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Golden Gate Fields is a horse racing track located in the San Francisco Bay Area that spans Berkeley, California and Albany, California, next to the Eastshore Freeway. The Bay Meadows racetrack closed on May 11, 2008, leaving Northern California without a significant racetrack.
Located in the cities of Albany and Berkeley, the track spans 140 acres (0.57 km2) of land. Currently, Golden Gate Fields has stalls for 1,420 horses, a main grandstand with seating for about 8,000 people, a clubhouse with seating for about 5,200 people, a Turf Club with seating for about 1,500 people, and parking for over 8,500 cars. The synthetic track measures one mile (1,609 m), while the turf course measures 9/10 of a mile, or 7 furlongs plus 132 feet (1,448 m).
The main Tapeta track at Golden Gates Fields never becomes muddy due to weather conditions. Golden Gate Fields became the ninth racetrack in the nation to install the cutting-edge racing surface thanks to the designed track. In all types of weather, tracks that use the designed surfaces have proven to be safer and more compassionate to horses.
Golden Gate Fields History
Situated on a section of land on the eastern edge of San Francisco Bay, Fleming Point is a rocky point that borders the racetrack from the west. The City of Albany’s undeveloped territory covering a former landfill, known as the Albany Bulb, Albany Beach, and Albany Plateau, border it to the north. Berkeley Meadow lies to the south, and Interstate 80 is to the east. This plot was formerly a section of the slough into which Schoolhouse Creek, Codornices Creek, and Marin Creek all drain. Originally, the tract had been José Domingo Peralta’s share of Rancho San Antonio. He sold it to John Fleming in July 1852, and Fleming utilized it as a transhipment point to bring his cattle to San Francisco for processing and killing on the other side of the bay. The Giant Powder Company, which produced nitroglycerin, dynamite, and black powder, was located there later in the 1800s. Four explosions occurred at the factory between 1879 and 1892.
Golden Gate Fields dug in surrounding wetlands to create room for the track and built its new grandstand against the eastern slope of Fleming Point just before World War II. The first meeting took place on February 1, 1941. The track served as the setting for the murder scene that was essential to Shadow of the Thin Man’s story, which took place in the years leading up to the war. When World War II broke out, the US Navy seized control of the site and used it as the “Albany Naval Landing Force Equipment Depot” to hold hundreds of landing craft that would be used in the Pacific theater. Golden Gate Fields hosted horse racing again after the war.
For twenty-five years, foreign automobile importer and horseman Kjell Qvale owned and operated Golden Gate Fields. Later on, Magna Entertainment Corp. purchased it. Magna filed for bankruptcy in March of 2009. On July 3, 2011, the Stronach Group became the new proprietors of Golden Gate Fields.
Citation and Noor first connected in the Golden Gate Handicap in 1950. After Noor, an English-bred horse, defeated Citation, the legendary Triple Crown winner, Steve Brooks, the horse’s rider, said, “We just can’t beat that horse.”
The thrill that followed Silky Sullivan throughout his life arrived at the track when he arrived in 1957. He was the sole horse buried in the infield until Lost in the Fog passed away. Plaque No. 3, Lost in the Fog, is located in Golden Gate Fields, close to the ones honoring Silky Sullivan and Bill Shoemaker. February 22, 1972, saw the opening of the infield turf course.
California Derby Day was the first $2 million dollar day in Northern California in 1974.
The legendary horse John Henry won the Golden Gate Handicap in 1984, setting a course record.
This served as the basis for Lost in the Fog before his death in 2006. His incurable tumors on his spleen and along his spine led to his euthanasia on September 17, 2006. Lost in the Fog competed in three races at his home base before his untimely death, placing once and winning twice. Golden Gate Fields celebrated his life on September 30, 2006.
The racetrack constructed a polymer synthetic racing surface in the summer of 2007 per the California Horse Racing Board’s mandate. The goal of the synthetic all-weather racing surface at Tapeta Footings is to increase safety for race horses and riders.
On February 1, 2008, Russell Baze achieved his 10,000th career victory as a jockey while riding the horse Two Step Cat.
Based here is the multiple Graded stakes winning Hystericalady, half sister of Commentator and Funny Cide.
Baring the racetracks that host the summer fair circuit, Golden Gate Fields is the last significant racetrack in Northern California, having lost Bay Meadows to developers in 2008. Its stakes schedule, both graded and ungraded, is subject to change as California racing officials rearrange the season. With additional race days, Golden Gate Fields might once again host racing in the spring and fall. The Silky Sullivan Handicap returned to racing on May 2, 2009, following a two-year break.
Off Track Betting Guides
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