Golden Gate Field announced March 16″ that it will close the track and stable from June 18 to August 7 to provide safe and unobstructed access to upgrades, repairs and check required utility infrastructure,” it said in a statement.
The Northern California Circuit is scheduled to run through June 12. During the summer months, the track is usually open for practice and endurance training, with riders transporting horses from the Golden Gate to race at the fairground track in Northern California. This year, the Alameda Fair in Pleasanton is scheduled for June 15 to July 12, and the Sonoma Fair in Santa Rosa runs from August 3 to 16, according to the California Horse Racing Board’s website.
Officials from The Stronach Group, which owns Golden Gate Fields, and officials from the Northern California fairs sometimes clash over race dates and stability.
Golden Gate’s statement said it had no choice but to close for part of the summer, citing the requirement “to take steps to evaluate, repair, and replace system infrastructure.” sanitary sewer serving the GGF facility to comply with legal requirements imposed on GGF under the East Bay County Regional Private Sewer Ordinance.”
The release said a drainage infrastructure assessment plan “cannot be completed safely or expeditiously in the context of a fully operational training facility”. Golden Gate is committed to working with stakeholders over the next three months to minimize the impact of the closure.
