Not too long ago, the Ontario-based Stronach Group revealed that it’s going to formally shut Golden Gate Fields racetrack for good this fall, as soon as the final scheduled race on the San Francisco Bay Space racetrack is accomplished. As well as, the agency purchased the racetrack again in 2011.
Purpose for closing:
Commenting on the explanation for the closure, the Stronach Group stated on Sunday that it’s going to “double down on its racing at Santa Anita and coaching at San Luis Rey Downs in Southern California. After the Golden Gate Fields meet ends, we are going to deal with transferring horses from the Bay Space to Arcadia, with a purpose of accelerating area sizes and including a fourth day of racing to the weekly schedule at Santa Anita starting in January.”
Moreover, in a press release, the corporate’s CEO and president Belinda Stronach, stated: “The Stronach Group stays steadfastly dedicated to racing in California. Specializing in Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs as state-of-the-art racing and coaching services that provide enhanced program high quality, elevated race days, expanded wagering alternatives, and premier hospitality and leisure experiences is significant to making sure that California racing can proceed to compete and thrive on a nationwide stage.”
Conscious of the influence of the choice:
“The corporate realizes its determination to shut the Bay Space monitor could have profound results on staff, house owners, trainers, jockeys and secure employees there,” based on Belinda Stronach. Additionally, she added: “The corporate is dedicated to honoring labor obligations.”
Subsequently, commenting on the influence of the deliberate closure, the corporate stated: “We might work with business teams in California, in addition to Los Alamitos racetrack in Orange County and Del Mar north of San Diego in relocating horses and staff to Southern California.” On this regard, in a press release, Alan Balch, CEO of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, added: “The ramifications of this Stronach determination shall be far-reaching and long-lasting. They may embody, we consider, an ideal many unintended and primarily detrimental penalties for all of racing and Thoroughbred breeding all through California and the West, together with in Southern California. We will solely hope that we’re completely fallacious.”
Dialogue on rescheduling the Golden Gate Fields race dates for 2024:
Scott Chaney, CEO of the California Horse Racing Board, noticed that “Golden Gate Fields has been racing 9 months out of the 12 months and the board will start discussing allocating these racing dates in August for 2024.” That’s why he stated: “I’m aware of the human influence of the closure — be they CHRB staff, CHRB contractors, licensees, and, in fact, Golden Gate staff — and I shall be working laborious to ameliorate any adverse penalties and to create job and position alternatives.”
With this closure, Northern California will lose one of many its most iconic racetracks, as Bay Meadows, formally opened in 1934, additionally closed and builders took management of it in 2008.
About:
Golden Gate Fields, which stretches across the metropolis of Albany and Berkeley alongside the coast of San Francisco Bay, formally opened in 1941. Nevertheless, throughout World Warfare II, the U.S. Navy took management of the racetrack to retailer touchdown craft to be used within the Pacific theater. As quickly because the warfare ended, racing obtained again to the property. As for the horses there, there have been the 1948 Triple Crown winner Quotation, Shared Perception and John Henry, together with come-from-behind specialist Silky Sullivan, who’s buried within the infield of the well-known monitor. As well as, the long-running racetrack has been featured within the e book and movie. The e book was Jack Kerouac’s 1957 novel “On the Street,” and the racetrack is talked about when Sal Paradise visits it along with his good friend, who loses all their cash. Moreover, the film was the 1997 film “Metro” starring Eddie Murphy, when his character visits the monitor to gamble.
Additionally, now-retired Corridor of Famer Baze hit his 10,000th profession race at this main racetrack throughout 2008.
