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Golden Gate Fields Reopening To Limited Fans On Friday, April 16

Golden Gate Fields has announced the reopening of the racetrack to a limited capacity of fans starting on Friday, April 16, for the remainder of the Winter/Spring Meet that runs through to June 13. The limited capacity reopening is scheduled one week before Gold Rush Weekend, the Bay Area's marquee Thoroughbred horse racing event of the year. Gold Rush Weekend will run April 24-25 and features eight graded stakes races including the prestigious Grade 3 $250,000 San Francisco Mile.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, fans will be required to reserve tickets for the duration of the Winter/Spring Meet and for Gold Rush Weekend online. General Admission and walk-ups are not permitted at this time. Fans are encouraged to sign-up online at www.goldengatefields.com to be the first to receive notification when tickets go on sale.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome racing fans back to Golden Gate Fields”, said David Duggan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Golden Gate Fields. “Our team has worked tirelessly and in collaboration with the officials from the Berkeley Public Health Division to plan for the reopening of Golden Gate Fields to the public. It is our goal to deliver a world-class Thoroughbred racing meet for our guests and the community in a safe and memorable way.”

Since the outset of the pandemic, 1/ST and Golden Gate Fields have implemented stringent, industry-leading COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Reopening protocols for the Winter/Spring Meet will include social distancing, mandatory masking when not actively eating or drinking, contactless thermal temperature scanning, accessible hand sanitization stations and enhanced cleaning throughout the facility. For more information on the health and safety protocols at Golden Gate Fields, please visit www.goldengatefields.com/Covid-19.

Berkeley Public Health Division and their operating partner Curative have used the large north side parking lot at Golden Gate Fields for priority tier-based vaccinations for Alameda County residents since February. Those who work on the backstretch at Golden Gate Fields and categorized in the agricultural priority tier were also eligible to receive the vaccine.

“Since the initial COVID-19 outbreak on our campus, we have successfully and sustainably reduced COVID-19 transmission to zero, minimized morbidity and proactively promoted vaccination of our community,” said. Dr. David Seftel, MD, Track Physician, Golden Gate Fields. “Thanks to the efforts of the Berkeley Public Health Division and Curative, I am pleased that all of those who work on the backstretch and the employees at Golden Gate Fields have been fully vaccinated.”

While the track will reopen to fans in limited capacity for live racing, the Turf Club Restaurant and simulcast facilities will remain closed until further notice.

Contactless wagering can be enjoyed regardless of where fans are viewing the races with handicapping tools available on the 1/ST BET app, the official betting app of Golden Gate Fields. Part of the 1/ST TECHNOLOGY suite of handicapping and betting products, 1/ST BET is changing the game by delivering a user-friendly experience that suits everyone from the experienced horseplayer to the first-timer.

To stay up-to-date and for information regarding tickets, please visit www.goldengatefields.com or follow Golden Gate Fields on Twitter and Instagram @GGFRacing or on Facebook at Golden Gate Fields.

The post Golden Gate Fields Reopening To Limited Fans On Friday, April 16 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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No Racing At Golden Gate Fields Until Dec. 26

For the “safety and well-being” of those living or working on site at Golden Gate Fields, the facility will continue its temporary suspension of live racing until the scheduled start of the impending winter meet on Dec. 26, according to a Golden Gate Fields press release Thursday.

Towards the end of last month, racing was suspended at Golden Gate after more than 200 people living or working on-site had tested positive for the virus. The current fall meet was scheduled to end on Dec. 13.

In a separate press release Thursday, the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) stated that there has been a “significant improvement in test results” at the facility. David Duggan, Golden Gate general manager and vice president,told the TDN that he was unable to provide a number as to how many positive cases there currently are at the facility.

According to Thursday’s Golden Gate press release, “The track will continue testing until all tests are returned negative and will continue to collaborate and share all testing data with the Berkeley Public Health Division (BPHD).

“All positive cases are overseen by the BPHD or the neighboring public health departments, as appropriate, through their respective case managers. Positive cases are required to isolate as per local health protocols and are not able to return to Golden Gate Fields until health clearance has been provided by the BPHD or the corresponding public health department.”

When asked what the threshold is for the resumption of live racing, Duggan said that “we would like to see very clear evidence via testing that we are in a situation where we’re almost exclusively negative.”

Representatives from the local public health department visited the facility earlier this week, Duggan confirmed. “They’re learning quite a bit about the mechanics of the whole place,” he said. “We’re working very closely with them and talking to them every single day.”

The TOC press release is as follows:

“Golden Gate Fields has been conducting COVID-19 testing of all backstretch workers as required by the health department. Testing to date has shown a significant improvement in test results. There will be continued testing of employees, and resumption of racing will be dependent upon success in the continued reduction or elimination of positive tests. Track management is continuing to work with local health authorities to insure a safe backstretch environment and a safe return to live racing.

“Morning training continues as usual. With regard to backstretch workers, the vast majority of those testing positive have returned to work, and most barns are working with full staffs. Owners with concerns about barn personnel are encouraged to reach out to their trainers for information about their particular situation. In your conversations with your trainers please stress the importance of every barn being 100% COVID compliant at all times,” the statement read.

“Until further notice, owners are not allowed to attend the morning workouts or afternoon racing. We will keep you updated as pertinent information becomes available.”

The post No Racing At Golden Gate Fields Until Dec. 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Majestic Dunhill Faces Comebacking Drafted, 5 Others In Fall Highweight

A compact-but-competitive field of seven dirt sprinters will be on tap for Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., led by the versatile Majestic Dunhill for trainer George Weaver and owner R. A. Hill Stable.

A son of Majesticperfection that always seems to pack a late punch, Majestic Dunhill is in career form as his 5-year-old campaign winds down. Majestic Dunhill was at one time strictly a turf horse, having run on grass for the first nine starts of his career before making his foray onto the main track late in 2018. His first dirt start, which came in the ungraded City of Laurel at Laurel Park, resulted in a win, and his connections then decided to focus exclusively on dirt races for his 2019 campaign.

Despite running well on a number of occasions, including a near miss in the 2019 Grade 2 General George at Laurel, Majestic Dunhill failed to pick up a win as a 4-year-old and the drought continued in his initial start of 2020, which prompted Weaver to try him on turf again in the First Defence at Belmont Park, a race he very nearly won.

After a disappointing seventh in an optional claimer on the Belmont lawn, however, it was back to dirt for the dark bay gelding, where he finished up the track in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga Race Course. Following another near miss in an optional claimer on September 25 at Belmont, Majestic Dunhill finally got back to his winning ways with a last-out victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap on October 31 at Belmont over a muddy track.

Interestingly, Majestic Dunhill has flashed new and improved early speed in his last two starts, which should be beneficial as he cuts back from seven furlongs to three-quarters for the Fall Highweight. With his rider for those last two starts, Joel Rosario, out of town on Sunday, Jose Lezcano will pick up the mount from post 3. He's been assigned co-highweight of 133 pounds.

To make it two straight, Majestic Dunhill will have to deal with the classy Dubai shipper Drafted, who hasn't run since finishing sixth in the Saudi Cup Sprint on February 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. A son of Field Commission, Drafted was at one time a contender in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, having won a pair of graded events in the UAE in the lead-up to the 2019 Golden Shaheen. After finishing a decent fifth in the race, the Florida-bred gelding was forced to hit the sidelines for a long time before he returned with a third-place finish in the Group 3 Dubawi at the start of 2020, which he followed with a fourth in the Group 3 Al Shindagha, both at Meydan in Dubai.

Previously trained by Doug Watson, Drafted will make his first start for the New York-based David Duggan on Sunday and his third domestic run as he raced twice in the U.S. as a 2-year-old when he was under the care of trainer Eoin Harty and Godolphin LLC.

“When quarantine hit in Dubai my longtime friends decided to redirect him to America,” said Duggan, who trains Drafted for Misty Hollow Farm. “He's been here a couple months now. He spent a month in Maryland and then came to me. He's straightforward. He can be a little funny to gallop but his works have been very good and on his best day he can be competitive here. He could be a little ring rusty, but this race is just a starting point. I wish it were an easier spot but that's the way it goes in New York. He's working well and is fit enough, so I can't complain.”

A six-time winner from 16 lifetime starts, Drafted will be ridden for the first time by Dylan Davis from post 2 while carrying 131 pounds.

Claimed for $16,000 earlier this year by Silvino Ramirez, Share the Ride will look to keep his magical season going and overturn the decision from the Bold Ruler two starts ago, in which he finished a neck behind Majestic Dunhill. Since being claimed in his first start of 2020 on July 5 at Monmouth Park, the 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding has been in raging form, possibly due to the addition of blinkers, which occurred on September 5 in the Grade 3 Red Bank on turf and have been equipped ever since.

It took him awhile to find the winner's circle for his new connections, but he did so in style on September 12 at Monmouth, taking the Mr. Prospector by a widening 3 ¾ lengths before finishing third in the Grade 1 Vosburgh and second in the Bold Ruler.

Jose Ortiz will take the call from post 5 aboard Share the Ride, who makes a quick turnaround for the Fall Highweight having recently dominated an allowance event at Parx Racing on November 18. He was assigned co-highweight of 133 pounds.

Another reformed claimer, Tribecca will attempt to win his fourth race of the year on Sunday. A New York-bred son of Bustin Stones, Tribecca was haltered for $25,000 last summer by trainer Chris Englehart and owner Ronald Brown and has won six of nine starts for his new connections, including an emphatic victory last out in the Hudson on October 24 at Belmont.

Kendrick Carmouche will retain the mount aboard Tribecca from post 7 at 130 pounds.

Trainer John Terranova will send out the salty older dirt runner Stan the Man, who turns back in distance following a distant third-place finish in the Grade 2 Kelso in his most recent outing. The 6-year-old Broken Vow gelding has won at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 ⅛ miles on the main track and has been a force at the Big A, where he's notched five of his seven lifetime victories. Although he struggled earlier in the year, he seems to have benefited from his connections removing blinkers two starts ago, which resulted in a win in the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga.

Eric Cancel, who was aboard Stan the Man in the Kelso, will take the call again from post 6 at 132 pounds.

Burns Thoroughbred Racing's Arch Cat, trained by Daniel Velazquez, finished third last out in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler. A 13-time winner from 38 career starts, Jorge Vargas, Jr. will have the call from the inside post aboard the 6-year-old Arch gelding at 130 pounds.

Absentee, a five-time winner exiting an off-the-turf score at Belmont on October 29, completes the field for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. and Colts Neck Stables. Junior Alvarado has the call from post 4 under 128.

The Fall Highweight is slated as Race 8 on Sunday's 10-race card. First post is 11:50 a.m. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

The post Majestic Dunhill Faces Comebacking Drafted, 5 Others In Fall Highweight appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Golden Gate Fields Responds To Berkeley City Council Request To Investigate Equine Fatalities

The city council in Berkeley, Calif., has written to California Horse Racing Board chairman Gregory Ferraro expressing its concern over horse deaths at Golden Gate Fields and asking the regulatory board to “investigate.” The letter stated that 22 horse deaths have been reported at Golden Gate this year, through Oct. 5. Thoroughbred fatalities during racing and training often are reported in San Francisco media.

The Golden Gate Fields grandstand and racetrack are located in the city of Albany, while the stable area is in Berkeley.

The letter was recommended by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and two city council members and approved by the full city council on Oct. 27. The issue was not on the CHRB's agenda for its regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 19, but Golden Gate Fields vice president and general manager, David Duggan, responded to the mayor, explaining that Golden Gate is one of the safest tracks in North America, as measured by catastrophic racing injuries. He also provided information on the extensive safety measures taken by Golden Gate's owner, the Stronach Group, and the CHRB.

“It is no exaggeration to state that the State of California and the Stronach Group race tracks have the most rigorous safety programs and most restrictive medication rules in North America,” Duggan wrote.

The full text of the letters from the Berkeley city council and Duggan follow:

From Berkeley city council:

Dear Chairman Ferraro,
We are writing to express concern over the 22 horse deaths that have been reported at Golden Gate Fields this year, as of October 5^th. Golden Gate Fields, located along the border of the Cities of Berkeley and Albany, is the last Thoroughbred racetrack in Northern California and was a popular destination for Bay Area residents before COVID-19 prohibited spectators at the site.

Golden Gate Fields is operated by The Stronach Group, which also operates Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. In 2019, 38 horses died at that location, prompting investigations. In response, The Stronach Group implemented new measures at both sites, such as a ban on race day medications, limiting the use of whips, and installing a new safety rail on the track. While we appreciate efforts undertaken last year by the Stronach Group, the fact that more deaths have occurred this year, compared to 2019, shows that more must be done to address the treatment and welfare of racehorses.

Residents have reached out to our offices to express concern over the situation. We respectfully request the California Horse Racing Board investigate this matter. What is causing the deaths of these horses? What measures can be done to prevent such deaths from occurring? The City of Berkeley has long supported the wellbeing of animals, so hearing of these reports of multiple deaths is alarming. Please keep us informed of any actions you take to ensure the safe treatment and wellbeing of horses at Golden Gate Fields

Sincerely,
The Berkeley City Council

From David Duggan, vice president, general manager Golden Gate Fields

Dear Mayor Arreguin,
We have recently been made aware of your letter on behalf of the Berkeley City Council to the California Horse Racing Board (“CHRB”) and appreciate the opportunity to respond. While we share a common interest in safeguarding our equine and human participants, we feel it is important to point out that Golden Gate is among the safest tracks in North America with catastrophic injury rates in both 2019 and 2020 well below national averages.

Notwithstanding that safety record, we remain proactive in continuously seeking to implement safety and medication reforms developed by our parent company led by Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Dionne Benson, DVM, as well as numerous reforms enacted by the California legislature and the CHRB. We have an onsite veterinary staff led by Dr. Casille Batten that monitors equine safety and health and works with participating trainers and private veterinary practices to develop and implement best practices directed at reducing the rate of injury. It is no exaggeration to state that the State of California and the Stronach Group race tracks have the most rigorous safety programs and most restrictive medication rules in North America.

Moreover, we have recently contributed funds to the University of California at Davis to make available at Golden Gate Fields a Positron Emission Tomography (“PET”) scanner similar to the equipment acquired at Santa Anita in early 2020. PET has proven to be a game changing imaging technology and we look forward to working with the Golden Gate training and veterinary community to take full advantage of this modality.

While the COVID-19 situation makes personal visits difficult we would be happy to take the time to meet with you and city staff along with Dr. Benson and Dr. Batten to review our various safety initiatives. We have a long tradition of good relations with the City of Berkeley, most notably the police and fire departments, and look forward to continuing that cooperative approach.

Sincerely yours,
David Duggan
Vice President, General Manager
Golden Gate Fields

Racing at Golden Gate is currently suspended because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the stable area.

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