Galvin's move to Santa Anita accelerated due to Golden Gate closure

Trainer Brendan Galvin plans to relocate his 25-horse stable from Golden Gate Fields to Santa Anita later this month, a decision he said on Thursday was pushed forward by several months because of a recent purse cut at the Northern California track.

Golden Gate Fields, which is scheduled for permanent closure in June, reduced overnight purses approximately 25 percent at the start of the track’s current winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26 because of a purse overpayment of more than $3 million accrued in recent years.

Galvin said on Thursday that he was planning a move to Southern California later this year after Golden Gate’s closure. A replacement circuit of year-round racing at Northern California fair locations has been widely discussed, but details have not been finalized.

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“When Golden Gate said it was closing, it was a matter of time when I had to move,” Galvin said. “I don’t know if the fairs will be here. Cutting purses kind of forced my hand.

“I didn’t think it would come this quick.”

Galvin, 57, is one of two Golden Gate-based trainers to announce the relocation of their stables. Ed Moger, Jr., said in December that he plans to move a majority of his 40-horse stable to Santa Anita this month.

Galvin said on Thursday that his stable will relocate on Jan. 16 and that a majority of his clients will transfer their horses to Santa Anita. Galvin’s stable consists mostly of California-breds.

Some horses in the stable will be transferred to other Northern California-based trainers, he said.

“I’m glad to be there and get stalls,” Galvin said of Santa Anita.

Galvin has won 42 races from 397 runners, including a career-best 12 wins in 2023. Last year, his stable earned a personal-best of $443,316, racing primarily in Northern California.

A native of Ireland, Galvin had a small number of runners in 2011 and 2012 for a single client, he said, before forming a public stable in 2019. In the interim, Galvin worked as an exercise rider and as an assistant to trainer William E. Morey.

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