The following open letter was submitted to the California Horse Racing Board in the wake of an announcement by The Stronach Group that it will close Golden Gate Fields at the end of this year. It has been edited.
As I'm sure you're aware now, The Stronach Group intends to close GGF as of the 10th of Dec. I have to wonder who can intervene on the part of all the trainers, grooms, hot walkers, exercise rider, jockeys, owners, breeders, hay growers, grain manufacturers, vendors, small businesses, etc. that are going to be devastatingly impacted by this decision.
As I'm also sure you're aware, many of the backstretch workers have only provisional licenses that allow them to work at the track but have no work permit to allow them to work outside the track. This closure is going to throw many people out on the street without work, without the possibility to work and without a place to live.
The horses we have raised to race in Northern California are not of the quality to compete successfully in Southern California, as is the intended plan by Stronach Group to see them all move to Santa Anita and bulk up their horse population. That isn't going to happen. Horses and trainers are leaving the state by the droves as it is. Trying to improve racing in SoCal by destroying any competition in NorCal, just doesn't add up.
I don't know where to turn but this travesty is just eating away at my heart and I'm hoping since you allocate the dates for race meets, maybe you have some suggestions. I realize as a private corporation, Stronach Group doesn't have to open their books to the public. But as recently as this spring, Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing, speaking to a group of TOC members at GGF, told us that GGF makes a better profit than Santa Anita and is basically supporting them.
Since the mission statement of CHRB is to ensure the integrity, viability, and safety of the California horse racing industry by regulating pari-mutuel wagering for the protection of the public, promoting horse racing, breeding, and wagering opportunities, and fostering safe racing through the development and enforcement of track safety standards and regulations for the health and welfare of all participants, it would appear that this sort of reckless decision-making by Stronach Group is certainly under your jurisdiction [and impacts] the welfare of all participants.
I am sincerely hoping when you make your decisions for race dates you take all the human toll into consideration and at least force the Stronach Group to be transparent in their decision-making, process and provide you with evidence that this plan to destroy NorCal racing is based on what is best for the industry as a whole.
–Ellen Jackson
Owner/breeder/trainer
Vacaville, Calif.
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