Pieces are in place for a strong Golden Gate fall meeting

With the juvenile season in full swing and higher purses for claiming horses, the Golden Gate Fields fall meet seems poised to offer horseplayers larger fields and good betting races.

The 32-day fall meet at the Albany, Calif., track starts Thursday and runs through Dec. 9.

Golden Gate raised purses at the bottom level before its brief summer meeting and will continue the higher purses for this meet. Golden Gate Fields racing secretary Patrick Mackey thinks that could result in more owners willing to retain lower-level horses and, he hopes, bigger fields for claiming races.

The track has shown improvement in out-of-state wagering this year, and Mackey thinks that trend will continue this meet.

“I think we’ve found our niche and found space in the simulcast window,” he said. “We’ve made races more interesting by raising field size. . . . There are not so many winners at 2-5.”

The meet includes four stakes for 2-year-olds: the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer for fillies at one mile on the turf on Oct. 27; the $50,000 Golden Nugget at six furlongs on Nov. 10; the $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante for fillies at six furlongs on Nov. 23; and the $75,000 Gold Rush at one mile on Dec. 1.

“This is a time when 2-year-olds start blossoming and separating themselves,” Mackey said. “It’s fun to watch horses improve.”

The stakes schedule is highlighted by the Grade 3, $100,000 Berkeley on Nov. 24, which is for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta main track. The meet’s other stakes are the $50,000 Oakland for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on Nov. 17, and a closing weekend doubleheader on Dec. 8 – the $75,000 Bear Fan at six furlongs for California-bred fillies and mares and the $50,000 Miss America for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Golden Gate also is participating in the Stronach 5, a pick five wager made up of races from the Stronach Group tracks Golden Gate, Santa Anita, Gulfstream, and Laurel. The bet, which is offered on Fridays, has a $1 minimum and a low takeout of 12 percent.

Mackey thinks the Stronach 5 could benefit Golden Gate by exposing its races to bettors who don’t usually play the track.

“When people handicap and watch those races, they’ll become more comfortable with the track,” said Mackey.

Racing at the fall meet will be held on Thursdays-Sundays. First post most days is 12:45 p.m. First post on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, Nov. 3, is 11:40 a.m., and first post on Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, is 11:15 a.m.

The track will continue its popular Dollar Day Sundays with $1 parking, admission, programs, hot dogs, beer and mimosas.