closure

Longtime track superintendent Juan Meza will be retained by Woodbine Entertainment as a Racing Surfaces Consultant, the track said on Monday. Meza served as the track superintendent at Golden Gate Fields for over two decades up until the track ceased operations this past June. Like Woodbine, Golden Gate Fields held racing on a Tapeta (all-weather) racing surface, installing the synthetic track in 2007. Meza's brings an extensive knowledge in Tapeta to Woodbine and has worked closely alongside the surface manufacturer (Tapeta Footings). "The safety and well-being of both our equine...

A day after an 'unexpected water issue' caused by Wednesday evening storms forced the closure to the public of Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, track officials announced Friday morning that it would be business as usual for the afternoon's live program. "Thank you to our staff, the local Henderson community and racing fans for their patience," said Ellis Park General Manager Matt Pressley. "We're looking forward to seeing everyone out at the track [Friday]." Strong storms passed through the region Wednesday night, causing a power outage to the grandstand that...

Over a week has passed since The Stronach Group (TSG) announced with a short statement light on detail the closure of Golden Gate Fields at the end of the year--a momentous decision that figures to upend a way of life for so many in California. Since then, the company has remained publicly mum on the reasons behind the closure, and its vision for the future. Every day since the announcement, the TDN has submitted a series of questions, to which TSG has responded only once. "For now, the [Sunday] statement...

Sunday's news that The Stronach Group (TSG) will close its flagship Northern California racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, at the end of the year has ripped through the state racing industry like a cannon shot. It has left owners, breeders, trainers, grooms and a whole multitude of individuals whose livelihoods hinge around the sport scrambling for answers as they attempt to plot their futures in a vacuum of hard facts. Instrumental in this confusion is the glaring dearth of public information coming out of TSG. Every day this week, the TDN...

Officials at the Pacific Racing Association and Golden Gate Fields (GGF) have announced that the track and stable area will be closed to all activities and occupants for a seven-week period beginning June 18, 2022 and extending through Aug. 7, 2022, in order to provide 'safe and unimpeded access for required upgrades, repairs and inspection of the utility infrastructure serving the GGF facility.' During that time frame, there will be no live racing or training and housing will be unavailable. In a memo issued late Wednesday, officials explained they have...

The ninth race Saturday at Arlington is scheduled to go off at 6:12 p.m. Central Time and that will be it. Barring an 11th-hour miracle, the plug will be pulled by Churchill Downs and the wrecking ball will soon be on its way. Considered one of the most beautiful tracks in the world and an important part of American racing since opening in 1927, Arlington Park will run its last-ever card Saturday. On the racetrack, it figures to be a quiet afternoon. At the same track that has played host...

The New York Racing Association has suspended live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack until further notice due to changing circumstances in the racing community relative to the coronavirus. A backstretch worker who lives and works at Belmont Park tested positive Thursday morning for the coronavirus. Following NYRA's Preparedness and Response Plan, the worker has been quarantined since developing symptoms the morning of Friday, Mar. 13. His roommate was also quarantined at that time. "This individual and his roommate have been in isolation since prior to racing last Friday and as such...