Magna's marquee tracks may be sold, owner says Aug 8, 2008
Magna's performance is being closely watched by the racing industry because of the company's numerous high-profile racetrack holdings, which include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and Golden Gate Fields. In addition, the. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Bay Meadows: The beginning of the end Aug 5, 2008
Golden Gate Fields will try to acquire 50 of the roughly 100 days of racing that were traditionally held at Bay Meadows. The other 50 will likely go to Pleasanton, home of the Alameda County Fair and Northern California's only other full-time stabling facility. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Johnny Eves starts second half with Bing Crosby Jul 25, 2008
Babs Moossa was sixth and second in maiden claimers at Golden Gate Fields before winning a $12,500 claiming race for maidens at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton on June 25. Campos cleared to ride after spill Jockey Jose Campos was hospitalized briefly Wednesday after being unseated from his mount in the sixth race. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
California horse racing to ban steroids Jul 21, 2008
Most of the racing dates assigned to Bay Meadows will be moved to Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco suburb of Albany. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Heatseeker a no-go for Gold Cup Jun 29, 2008
Last Saturday, Bill Morey saddled four winners at Golden Gate Fields to take a two-win lead over Hollendorfer in the trainer standings entering the final day of the Albany track's meeting ... Thirty-two consecutive meet titles at Golden Gate Fields and 37 straight at Bay Meadows. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Go Between treks far for Gold Cup Jun 27, 2008
McCann's Mojave won the Berkeley Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on a synthetic track in his last start on May 26. An 8-year-old trained by Steve Specht, McCann's Mojave is best known for winning the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park on a conventional dirt surface in January 2007. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Harry J. Aleo, 1919-2008 Jun 23, 2008
As recently as June 8, the Gilchrist-trained and Aleo-owned Wild Promises won the Yerba Buena Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. "I'll never replace that guy as a friend or as a client," Gilchrist said. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Prominent thoroughbred owner Aleo dies at 88 Jun 23, 2008
Aleo died at his home in San Francisco on Saturday with longtime companion Deannie Bartlett at his side, Tom Ferrall, spokesman for Golden Gate Fields racetrack, said Sunday. Aleo became involved in horse racing in 1979 when he met Greg Gilchrist, the only trainer he ever hired. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Flores gets mount on Surf Cat for Gold Cup Jun 13, 2008
The 5-year-old mare was preparing to make her first start for Stute after being acquired via a $20,000 claim at Golden Gate Fields on May 23. Our Mitzy won 3 of 20 starts and $55,580. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Movie: Days of Wine and Roses Jun 8, 2008
Locales included San Francisco, Albany and the Golden Gate Fields Racetrack. For his role as the alcoholic Joe Clay, Jack Lemmon visited drunk tanks and hospital wards around Los Angeles. (Suite101.com)
Golden Gate: Sudan looks for first U.S. stakes win May 31, 2008
-- There are bigger things on the horizon for the Bobby Frankel-trained Sudan, but on Saturday the Grade 3, $100,000 Golden Gate Fields Turf is the target. A 5-year-old Irish-bred horse, Sudan is looking for his first win in the United States. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Regional Roundup May 28, 2008
Forrest White, the fair's CEO, said the state racing board scheduled the fairs horse racing for September to accommodate a request from Golden Gate Fields for additional race times. White said the San Joaquin Fair didn't want to compete with the Lodi Grape Festival or change the schedule for its livestock exhibitors. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
May has been a big month for Bay Meadows May 25, 2008
As provincial as we are, Southern Californians can get locked in on Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar and overlook Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields in the Bay Area ... Bill Shoemaker got his start as an exercise rider there in the late '40s before recording his first official win at Golden Gate Fields in 1949. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
His Holiness for veep? May 24, 2008
-- Horse-racing fan Dennis Richmond, retiring as KTVU anchor, will be saluted at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. Richmond is bringing 40 pals to the track for the event. (San Francisco Chronicle)
DRF: Excuses for Preakness Stakes trio May 22, 2008
Winner of the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields and fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, Yankee Bravo appeared to be overmatched at 23-1 in the Preakness. Afterward, jockey Alex Solis told trainer Paddy Gallagher that Yankee Bravo did not handle the dirt footing. (MSNBC -- Sports)
SPORTS CALENDAR May 13, 2008
Thoroughbreds, Golden Gate Fields ... Golden Gate Fields Report. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Are Synthetic Race Tracks Safer? May 13, 2008
The first time the current winningest jockey, Russell Baze, traveled across Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields in California, he returned with the comment, "Man, that's nice." Other jockeys, in initial test runs on Polytrack at Kentucky's Turfway Park, had complained that of the artificial material could clump up in their horses' hoofs, impeding their progress and presenting a safety hazard. What the studies say. (Suite101.com)
Bay Meadows bids farewell to Bay Area May 13, 2008
When Bay Meadows is gone, Golden Gate Fields in Albany will be the only track left in the Bay Area, where fewer people seem to appreciate the raw spectacle of the ancient sport. "Simulcasting is the name of the game now," said Jan Cross, 55, a tax auditor and veteran racetracker from Pacifica who clenched a cigar between his teeth as he watched several TV screens, where he could monitor bets on various races at other tracks around the nation. (San Francisco Chronicle)
'Promises' wins in finale at Meadows Aleo's entry clicks back to beat ... May 12, 2008
Baze lives in Woodside, so his commute will be a lot longer when future racing in Northern California is consolidated at Golden Gate Fields and eventually the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. "As long as there is somewhere to be racing where I don't have to sell the house, I'll be happy," he said. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
ONE LAST DAY AT THE RACES May 11, 2008
-- Golden Gate Fields in Albany. -- Santa Anita in Arcadia (Los Angeles County). (San Francisco Chronicle)
Trainer: Churchill Downs should go synthetic May 7, 2008
Dickinson already has seen it installed at racetracks and training facilities in England, Dubai, Korea and Singapore as well as at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and Golden Gate Fields in California and he now works full-time marketing Tapeta. Yet, he insisted that other synthetic surfaces, such as the more widely used Polytrack, were also safer than dirt. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Tragedy overshadows Big Brown's Derby win May 5, 2008
Barbaros demise helped push forward the installation of synthetic surfaces to replace traditional dirt tracks at several tracks, including Keeneland, Santa Anita, Arlington Park, Hollywood Park, Golden Gate Fields, Del Mar, Turfway and Presque Isle. A new on-track injury reporting program seems to indicate the surface is having the desired effect. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Going against the odds May 3, 2008
Over the next four to seven years, similar projects will be undertaken at Santa Anita near Los Angeles already approved by regulators and MEC's board Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco, Laurel Park in Maryland and possibly Lone Star Park near Dallas. Track owners, horse breeders, industry observers and shareholders in MEC are watching this almost as keenly as they concentrate on thoroughbreds thundering down the stretch. (Globe and Mail)
Pyro took a wrong turn on Polytrack May 2, 2008
Synthetic surfaces also are in place at Arlington Park in Illinois, Del Mar (California), Turfway Park (Kentucky) and Woodbine (Canada), which all have Polytrack; Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park (Cushion Track); and Golden Gate Fields (California) and Presque Isle Downs o (Pennsylvania), which have Tapeta Footings. Cushion and Tapeta are variations of Polytrack. (Albany Times Union)
Will artificial surfaces doom rational thought? Apr 23, 2008
But I have no doubt that as more data becomes available on horses switching from dirt to Polytrack (in use at Del Mar, Keeneland and Turfway Park) , or Cushion Track (in use at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park) to Polytrack, or Polytrack to Tapeta Footings (in use at Golden Gate Fields), or any other possible variation, what now seems unfathomable will begin to make more sense. Going to all that work is going to be hard, no doubt about it. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Santa Barbara distance may benefit Immortelle Apr 18, 2008
The third-place finisher in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields earlier this year, Victory Pete has returned to Barba's stable at Hollywood Park. Barba said her immediate focus is restoring Victory Pete's foot to better condition, but she still has an eye on the later races in the Triple Crown. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
DRF: Yankee Bravo is targeting Preakness Apr 17, 2008
Yankee Bravo has won 3 of 5 starts and $247,049, including the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf in his U.S. debut in December and the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in January. In his graded stakes debut, Yankee Bravo was third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Kentucky Derby prep races Mar 15, 2008
1/26 California Derby (Golden Gate Fields) (1 1/16 mile)(1:44. 57) Yankee Bravo -- Cafe Tortoni -- Victory Pete. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Autism Awareness: Nice colt, irresistible story Mar 15, 2008
But in his previous start before the El Camino, on Jan. 21 at Golden Gate Fields, Autism Awareness seemed to discover what racing was all about and won for the first time. Genaro Vallejo, his trainer, said he knew the El Camino Real was an ambitious spot, but his horse really woke up after the win. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Autism Awareness pays $126 in El Camino Real Mar 9, 2008
Golden Gate Fields, 8th Race - March 8, 2008. $150,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3). (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
MI Developments announces fourth quarter and 2007 results Mar 5, 2008
The increase in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2007 is primarily due to (i) changes in the racing calendars at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park, which resulted in an additional 25 and 5 live race days, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the prior year period, and (ii) increased wagering revenues at Gulfstream Park with the introduction of year round simulcasting operations in 2007. MEC's revenues from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2007... (Canada Newswire)
Today's big for Bloom Mar 2, 2008
El Gato Malo, a son of El Correador trained by Craig Dollase, won his first start at Hollywood Park in November by 5 lengths and followed that with a 4 -length score in the Goldrush at Golden Gate Fields in December and a 6 -length romp in the San Rafael in January at Santa Anita. The 1 1/8-mile Sham, in which El Gato Malo will face six rivals, is an eighth longer than any of his previous assignments. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Sham: El Gato Malo tries to stay unbeaten Mar 1, 2008
Victory Pete was third in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields after defeating maidens on turf here. He has finished in the money just once in four tries on the main track. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Magna Entertainment Corp. announces results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007 Mar 1, 2008
0 million primarily due to a change in the racing calendar at Golden Gate Fields, which resulted in 25 additional live race days in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the prior year period and increased rental and other revenues at Santa Anita Park from the Oak Tree Meet, which operated 31 days in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to 26 days in the fourth quarter of 2006; - Florida revenues above the prior year period by $3 ... 5 million primarily due to a change in the racing calendar at... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Raising a racing legend Feb 27, 2008
Joe returned to racing and in 1964 he pulled off a rare feat, winning six races in one day at San Francisco's Golden Gate Fields. Russell would later outdo his father, winning seven races in one day at the same track more than 25 years later. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Charles Brown, rhythm and blues pioneer Feb 22, 2008
Toward the end of his life, he lived in subsidized senior housing in Berkeley and, when he finally made a comeback and the money started again, he moved downstairs to a one-bedroom unit and moved up from the $2 window at Golden Gate Fields. When guitarist Danny Caron heard him playing in a squalid Oakland nightclub in 1987, Brown was living on his Social Security, and his chops were rusty from not gigging. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Santa Anita carryover hits $420,000 Feb 18, 2008
The favorite may be Stormy Taters, who was second in a maiden claimer at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 11, the day she was claimed by Bob Hess Jr.. After the Storm takes a drop in class after a ninth in a maiden special weight last month. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
GGF track weathers winter Feb 4, 2008
Even Golden Gate Fields, which drained well during its first season with the Michael Dickinson-designed Tapeta Footings surface, has encountered some difficulties. Still, catastrophic injuries during races at Golden Gate Fields were reduced significantly from previous seasons on a conventional dirt track - 10 breakdowns in 62 days compared with seven in 31 days in 2006-07 ... "I'm not going to be satisfied until we get the number to zero," Golden Gate Fields general manager Robert Hartman said. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Antropov given 3-game suspension Feb 2, 2008
Baze won a photo finish in a three-horse duel to the wire at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif. with Two Step Cat winning by a head bob over Brite Oakie and Unusual Men in the mile race for claiming horses. (Boston Globe)
Jockey Baze Rides 10,000th Winner Feb 2, 2008
Baze extended his dominance as North America's winningest thoroughbred rider, surviving a photo finish in a three-horse duel to the wire for his 10,000th victory Friday at Golden Gate Fields ... Much of Baze's success is the result of staying healthy and not battling weight for much of a career that has been spent in the San Francisco Bay area, where he has won a combined 70 riding titles at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Milestone Ride Feb 2, 2008
-- Russell Baze had to wait for nearly five minutes after Two Step Cat crossed the finish line in Friday's third race at Golden Gate Fields before finding out that he had become the first North American rider to win 10,000 races ... Baze has clinched his 32nd Golden Gate Fields riding title and has also won 39 titles at Bay Meadows. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Santa Monica delay no concern for Hystericalady Feb 2, 2008
Throughout December and January, Hystericalady did not miss a beat in workouts on the all-weather Tapeta Footings surface at Golden Gate Fields. "We had her pretty well-prepared; we thought she was very fit," Hollendorfer said, suggesting that the one-week delay will not influence her performance. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Baze wins 10,000th race in a photo finish Feb 2, 2008
Jockey earns milestone victory aboard Two Step Cat at Golden Gate Fields. Eric Risberg / APHall of Fame jockey Russell Bazeatop Two Step Cat after winning his 10,000th race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif ... The Hall of Famer extended his dominance as North Americas winningest thoroughbred jockey, surviving a photo finish in a three-horse duel to the wire for his 10,000th victory at Golden Gate Fields. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Now 10,000 wins and counting for Baze Feb 2, 2008
Russell Baze extended his dominance as North America's winningest Thoroughbred jockey, riding his 10,000th winner at Golden Gate Fields on Friday ... Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows honored Baze's latest milestone with a presentation. (USA Today -- Sports)
Briefs | Baze gets 10,000th win and more Feb 2, 2008
Jockey's first victory was at Yakima Meadows: Hall of Famer Russell Baze extended his dominance as North America's winningest jockey Friday, posting the 10,000th victory of his career before winning two more races at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif. Baze's mount, 5-year-old gelding Two Step Cat, prevailed in a three-way photo finish in the third race for No. 10,000. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
Lakers nab Gasol from Grizzlies; jockey Baze wins No. 10,000 Feb 2, 2008
Russell Baze extended his dominance as North America's winningest thoroughbred jockey, riding his 10,000th winner at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif. The Hall of Famer survived a photo finish in a three-horse duel to the wire, with Two Step Cat winning by a head bob in a mile race for claiming horses. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
Guard Stoudamire set to join Spurs Feb 1, 2008
Miscellany Jockey Baze closes in on 10,000 wins Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze went 2 for 6 at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif. to pull within one of 10,000 victories. (Boston Globe)
Baze wins 2 races to reach 9,999 career victories Feb 1, 2008
Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze rides Judged for his 9,999th win at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif ... On a rainy and blustery day at Golden Gate Fields, where fog obliterated the view of the Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay, Baze finished sixth, first, second, seventh, third and first ... When Baze does hit five figures in victories, Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows will honor his milestone with a special presentation. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Baze wins two races to reach 9,999 victories Feb 1, 2008
On a rainy and blustery day at Golden Gate Fields, where fog obliterated the view of the Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay, Baze finished sixth, first, second, seventh, third and first ... When Baze does hit five figures in victories, Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows will honor his milestone with a special presentation. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Jockey posts 9,999th victory Feb 1, 2008
On a rainy and blustery day at Golden Gate Fields, where fog obliterated the view of the Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay, Baze finished sixth, first, second, seventh, third and first. His three-length victory aboard Judged in the eighth was No. 9,999. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Briefs | Beckham left off England's national team Feb 1, 2008
and began his career in the state, went 2 for 6 at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif. to pull within one of 10,000 victories. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
Baze zeroes in on 10,000 victories Jan 31, 2008
Jockey will have 5 mounts Thursday at Golden Gate Fields, needs 3 ... - Jockey Russell Baze will have five mounts Thursday at Golden Gate Fields as he zeroes in on another milestone ... Just as they did when Baze surpassed Laffit Pincay Jr. as the world's winningest rider on Dec. 1, 2006, Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows plan a special presentation to commemorate the feat. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Yankee Bravo captures California Derby Jan 29, 2008
-- Yankee Bravo improved his career record to 3 for 3 when he rallied through heavy traffic on the second turn and made a strong move once he shifted out for room to defeat 11 rivals in the $150,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday. The 3-year-old Yankee Bravo, purchased after owner Richard Duggan saw a tape of his maiden victory in a five-furlong race on the turf in Britain, won his U.S. debut at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 in the one-mile Eddie Logan Stakes on the turf. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Baze closes in on 10,000 victories with 2 winners Jan 29, 2008
(AP) -Russell Baze rode two winners Monday at Golden Gate Fields, leaving him three victories from becoming the first thoroughbred jockey to win 10,000 races. Baze won the first race aboard Cassiar and the third aboard Troy Fan, giving him 9,997 victories. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Selanne doesn't retire, returns to the Ducks Jan 29, 2008
Russell Baze rode two winners at Golden Gate Fields, leaving him three victories from becoming the first thoroughbred jockey to win 10,000 races. WNBA. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Yankee Bravo rides into Kentucky Derby picture Jan 28, 2008
El Gato Malo dominated the $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes on Dec. 15 at Golden Gate Fields, then romped in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Rafael Stakes on Jan. 12 at Santa Anita to remain undefeated and put himself into the Kentucky Derby picture. Not to be outdone, Yankee Bravo weaved his way through a 12-horse field to win the $150,000 California Derby on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields - remaining undefeated and putting the Kentucky Derby on the minds of his handlers ... Yankee Bravo won the $79,850 Eddie... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Rain clouds Santa Anita 'Sunshine' forecast Jan 25, 2008
McCann's Mojave ran five more times in 2007, with the only victory coming Nov. 17 at Golden Gate Fields in the Grade III All American. In that race, McCann's Mojave came back to win after being passed by almost a length with an eighth of a mile to go. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Nakatani breaks collarbone in Hollywood spill Jan 20, 2008
Somethinaboutlaura went past $1 million in career earnings with her win in the Pacific Heights Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 1. She launched her 2008 campaign with a front-running win in the Campanile Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 1. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Medici Code in tough in San Marcos Jan 18, 2008
The 7-year-old gelding has won 3 of his last 4 starts, including a 31-1 upset in the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap in September and a win in the lesser Forty Niner Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last month ... 80 at Golden Gate Fields last Sunday, the fastest of 18 recorded works at the distance ... Trained by Todd Pletcher, Passion is making her first start on turf, as is Ice Lady, who was third in the Corte Madera Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last month. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
San Rafael: El Gato Malo makes his way Jan 13, 2008
He beat maidens by 5 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong race at Hollywood Park on Nov.o18 and won the one-mile Gold Rush Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 15. Owned by the West Point Thoroughbreds partnership, El Gato Malo has earned $160,200. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
Pricci: Sneaking an early peek at Kentucky Derby Jan 7, 2008
El Gato Malo, undefeated in two starts, including the two-turn Gold Rush at Golden Gate Fields, has a dosage index of 4. 33. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Somethinaboutlaura too good to retire Jan 2, 2008
(01-01) 18:35 PST -- After Somethinaboutlaura won the $75,000 Pacific Heights Stakes on Dec. 1 at Golden Gate Fields, trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said she might make only two more starts before being retired or sold for breeding purposes. After Somethinaboutlaura won the $75,000 Campanile Stakes on Tuesday at Golden Gate Fields, Hollendorfer said she probably would race for all of 2008. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Now Victory proves who's the boss again Dec 27, 2007
Now Victory has been the best grass horse in Northern California for the past 1 1/2 years, and in Wednesday's $75,000 Forty Niner Stakes at Golden Gate Fields he beat the best main-track horse, McCann's Mojave. The 11/16-mile race was run on Golden Gate's new Tapeta Footings synthetic surface, which McCann's Mojave negotiated successfully in winning the Grade 3, $150,000 All American Stakes on Nov. 17. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Synthetic track surface wins over skeptics Tapeta Footings proves safer... Dec 25, 2007
" Golden Gate Fields is the only California track to install Tapeta Footings. Hollywood Park and Santa Anita use Cushion Track, and Del Mar uses Polytrack. Santa Anita's winter-spring season begins Wednesday, and the track had to spend 2 1/2 weeks totally renovating the surface because of drainage problems during rainy weather. At Golden Gate Fields, trainers raved about the effectiveness of the vertical drainage system that sits below layers of rock, asphalt and a wax-coated mixture of sand,... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Hollendorfer becomes 4th trainer to win 5,000 Dec 23, 2007
His lone starter at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, Alottadar, ran fourth ... Hollendorfer watched Political High's victory from his home in Point Richmond near Golden Gate Fields. (ESPN -- Horse Racing)
