No more horse racing at The Big Fresno Fair? Why longstanding tradition is in jeopardy

The Big Fresno Fair’s longstanding tradition of hosting horse races could be coming to an end.

The California Authority of Racing Fairs, the board that runs horse racing at fairs throughout the state, unanimously voted Tuesday not to apply for racing dates in 2025.

The move by CARF was described by media outlet Horse Racing Nation as “a fatal blow” to horse racing in Northern California.

It’s also forced The Big Fresno Fair, along with other fairs, to figure out how to maintain horse racing on its own or what to do without future horse races.

“Horse racing has been a staple at The Big Fresno Fair for more than 120 years.” Christina Estrada, CEO of The Big Fresno Fair, said in a news release. “The Big Fresno Fair Board and Management do not want to see that change – and we believe our Central Valley community reflects that same sentiment.”

Other fairs affected by the CARF decision are the Cal Expo at the California State Fair, the Alameda County Fair and Ferndale at the Humboldt County Fair.

Animal safety often draws much attention when it comes to horse racing issues in California.

Just in October at the local level, a horse suffered a race-related injury at the Big Fresno Fair and had to be euthanized.

It was the third horse death reported at the Fresno track this year.

There have been other incidents of horses dying from race-related injuries elsewhere, including at the now-defunct Golden Gate Fields, which was considered the deadliest horse racing facility in California.

That track ultimately closed after 83 years due to financial reasons along with pressure from animal advocacy groups.

But perhaps the bigger issue in the horse racing community is the financial difficulties tied to rising operating costs, reduced attendance and dwindling purse prizes.

Those difficulties were all highlighted in late 2024 during what was supposed to be one of the bigger horse racing meets held in Northern California.

The Daily Racing Form reported that business from the Golden State Racing meet, a 25-day meet held in the Bay Area at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds, was “far below expectations” and was “losing money on a weekly basis.”

In turn, CARF voted unanimously in December to withdraw its application for a winter-spring racing meeting at Pleasanton Fairgrounds — a move that many viewed as the first big blow to Northern California horse racing.

So CARF’s latest decision not to apply for racing dates in 2025 might not have been a big surprise to those in the horse racing community.

Nonetheless, it’s gut check time for The Big Fresno Fair.

Theoretically, individual fairs could hold horse racing on their own and independently apply for a 2025 racing license.

But such a move is quite costly, with significant risks involved as experienced at the Golden State Racing meet.

“The viability of horse racing in California, and more specifically Northern California has been the subject of much discussion,” said Estrada, who heads the Fresno Fair. “Based on (the) decision by the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF), we are examining the details and exploring our options.

“You can be confident that the Fair will keep the community updated.”

This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 8:23 AM.