Slight changes to Northern California fall race dates

The Thoroughbred racing calendar for Northern California in September and October was altered at Thursday’s California Horse Racing Board meeting, interspersing county fair meetings in Stockton and Fresno with the months-long Golden Gate Fields meeting in Albany.

Under dates previously allocated, Golden Gate Fields was scheduled to start its summer-autumn meeting Aug. 21 and run through Sept. 13 before pausing for race meetings in Stockton and Fresno in late September and early October. Golden Gate would have resumed racing Oct. 15.

Under the new calendar, Golden Gate Fields will open its summer-autumn meeting Aug. 21 and run through Sept. 7 before taking a two-week break while the San Joaquin County Fair meeting in Stockton is held Sept. 11-20. Stockton was originally scheduled to race Sept. 18-27.

The new calendar will have Golden Gate Fields resume racing from Sept. 24 through Oct. 4 and then take another break to allow for the Big Fresno Fair meeting Oct. 8-18.

Fresno was allotted racing dates beginning Oct. 1. Earlier this year, officials with the California Authority of Racing Fairs asked the racing board for a one-week postponement of the start of the race meeting to allow for racing dates at Fresno to coincide with other county fair activities.

Under the new calendar, Golden Gate Fields will resume racing Oct. 22 and conclude its summer-autumn meeting Dec. 20.