Where The Bay Used To Play?
With the loss of Bay Meadows Golden Gate Fields is the last non fair
track in the bay area. With a purse value of 33 the racing isn't as
talented as it's cousins to the south but is higher than most of the
country. Many of the top horses, riders have performed at Golden Gate
over the years.
Like most California tracks it opened prior to World War II and was closed and used as a military base during the war. Bill Shoemaker notched his first victory here and it's currently home to Russell Baze, the winingest jockeys in history. The track is also known for the view, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco skyline from the comfort of your grandstand seat. If you haven't seen it you better hurry.
In 2011 Golden Gate ran almost the entire year only taking time out for the Northern California Fair Circuit. The overall leading rider was Russell Baze.
In 2012 the track was rejected as an academic addition to Cal-Berkley. If the deal had gone through Golden Gate would have been shuttered and razed ending non fair racing in the bay area. Good news for now if your a fan but the plant is definitely up for sale.
Although Golden Gate Fields was rejected for the Cal-Berkley project, it is probably just a matter of time before this track joins Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park as part of California history. If that were to happen it would deal a blow to Northern California horse racing, leaving only the fair circuit, which would probably also be in jeopardy without a commercial track to provide enough horses to run.