The lack of items has caused Golden Gate Fields canceled race for the second time in three weeks.
According to a report in Daily Racing Form, Golden Gate canceled its May 3 card as dwindling horse numbers continue to take a toll on Northern California tracks. The venue has struggled with field size in recent weeks as racing was also canceled on April 19, the latest blow to the track which was scheduled to close permanently on April 9 6.
Since Golden Gate’s impending closure was announced in July 2023, Northern California horsemen have been wondering what the next steps might be for their future. The fight to fill the fields also plays out across the entire California region as the state’s registered foal population drops to 3,867 foals in 2023. Last year, there were 5,126 thoroughbred horse races in California compared with only 2,815 the previous year.
Daily Racing Form reports that through Saturday, Golden Gate has averaged 6.57 runners per race in 423 races since the start of the current meeting on December 26, 2023. The track has an average of 6.61 runners per race in 487 races during the same period last year.
Golden Gate had seven races held on April 28 with the largest field size of seven horses entered in the day’s finale.
