Santa Rosa Looks To Expand Thoroughbred Horse Racing in 2009

David cawthorn — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:26:00 GMT

Santa Rosa, CA - The Sonoma County Fair management team is "seriously considering" requesting three extra racing dates for 2009 from the California Horse Racing Board, according to Richard Lewis, Director of Racing for this year's Sonoma County Fair, slated to run from July 23 to August 4.

"(Races) would run for three weeks, five days a week with Monday and Tuesday dark or Tuesday and Wednesday dark," said Lewis, former racing director at Bay Meadows, Northern California track that recently closed operations permanently.

The potential expansion of Sonoma County Fair's racing program comes at time when the debate on the future of the $20.7 billion horse racing industry is intensifying throughout the country. For example, today Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed an executive order creating the "Governor's Task Force on the Future of Horse Racing." One of the duties assigned to the task force is to study the economic soundness of the thoroughbred horse racing industry.

Declining racetrack attendance has made it unprofitable for track owners to carry the expense of large parcels of land, especially in states with high real estate values such as in California and Florida. And, with off-track betting generating about 75% of the pari-mutuel handle at most tracks, on-site track attendance is expected to continue its downward trend.

Marketing approaches such as installing slot machines at tracks, hosting family days and Friday-night rock concerts clearly has helped some racetracks increase attendance. This strategy attracts racing neophytes who ordinary do not come to the races, but once exposed to the pageantry and excitement of thoroughbreds thundering down the stretch, many come back as avid horse racing fans.

And that is why the fair horse racing circuit, especially at Northern California tracks such as the Sonoma County Fair, with its turf track, the ability to attract quality horses and the popularity of the fair venue itself, may end up being the best bet for horse racing fans as many private racetracks close their gates in the years to come.

Thoroughbred Racing News (tm)

Santa Rosa Looks To Expand Thoroughbred Horse Racing in 2009