Golden Gate Fields cancels racing through November because of COVID-19 spike

Golden Gate Fields, which has been closed since Nov. 13 because of a spike in COVID-19 cases, announced Wednesday it would remain closed for racing at least through November to address an outbreak of COVID-19 in the backstretch area. Golden Gate had hoped to reopen on Thursday.

Testing was done of all employees and backstretch personnel with a number of positives, many asymptomatic, discovered among backstretch personnel. No one in the racing office tested positive.

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All testing data was shared with the Berkeley Public Health Division, which oversees all positive cases locally. Those testing positive are required by the state to isolate and are not permitted to return to the track until receiving health clearance from the BPHD.

Daily care of the 1,300 horses stabled at Golden Gate continues, and track owner The Stronach Group continues to clean and sanitize the facility.

Track officials were scheduled to meet Thursday morning to discuss the rescheduling of missed stakes, including the six-furlong Golden Nugget for 2-year-olds, slated for Nov. 14; the six-furlong Oakland for 3-year-olds and up, set for this Saturday; the six-furlong Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies, originally scheduled for Nov. 27; and the 1 1/16-mile Berkeley on Nov. 28. The meet is scheduled to close Dec. 13.

The track was closed down for nearly two months in the spring because of shelter-in-place mandates put in place by California Gov. Gavin Newsome in response to the spread of coronavirus..