Ferndale has stage to itself for start of meet

California’s smallest racetrack, the Humboldt County Fair in the quaint Victorian village of Ferndale, is getting a big boost for its 122nd meet, which begins Thursday and runs for seven days, through Aug. 26. Ferndale runs Thursday-Sunday for its first week, and Friday-Sunday for its second week.

With Golden Gate Fields not opening until next Thursday, Aug. 23, the Humboldt County Fair will be the only track running in Northern California for the first week of its meeting. That means Ferndale, rather than Golden Gate, will collect wagering commissions from the Northern California satellite wagering system.

Tom Doutrich, racing secretary for the California Authority of Racing Fairs, said he will try to front-load the meet and get bigger fields that lead to more wagering when Ferndale will not be competing with Golden Gate Fields.

The Ferndale residents get more involved with the race meet than the locals at most tracks.

A local group, Friends of the Fair, has raised money to bring back the Les Mademoiselle, a $14,000 race for fillies and mares that was not run last year. The group also has helped with a number of track improvements.

“It’s small-town America at its best,” Doutrich said.

“They enjoy racing here. They make horsemen feel like they’re wanted and supported. Even on non-race days, there are special events like a golf tournament and fish fry.”

The quality of racing is generally of a lower level, although the meet’s finale, the $20,000 C.J. Hindley Humboldt County Marathon, often attracts some accomplished runners. At 1 5/8 miles it is the longest dirt race in California.

On the other end of the distance spectrum, Doutrich will card some 660-yard races open to Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.

“It looks as if we’re going to have about 40 more horses than we did last year,” Doutrich said. “We get real good participation from Oregon trainers.”

Another element that can help the handle at Ferndale are the bets carried over from the fairs at Pleasanton and Sacramento. The Gold Strike Super High Five, which requires fans to select the first five finishers in order in the last race, has a $196,965 carryover. The Gold Rush Pick Six has a carryover of $24,565.

Both wagers are paid out if there is only one winning ticket. Multiple winners split 40 percent of that day’s pool, with the other 60 percent added to the carryover pool.