Golden Gate Fields facts for kids
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| Location | Berkeley, California, United States |
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| Owned by | The Stronach Group |
| Date opened | 1941 |
| Course type | Thoroughbred flat racing |
| Notable races | San Francisco Mile Stakes Golden Gate Derby |
Golden Gate Fields is a famous horse racing track in California, USA. It's located right next to the San Francisco Bay, between the cities of Albany, California and Berkeley, California. It's easy to spot from the Eastshore Freeway. Since another big track called Bay Meadows closed in 2008, Golden Gate Fields is now the main place for thoroughbred horse racing in Northern California. The Stronach Group currently owns it.
The track covers about 140 acres (which is like 100 football fields!). It has a special one-mile (1,609 meter) track made of a synthetic material called Tapeta. There's also a grass track, called a turf course, that's almost a mile long. The facility has stables for over 1,400 horses and plenty of seats for fans. It's a great place to watch exciting horse races!
Contents
The Story of Golden Gate Fields
How the Land Changed Over Time
Golden Gate Fields is built on land that has a cool history. It's near a rocky area called Fleming Point, right on the edge of San Francisco Bay. Long ago, this land was part of a bigger area owned by José Domingo Peralta. He sold it in 1852 to John Fleming, who used it to send his cattle across the bay to San Francisco.
Later, in the late 1800s, something really interesting happened here. It became the home of the Giant Powder Company, which made dynamite! The factory actually blew up twice between 1879 and 1892. Imagine that!
Horse Racing Returns to the Bay Area
Horse racing started in this part of California even before Golden Gate Fields was built. There was a track called the Oakland Trotting Track about two miles south, in a city called Emeryville. It was open from 1871 until 1911, when California decided to ban horse racing. A fire destroyed the old track in 1915.
But don't worry, the ban didn't last forever! In 1933, the state allowed horse racing again. This paved the way for Golden Gate Fields.
Building the Track and World War II
Just before World War II, the new grandstand at Golden Gate Fields was built. The first race meet happened on February 1, 1941. The track even appeared in a movie called Shadow of the Thin Man around that time!
When World War II began, the United States Navy took over the property. They used it as a huge storage area for hundreds of landing craft that were needed for the war in the Pacific Ocean. After the war ended, Golden Gate Fields went back to being a horse racing track.
Who Owned the Track?
For 25 years, a horse lover named Kjell Qvale owned and managed Golden Gate Fields. Later, it was bought by different companies, including Ladbroke Racing and Magna Entertainment Corp. Today, it's owned by The Stronach Group, who bought it in 2011.
In 2016, Golden Gate Fields made history by hiring Angela Hermann. She was the first full-time female race announcer in the United States since the 1960s! Now, Matt Dinerman is the race announcer and track handicapper.
Exciting Races and Famous Horses
Golden Gate Fields has seen many exciting races and famous horses over the years.
Legendary Horses and Moments
- In 1950, two amazing horses, Citation (who won the Triple Crown) and Noor, raced against each other in the Golden Gate Handicap. Noor beat Citation, which was a huge deal!
- In 1957, a horse named Silky Sullivan became famous for his exciting races at the track. He was so popular that he was buried right in the middle of the track's infield.
- The grass track, or turf course, opened on February 22, 1972, adding more racing options.
- In 1984, the incredible horse John Henry set a new record by winning the Golden Gate Handicap.
- Another famous horse, Lost in the Fog, was based at Golden Gate Fields. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 due to illness and was also buried in the infield. A special celebration of his life was held at the track.
Making Racing Safer
In 2007, Golden Gate Fields installed a special synthetic racing surface called Tapeta. This type of track is designed to be safer for both the horses and the jockeys who ride them.
Amazing Jockey Achievements
On February 1, 2008, jockey Russell Baze achieved his 10,000th career win at Golden Gate Fields! He won a total of 5,765 races at this track during his amazing career.
Shared Belief, a champion two-year-old horse from 2013, also raced and won several times at Golden Gate Fields.
Racing Seasons
Since Bay Meadows closed, Golden Gate Fields is the main racetrack in Northern California. It usually has a long racing season from late December to mid-June, and another season from mid-October to mid-December. Sometimes, there's even a summer racing season!
Getting to the Track
Golden Gate Fields is easy to get to! You can drive there from the Gilman Street and Albany exits of the Eastshore Freeway. There used to be a special bus service from the North Berkeley BART station, and now there's a free shuttle service from the BART station provided by East Shore Charter Lines. There's also a walking and biking path, the San Francisco Bay Trail, that runs nearby.
Important Races at Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields hosts several important races each year. Some of the biggest ones include:
- Berkeley Handicap
- San Francisco Mile Stakes
- El Camino Real Derby
- California Derby
- All American Stakes
There are also many other exciting races throughout the year, like the California Oaks, Silky Sullivan Handicap, and Lost in the Fog Stakes.
Images for kids
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A race on turf in 2017
