Golden Gate cancels its Wednesday card

ALBANY, Calif. - Golden Gate Fields has canceled live racing for this Wednesday.

The track received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to cancel Wednesday racing after unsuccessfully attempting to draw both its Wednesday and Thursday cards on Friday. An eight-race Thursday card was drawn with 58 entrants, an average of 7.25 horses per race.

The cancellation means that Golden Gate will run five days this week instead of six. It will offer live racing Thursday through Monday's Memorial Day holiday. The track will be open for simulcast wagering on Wednesday.

"We've been struggling all year, and there just weren't enough horses to fill cards for two days said track general manager Robert Hartman.

Trainer Gil Matos said horsemen were not surprised by the cancellation.

"It didn't look like they had enough interest [to fill the Wednesday races), and look at the field size on Thursday. If we hadn't had the problems we've been having, it might have been a surprise," he said.

Golden Gate ran only seven races last Wednesday and Thursday in its first attempt at a five-day race week.