulcast and account-wagering bettors from throughout the nation.
Saturday’s card, for one, drew 72 entries. Pleasanton only has a dirt course. Golden Gate Fields, which had a synthetic main track and a turf course, averaged 6.57 runners per race. During the five-stop Northern California fair circuit from mid-June to last weekend, average field sizes ranged from 6.83 runners at Santa Rosa to 5.59 at Ferndale.
The Pleasanton meeting will have the same takeout structure as the fair circuit, which is higher than Del Mar or Santa Anita. For example, a bet in the win, place, or show pools at Pleasanton will have a takeout of 16.77 percent compared to 15.43 at Del Mar or Santa Anita. Most multi-race or multi-horse bets at Pleasanton will have a takeout ranging from 24.02 to 25.02 percent compared to 22.68 to 23.68 percent at Del Mar or Santa Anita.