Golden Gate hopes to begin turf racing this year on March 31
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Golden Gate Fields will begin racing on turf this year as early as March 31.
The track’s condition book for March 31 to April 2 has at least two turf races on each program.
Racing secretary Steve Martinelli said weather conditions will determine how much the course can be used those days, if at all.
“We’re playing it by ear,” he said. “You can start carding them, but it will depend on rain and weather.”
Areas around Golden Gate Fields received more than an inch of rain in a 24-hour period ending on Wednesday morning, with more rain expected during the day and perhaps next week. There has been considerably more rain than usual in Northern California this year.
“If it dries out, the 31st should look okay,” Martinelli said. “If we get more rain, I would put it highly questionable.”
Turf racing began on March 18 at the 2021-2022 meeting, although two races scheduled that week were moved from the turf course to the synthetic main track because of rain.
For the entire 2021-2022 meeting, Golden Gate Fields had 76 turf races compared to 99 at the 2020-2021 season.
The current season began on Dec. 26 and continues through June 11. The meeting’s richest race is the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, which is worth $250,000 and is scheduled for turf on April 29. There are six stakes on that program, including two other turf stakes.
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