Turf races abound at Golden Gate Fields

Horsemen and fans who enjoy turf racing will enjoy the two-week second half of the Golden Gate Fields summer mini meet that begins Thursday at the Albany, Calif., track. Thirty-eight percent of the races (25 of 66) listed in the condition book for the eight-day meet are scheduled for the turf course.

The Golden Gate Fields meet was split this year because of a scheduling oddity that saw the Big Fresno Fair’s racing dates pushed back. Golden Gate took a two-week break during the just-concluded Stockton meet and now will run for two weeks before the start of the Fresno meet.

The schedule allows Golden Gate to use its turf course to the fullest, with the pair of two-week breaks giving the course a chance to rejuvenate. It also gives trainers with turf runners plenty of chances to run on a regular schedule.

Two one-mile maiden turf races are in the condition book for 2-year-old fillies who may be preparing for the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer at one mile on turf Nov. 1. Surprisingly, no turf allowance races are in the book for 2-year-old fillies, although some could be added as extra races.

First post for the meet that runs Thursdays through Sundays is 1:15 p.m. Pacific on weekdays and 12:45 p.m. on weekends. As usual, both Sundays will feature the popular $1 Sundays promotion, with $1 admission, parking, programs, beer, soda, and hot dogs.