CHRB Denies Northern California Horse Racing Dates

Since CHRB rejected two different applications for racing dates at Pleasanton and Ferndale on Thursday in Sacramento, this has again set back Northern California’s attempts to revive horse racing dates. The board’s meeting at Cal-Expo continued to shed light on the problems that confront the horse racing industry in the region. The Sonoma County Fair Board of Directors, coincidentally on the same day, issued a press release revealing that horse racing would be canceled at the 2025 fair in Santa Rosa.

The most controversial decision of the CHRB was the one where the board decided 4 to 1 in favor of a request made by the newly formed Bernal Park Racing LLC. This was an entity formed by horse owners George Schmitt and John Harris and was seeking to hold a racing meet at the Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton from June 10 to July 6, 2025. Despite the applicants’ attempts to bring forth the economic benefits of this event along with its potential to breathe new life into local racing, the file has once again been rejected.

The vote against the Pleasanton request came from Dr. Gregory Ferraro, the CHRB chairman, along with commissioners Dennis Alfieri and Thomas Hudnut. Vice-chairman Oscar Gonzales supported the request, while Commissioner Brenda Davis voted against it. The failure to secure approval came as a blow to supporters hoping to see the horse racing date revived in Northern California.

This refusal comes as voices raised over the financial sustainability of the industry in the region, board members were divided over their view that a racing meet at Pleasanton would not attract enough people to sustain it. Gonzales opened their views to the venue for the event, arguing for the possibility of a flourishing industry with proper support.

Another application submitted by the Humboldt County Fair Board for holding a racing meet at Ferndale from August 13 to September 2 was also voted down. The CHRB voted 3 to 2 to reject the application, which did not receive the required four votes under California law. While not approved this time, Vice-chairman Gonzales encouraged the Humboldt County officials to resubmit at a future meeting, suggesting that the commissioners could change their minds on this matter.

This rejection of the Ferndale meet, especially in light of the long history of horse racing dating in Humboldt County, is of paramount significance. Many in the community were hopeful that the fair could continue its long-held tradition of hosting horse races. Opponents of racing are right to be concerned about the area’s prospects for racing since, in less than recent years, many of the state fairs have reduced or eliminated these events.

As if this weren’t already bad enough, the Sonoma County Fair Board announced that it would cancel horse racing for its 2025 fair in Santa Rosa. After long discussions among themselves, the fair board concluded that the event did not make sense anymore because not many people had attended horse races in the recent past. This adds on top of a perception that horse racing dates have become unsustainable in Northern California, with many of the fairs no longer holding races or greatly reducing the numbers on their schedule.

For many in the horse racing community, the cancellation of the Sonoma County races represents a further erosion of the sport’s presence in the region. As horse racing dates become less of a draw for local fairgoers, other forms of entertainment are taking center stage.

The recent decisions by the CHRB, coupled with the Sonoma County Fair’s cancellation, illustrate the ongoing difficulties for the horse racing industry in Northern California. Attendance levels at races in many categories are increasingly facing a decline. The growing competition is historically from other leisure choices for participants and spectators alike.

Proposals to restore racing in the area, including those for Pleasanton and Ferndale, face major opposition. Some insiders of the industry argue that financial difficulties and changing opinions about horse racing date do not allow for its sustainability in Northern California. Some advocates have said that with the right approach, such as modernization and improved fan engagement, horse racing does stand a chance in the region.

But the future of horse racing seems dubious for Northern California. The CHRB’s refusals to accept the applications for Pleasanton and Ferndale are serious setbacks, but they may not be the definitive end of any efforts to restore racing to those localities. While horse racing tends to change with the times, the pill could lie in wait for much better opportunities down the road.

The sport of horse racing will have to wait and see if it can regain its footing in Northern California as the industry tackles all of these challenges. The decisions of the CHRB on Thursday are a microcosm of the wider predicament horse racing faces in California as it continues to work through the tides of change in market conditions and preferences.