Race dates for 2010 were approved for California by the state's horse racing board at its meeting Oct. 15, although the panel opted to wait until next month before giving authorization to the Northern California fair circuit, which requested more time to sort out details.
The California Authority of Racing Fairs is requesting an 89-day block of dates from June 16 to Oct. 17, but has not completely decided how it wants to split them up. A major issue is Cal Expo, which is considering changing its state fair run to July from its traditional period ending with Labor Day and wants to schedule its Thoroughbred and mixed breed meet to run concurrently. CARF is also trying to determine whether to give the San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton its full 10-day allotment or shorten it to one week.
Elsewhere, though, the CHRB and the state's racing associations are mostly in agreement. The Southern California Thoroughbred schedule begins Dec. 26, 2009 at Santa Anita and runs through April 18, 2010. The Hollywood Park spring/summer meet would run April 21-July 18, followed by Del Mar, which is slated from July 21-Sept. 8. Fairplex is approved for Sept. 9-27, with Oak Tree at Santa Anita to follow from Sept. 29-Oct. 31. Hollywood Park's fall meet would commence Nov. 3 and would end Dec. 19.
Although it has been granted its traditional dates, Hollywood Park is approved for redevelopment by the city of Inglewood and has not committed to racing through 2010.
In Northern California, Golden Gate Fields is approved for its winter meet (Dec. 26, 2009 to Feb. 21, 2010) and its spring stand (Feb. 25-June 13). The tentative fall meet would run Oct. 20-Dec. 19.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding Cal Expo, the board approved 75 racing days for its harness meet, from Dec. 26, 2009 to June 19, 2010. The Los Alamitos Quarter Horse season would run as requested from Dec. 26, 2009 to Dec. 18, 2010.
Board chairman John Harris said adjustments to the schedule could be made at a later date. The CHRB's next meeting is scheduled Nov. 17 at Golden Gate Fields.