The Stronach Group to close Golden Gate after ’23 season

Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., the flagship track in the northern part of the state, will close in December, according to a statement released Sunday by the track’s parent company, The Stronach Group.

The Stronach Group said it hopes to lure participants from Golden Gate to race at Santa Anita, the company’s historic track in Arcadia, Calif., outside of Los Angeles. In its statement, Santa Anita said it hopes to expand the number of days it races per week from three to four in 2024.

The surprise announcement caused immediate uncertainty regarding the direction of Thoroughbred racing in Northern California. The California Horse Racing Board announced Sunday afternoon that discussions will be held next month regarding a revamped racing calendar for that region.

“While we await more details and information, Golden Gate stakeholders and Northern California horsemen should know that horse racing will continue,” racing board vice chairman Oscar Gonzales said in a statement.

“We look forward to receiving and implementing the industry’s transition plan.”

The racing board dates committee was already scheduled to meet on Aug. 16 in Del Mar to discuss the 2024 calendar for the entire state. The full racing board is expected to discuss the Northern California schedule at its monthly meeting the following day.

“I think it is fair to say that race-date allocations will take on a new meaning when the [racing board] opens discussions in August for 2024 race dates,” racing board executive director Scott Chaney said in a statement.

It is highly likely that venues on the county fair circuit, such as the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Cal-Expo in Sacramento, and the San Joaquin County Fair in Santa Rosa, could take on a greater role in Northern California.

The calendar may not be resolved in August. On several occasions in recent years, the racing board has taken several months to finalize calendars for Northern California. It was not clear Sunday whether any of the fair circuit locations would be prepared for a full presentation to the board by Aug. 16.

In recent years, there have been discussions behind the scenes in Northern California about revamping the calendar in the absence of Golden Gate Fields to move racing to county fair facilities.

“We knew this day was coming,” one person said.

Details such as which venues and when they would race are far from being finalized. A racing calendar without Golden Gate Fields could have fewer weeks of racing annually with time between race meetings designed to build revenue through simulcasting.

Fair officials have stated in the past that a turf course could be added at Sacramento. Aside from Golden Gate Fields, Santa Rosa is the only venue in the Northern California circuit with a turf course.

Sacramento currently conducts nighttime harness racing at times during the year, and it is unclear what would happen to that commitment.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” one insider said.

With Sunday’s announcement, Golden Gate Fields is expected to have its final day of racing on Dec. 10. The track recently completed a winterspring meeting from Dec. 26, 2022, through June 11 and will run a meeting from Aug. 26-Oct. 2. The Northern California fair circuit is currently based at Cal-Expo.

As for the future of the Golden Gate property, there is speculation in the racing community that the parent company will sell the property for development as a park. Track property straddles the cities of Albany and Berkeley, expanding the number of government agencies involved in the decision-making process. State government agencies, such as the California Coastal Commission, would also be expected to be involved.

Bill Nader, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, said Sunday evening that numerous elements need to be considered regarding how racing in the state should proceed.

“It’s too early to evaluate the full picture,” Nader said. ‘We need to take things one step at a time and see what our options are.”

“We have to do our due diligence and do a 360-look for the future of California. What makes sense for California.”

Another uncertainty is how many owners and trainers in Northern California would choose to race at Santa Anita.

“You’re asking people to uproot their lives in a six-month notice,” one person said. “It’s not easy to pick up shop and move south.”

Trainer Reid France, who has won 24 races from 115 starters this year, said Sunday that it was immediately unclear what he will do with his stable.

“We expected this day to come,” France said. “Here we are.”

France is currently based on the fair circuit and will have a small presence at the Del Mar summer meeting that begins Friday.

“I don’t have the stock to go down there right now and be competitive,” France said of racing in Southern California. “I’ve got some horses that can be competitive. I’ve got five horses going to Del Mar. I’ll have to try to build momentum.

“It’s going to be hard going forward as to what we’ll do with the other ones.”

Others may choose not to participate. Steve Specht, 73, races occasionally at Santa Anita and won a stakes there in June. Specht said he may be near the end of his training career.

“It just got dropped on us,” Specht said Sunday afternoon. “I haven’t had time to think about it.

“I want to retire on my terms and not their terms. A lot of people won’t relocate.”

Belinda Stronach, chairwoman, CEO, and president of The Stronach Group, said in a statement that California’s racing future is in the southern part of the state.

“We believe that the future success of racing depends on a business model that encourages investment in Southern California, one of North America’s premier racing circuits,” she said. “Focusing on Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs as state-of-the-art racing and training facilities that offer enhanced program quality, increased race days, expanded wagering opportunities, and premier hospitality and entertainment experiences is vital to ensuring that California racing can continue to compete and thrive on a national level.”

Golden Gate Fields opened in February 1941 and was purchased by Belinda’s father, Frank, in 1999, a year after he purchased Santa Anita. At the time, Frank Stronach bought the tracks through Magna Entertainment. Ownership was transferred to The Stronach Group in 2011.

Golden Gate Fields has been the leading Thoroughbred track in Northern California since Bay Meadows in San Mateo, south of San Francisco, closed in 2008.