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Baze Escapes Serious Injury at Golden Gate

Jockey Russell Baze, racing's all-time leader with 11,415 career victories, escaped serious injury at Golden Gate Fields Nov, 27 when his mount, Reinvent, crashed through the breakaway inner rail on the turf course.

GGF Waits as Berkeley Lab Choice Delayed

Golden Gate Fields officials will have to wait until next year to find out if the Albany track will be the preferred site for the second campus of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the Bay Area.

Greely Dismissed from Golden Gate Fields

Sean Greely, racing secretary at Golden Gate Fields, has been laid off from his position along with several other employees in an economic-related cutback, according to Daily Racing Form.

CHRB Approves Race Dates for 2012

A 2012 race dates calendar was approved by the California Horse Racing Board Oct. 6, with only minor changes from its 2011 version.

Hollendorfer Clicks With Baze for 6,000th Win

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer became the fourth trainer to reach 6,000 victories Sept. 3 when he teamed with fellow Hall of Fame member Russell Baze in winning the sixth race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif.

Hartman to Step Down at Golden Gate Fields

Robert Hartman, the general manager at Golden Gate Fields for the past six years, is leaving his post at the conclusion of the current fall meet Oct. 2.

Golden Gate Cutting Back to Three-Day Week

Golden Gate Fields will be the first Thoroughbred track in California to race a three-day week when it reopens next month for its fall meet.

Julien Couton Out With Fractured Vertebrae

Jockey Julien Couton sustained compression fractures to his thoracic vertebrae in a spill at Golden Gate Fields May 27 and will be sidelined for several weeks, track physician Dr. David Seftel reported the following morning.

Injured Martinez Clears Immigration Hurdle

Paraplegic ex-jockey Michael Martinez is apparently going to be able to make a trip to the University of Zurich in Switzerland for vital embryonic stem cell treatment on his badly injured spinal cord.

Marriage, Fundraiser Next for Paralyzed Rider

Though felled by a horrific riding accident last year that left him paralyzed from the waist down, former Northern California jockey Michael Martinez hasn't let it stop him getting on with his life.

Price Sensitive - By Eric Mitchell

Raising takeout is risky considering racing's place in the world of gambling.

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Comma to the Top Leads El Camino Real Noms

CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Comma to the Top, on a five-race winning streak, heads a list of 16 3-year-olds nominated to the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields Feb. 12.

CA Boycott Getting Noticed, Organizer Says

As California racetracks struggled into their second month of the 2010-11 season, the president of a horseplayers' group that is leading a boycott of the tracks said racing officials in the state are getting the point.

Cal Derby Has 'Positive' Look

Stakes winner Positive Response figures to have a slight edge on paper in the Jan. 15 California Derby. A field of 12 was drawn for the 1 1/16-mile race at Golden Gate Fields.

Cathy's Crunches Heads California Oaks Cast

The talented Cathy's Crunches, riding a three-race win steak in Northern California stakes for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, heads the field in the $100,000 California Oaks as the new year starts at Golden Gate.

Report: Stronach to Give Up MID Real Estate

The Reuters News Service is reporting that owner-breeder Frank Stronach is working out a deal in which he would relinquish control of his real estate company in exchange for some of its racetrack assets.

Hollywood Cuts Meet's Final Wednesday Cards

Hollywood Park will return to a four-day week with live racing Thursday through Sunday for the remaining two weeks of its Autumn meet, the track announced Dec. 2.

Golden Gate Hikes El Camino Real Derby Purse

The El Camino Real Derby (gr. III), with a purse increase of $50,000 to $200,000 in 2011, tops the stakes schedule for the upcoming winter/spring meet at Golden Gate Fields.

Cigar Man Gives Cerin 1,000th Career Victory

Southern California-based Vladimir Cerin earned his 1,000th career training victory on his birthday Nov. 26 when his 5-year-old gelding Cigar Man got up in the final jump to win the $100,900 All American Stakes (gr. III).

Interpatation Escapes From NY in All American

In search of a victory, grade I winner Interpatation invades Northern California from New York for the $100,000 All American Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 26, the richest race of the autumn meet at Golden Gate Fields.

Nov. 24 Live Program at Golden Gate Canceled

Due to an insufficient number of entries, the live racing card scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Golden Gate Fields has been canceled, the track announced.

Injured Jockey Martinez Home for the Holidays

Jockey Michael Martinez was discharged from the Santa Clara Valley Rehabilitation Center in San Jose Nov. 19, 68 days after being critically injured in a spill at Golden Gate Fields.

California Trainer Bill Morey Wins 1,000th

William E. Morey earned his 1,000th career training victory Nov. 11 at Golden Gate Fields when his 7-year-old gray mare Sports Edition captured the seventh race.

CHRB Grants Waivers to MI Developments

MI Developments received two waivers from the California Horse Racing Board Nov. 9 allowing it to move forward with the operation of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields and complete its new dirt track at Santa Anita.

Minor Makes Cash Offer on All MID Assets

Halsey Minor has made an offer to buy all MI Developments assets for $300 million to $320 million.

Stronach Offers to Buy All MID Stock

An entity controlled by the family of Frank Stronach has offered to purchase any or all of the outstanding stock it doesn't already own in racetrack operating company MI Developments.

Split Verdict in Magna Simulcast Fees Case

A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that simulcast providers owed money from tracks operated by bankrupt Magna Entertainment are entitled to funds they paid bettors but not reimbursement for fees and commissions.

Fund Established for Injured Rider Martinez

A fund for jockey Michael Martinez, seriously injured in a spill Sept. 12 at Golden Gate Fields, has been established to help provide financial aid to the 24-year-old rider and his family.

Rider Martinez Improves After 11-Hour Surgery

Jockey Michael Martinez, who ranks second in the rider standings at Golden Gate Fields, was in critical but stable condition Sept. 13 after nearly 11 hours of emergency surgery overnight at Oakland's Highland Hospital.

Oak Tree at Hollywood Park Meet Licensed

Oak Tree Racing Association received license approval Sept. 10 to move its 2010 meet to Hollywood Park.

Bonuses Tied to Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

MI Developments announced Sept. 7 the Black-Eyed Susan 2.2, a bonus program similar to its Preakness 5.5 bonus unveiled in last August.

Golden Gate Fields Names Marketing Director

Kristin Finkel has been promoted to the position of director of marketing at Golden Gate Fields, track general manager Robert Hartman announced Aug. 20.

Stronach: Santa Anita to Have Dirt Main Track

Santa Anita is about to become the first California racetrack to abandon the 2006-mandated synthetic surface experiment and return to dirt.

Stronach Calls Meeting With Calif. Horsemen

Frank Stronach, chairman of MI Developments and owner of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields, has called a meeting with California horsemen Aug. 18 at Del Mar Surfside Race Place, the track's simulcast wagering facility.

Golden Gate Readies Tapeta Surface for Meet

In preparation for Golden Gate's 2010 summer-fall meeting, which begins Aug. 25, scheduled maintenance was performed on the Tapeta Footings artificial surface July 24-25.

Berkeley: Run It Ruins It for Bold Chieftain

Sent off at odds of nearly 20-1, Mercedes Stables' homebred Run It dug in along the rail to post a head victory over heavily favored Bold Chieftain in the $100,000 Berkeley Stakes (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.

Hollywood Park Cancels Live Racing May 26

Pointing to an insufficient number of entries, Hollywood Park announced that it has canceled its May 26 program. Live racing will resume at the Inglewood, Calif., track on May 27.

Haines Takes Reins as Santa Anita President

As was announced May 20 by MI Developments, longtime Santa Anita Park general manager George Haines has been named interim president of the track and will oversee all of MID's California racing operations.

CHRB Chairman Blisters MID for Recent Actions

The California Horse Racing Board got an opportunity to address recent actions of the state's newest track owner, MI Developments, at its May 20 meeting.

Magna Reorganization Plan Implemented

The bankruptcy reorganization plan for Magna Entertainment that includes the transfer of Santa Anita, Gulfstream, and Golden Gate to MID Developments has been implemented, effective at 5:01 p.m. (EDT) April 30.

Turf Race, 2-Year-Olds Return to Golden Gate

The resumption of turf racing and the first 2-year-old event of the season make for an interesting racing program at Golden Gate Fields April 8.

CHRB Files Objection to Magna Creditor Plan

The California Horse Racing Board disputes more than $3 million that it contends belonged to off-track wagering entities when Magna Entertainment Corp. filed for bankruptcy one year ago.

Golden Gate Fully Accredited by Alliance

Golden Gate Fields in Northern California is the 15th racetrack to be fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Cal Derby Top 3 Meet in El Camino Real Derby

The top three finishers in the Jan. 16 California Derby -- Ranger Heartley, Connemara, and Thomas Baines -- top the 10-horse field entered for the Feb. 20 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.

Golden Gate Drops 3 Stakes, Cuts Purses 7.5%

Due to downturn in handle at its current meet, Golden Gate Fields is reducing purses by an average of 7.5%, canceling three stakes and reducing the purses of two other stakes, the track announced Feb. 12.

Northern California Fair Dates Resolved

The California Horse Racing Board finally gave approval to a Northern California fair racing dates program for 2010 during its meeting at Santa Anita Park Jan. 15, though not everyone was happy with the much-delayed action.

Trainer Steve Miyadi Scores 1,000th Win

Steve Miyadi recorded his 1,000th training victory Jan. 2 when his 3-year-old filly Shesgoinghollywood won the first race at Golden Gate Fields.

79-Year-Old Trainer Ends Victory Drought

Joanne Chandler, a 79-year-old trainer who maintains a small racing stable, made a long-awaited return to the winner's circle Dec. 9 at Golden Gate Fields.

Golden Gate Fields Earns Environmental Award

Golden Gate Fields, the largest Thoroughbred racetrack in Northern California, has been awarded the "2009 StopWaste Partnership Business Efficiency Award" for excellence in environmental performance.

More at Stake for California Fair Season

It was more than business as usual as the California summer fair racing season commenced its annual run in the northern half of the state on June 18.