Racing at Golden Gate Fields (Vassar Photography)
By Marla Zanelli
A trainer’s wife told me they received a package from PETA at their Arcadia home. I asked her what was in the package. She said a calendar, a number of things that she did not look at. She just threw it away. That is too bad, you must always know what your enemy is up to.
Kate Harrison, on the Berkley City Council, wants to propose for Northern California, horses can only be in stalls 10 hours a day. They must then have ½ an acre to roam. I guess if people don’t have ½ an acre they can turn them out on the streets. I wonder if Kate Harrison will try to pass a law on how often and how long our dogs are to be walked? What Country are we living in?
I saw on the Paulick Report today a long list of trainers fined, horses disqualified, suspensions given, claims voided, and one that stabbed me in the heart, Hector Palma had a methamphetamine positive. Really? Please, are we living in Nazi Germany? Hector is a friend, client, 80+ years old and he does not use Meth. So, the man may lose his livelihood which he has worked at all his long life after crossing the border from Mexico with pennies in his pocket. Thanks HISA. You are doing such an amazing job! Typical Government in today’s day and age in the good old USA.
When the Stronach Group announced the shuttering of Golden Gate Fields, they even shocked Nancy Pelosi. Imagine that? She was actually concerned for us, wondering how they can just throw out the livelihoods of all those horsemen and horsewomen who have spent their careers at Golden Gate Fields. If the Stronach Group actually cared about horse racing, actually cared about the horses and the people who care for them, they might have improved the grounds at Golden Gate Fields and made it more attractive to attend the races, instead of letting it rot. Too bad Northern California Horse Racing has been falling by the wayside since Bay Meadows was sold to developers by Jack Liebow, et al. Bay Meadows was a prestigious racetrack back in it’s day. San Francisco itself has suffered under the reign of Governor Newsom. I have not been there myself in several years, but I see pictures and I hear from people who are there, the homeless situation, the drug addicts occupying the streets, is all out of control.
Of course with all that money on the line that Golden Gate handles in betting, Southern California racing is chomping on the bit to take some of that for themselves. Here is the problem – with the further contraction of horse racing in California, there will be less and less horses bred in California. It will no longer be a viable business. With competing with Kentucky bred horses on the racetrack, it will be difficult to make money and make the efforts all worth the expense of breeding Cal Breds. Running low level racing in Southern California is really not that attractive either. Racing needs to put on a good show, with exciting racing. They need to make the public fall in love with our horses. Like we did, who work in racing. They need to make it attractive to go racing, exciting to see who is running. Personalize the horses. Offer good food, an attractive venue. Bring back the old days of first class Turf Clubs, ladies in heels, men in suits, famous art on the walls. Make it a desirable venue where people want to be seen and in the winners circle.
For now Golden Gate got a reprieve, until June. Thanks Nancy P. In the meantime, the Fair circuits are trying to pick up the pieces to see if they could put on the show. But I hear not all Fair circuit tracks are very attractive. God save California Thoroughbred Racing. Please.
