Golden Gate to Close for Stabling in Early Summer
Image:
Description:
Photo: Courtesy of Golden Gate Fields
Racing at Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields announced March 16 "that it would close its track and stable area June 18-Aug. 7 to provide safe and unimpeded access for required upgrades, repairs, and inspection of the utility infrastructure," the track said in a release.
The Northern California track is scheduled to race through June 12. In the summer months it has often remained open for stabling and training, with horsemen shipping out horses from Golden Gate to race at a Northern California fair track. This year, the Alameda Fair at Pleasanton is scheduled from June 15-July 12 and the Sonoma Fair at Santa Rosa is Aug. 3-16, according to the California Horse Racing Board website.
Officials from The Stronach Group, which owns Golden Gate Fields, and those from the Northern California fairs have at times been at odds over race dates and stabling.
The Golden Gate release said it had no choice but to close for a portion of the summer, citing requirements to "undertake steps to evaluate, repair, and replace sanitary sewer infrastructure serving the GGF facility in order to comply with legal requirements imposed upon GGF under the East Bay Municipal Utility District Regional Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance."
An assessment plan of the sewer infrastructure "cannot be completed safely or expeditiously in the context of a fully operational training facility," the release said. Golden Gate pledged to work with stakeholders over the next three months to minimize the impact of the closure.