Golden Gate cancels racing for at least one week

Golden Gate Fields on Friday suspended racing operations for at least one week, and in a press release later in the day cited 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the stable area since Oct. 30.

“All positive cases are overseen by the Berkeley Public Health Division [BPHD] through their case managers, are required to isolate as per BPHD protocols and are not able to return to Golden Gate Fields until health clearance has been provided by BPHD,” said the release, which was put out by Golden Gate’s parent company, The Stronach Group.

“During the period of temporary closure, track facilities will undergo thorough cleaning and track-wide COVID-19 testing will be performed for all employees and backstretch workers in the stable area. Upon completion of testing all data will be shared with the BPHD.”

The suspension of racing was first announced less than one hour before the day’s scheduled first race.

Shortly thereafter, Santa Anita – Golden Gate’s sister track -- sent a text message to horsemen saying, “anyone coming from Golden Gate Fields must provide a negative test before coming onto the grounds at Santa Anita or San Luis Rey Downs.”

The release’s first paragraph said racing would pause “through to November 20.” The final paragraph said the track would “look forward to resuming live racing as soon as possible.”

The release said training would continue.

“The 1,300 horses stabled onsite will continue to receive the daily care and exercise they require,” the release said.

According to an update from the Thoroughbred Owners of California, "Golden Gate has also been instructed to roll back to essential personnel only; so, as a result owners will not be allowed to attend racing or morning workouts until further notice."

Golden Gate was racing on a Thursday-through-Sunday scheduled and had last raced on Thursday.

Golden Gate Fields is in Alameda County, Calif., which on Thursday put out a notice that said, “given recent increases in the COVID-19 case rate” in the county, “and the rise in cases across the Bay Area and the state, we have temporarily paused plans to open additional activities.

“Alameda County is currently in the Orange Tier per the State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy, but we anticipate moving into a more restrictive tier soon.”

That county's public information office, which is operating remotely, was not handling phone calls on Friday and did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment regarding Golden Gate Fields, and there was no notice on the county's website regarding Golden Gate.