With Santa Anita closed, Golden Gate entries may benefit

If Santa Anita continues to remain closed because of the coronavirus outbreak, Southern California-based horses will likely race in greater numbers at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California.

Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health ordered the closure of Santa Anita, deeming the racetrack a non-essential business. Only businesses deemed essential are allowed to conduct business during the virus outbreak. The decision was made less than an hour before the day’s first race.

Golden Gate Fields, located in Albany, across the bay from San Francisco, has not been affected and continues to race. Friday and Saturday, Golden Gate Fields drew entries for races on Thursday and Friday this week. Thursday’s program has 64 horses in eight races, while Friday’s program has 59 horses in eight races.

Both cards have participation from Southern California-based stables, which is often the case on a regular basis. Trainer frequently ship horses to and from both venues, seeking ideal racing opportunities. It costs approximately $800 for a roundtrip van ride.

Santa Anita officials are hopeful racing can resume quickly, perhaps as early as this weekend, pending discussions with county health officials. If not, there could be more horses traveling to the Bay Area from Santa Anita.

“A lot of people are holding out they can be running down south,” said Golden Gate racing secretary Patrick Mackey.

If Santa Anita’s opening is delayed well into April, the situation could change.

“I think a lot of people are looking for a place to run,” Mackey said. “We’re currently their only option. We’ve had plenty of Southern California horsemen looking at the condition book.”

Thursday, trainers such as Paddy Gallagher, Jeff Metz, Steve Miyadi, Leonard Powell and Doug O’Neill have horses starting at Golden Gate Fields that either raced at Santa Anita in their last starts or are based at Santa Anita.

Friday, the group includes Metz, Miyadi, and O’Neill as well as Richard Baltas, Craig Dollase, Bob Hess, Jr., Gary Mandella, Michael McCarthy, and Jonathan Wong.

Dollase and Mandella are having their first runners of the year at Golden Gate Fields on Friday. Miyadi and Wong have stables based at Golden Gate Fields. Hess’s father, Bob, Sr., has a stable at Golden Gate Fields. The others Southern California-based trainers with runners at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday and Friday have had runners at the track in recent months.

“We have gotten a few entries from regulars that do ship up here,” Mackey said. “Everyone is trying to keep it going. Any help we can get from Southern California that adds intrigue and runners.”

Golden Gate Fields is racing without spectators, as was Santa Anita for five racing days from March 14-22. Santa Anita also barred owners from attending the races from March 20-22 to reduce the number of people in the grandstands.

Santa Anita announced over the weekend that jockeys will no longer be allowed in the stables, effective Monday. As a result, jockeys will not be able to work horses until the policy is reversed. The decision was made to reduce the number of people on the backstretch.

The track also instructed jockey’s agents to work remotely.

Mackey said Golden Gate Fields has instructed jockey’s agents to work remotely, but are allowing jockeys to work horses.

“We don’t have as many exercise riders. It’s as bare bones as we can get,” he said. “We’re doing the best we can to limit anything.”