Golden Gate website officially offline

It is no longer possible to take a nostalgic visit to Goldengatefields.com, and peruse the history of the Northern California track that closed on June 9.

Shortly after closing day, the website was reconfigured with only a link to a dispersal auction on track property on Aug. 1. The sale will offer a wide variety of track maintenance equipment, notably tractors, graders, and even an ambulance.

Without Golden Gate Fields on the regional calendar, the Northern California circuit has migrated approximately 30 miles east to the Alameda county fairgrounds in Pleasanton, which is currently conducting the first of five fair meetings.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

Later this summer and fall, racing will be held at Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Ferndale, and Fresno before a fall meeting will be run at Pleasanton on dates previously raced at Golden Gate Fields.

Espinoza suspended Friday

Assael Espinoza, the leading rider at the Golden Gate Fields meeting that ended earlier this month, will miss Friday’s program at Pleasanton to serve a one-day suspension.

In a ruling issued on June 14 by Pleasanton stewards, Espinoza was cited for using his whip eight times, or two times more than the permitted limit, on Adelie in the eighth race at Golden Gate Fields on June 9.

Adelie won the last race in the history of Golden Gate Fields, which was permanently closed after the June 9 program. Espinoza was also fined $250 for the infraction.

Pleasanton began its four-week meeting on June 14. After three days of racing, Espinoza had three wins on the track’s opening weekend, trailing leader Luis Jimenez by two victories.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.