Golden Gate Fields Picks, Entries and Results

Golden Gate Fields Track Details

Address: 1100 Eastshore Hwy, Berkeley, CA 94710

Website: www.goldengatefields.com

Meeting:  Golden Gate Fields operates nearly year-round, except for a two-month break in June and July and brief lapses in October and December. The racing is of a lesser quality than its southern counterparts Santa Anita and Del Mar, but it still has plenty of quality races dotting its lengthy schedule. The Grade 3 San Francisco Mile and Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap are the main attractions on the stakes calendar, but the El Camino Real Derby, a minor Kentucky Derby prep race, has gained traction in recent years. The track also hosts the Grade 3 All American and Grade 3 Golden Gate Fields Turf.

History:  Golden Gate Fields is located in Berkeley, California, directly adjacent to the San Francisco Bay. The track held its inaugural meet in 1941, but was shortly thereafter commandeered and used as a Naval base for staring landing craft to be deployed in the Pacific theater during World War II. The track’s most famous product is perhaps Lost in the Fog, a brilliant dirt sprinter who began his career and was based at Golden Gate in the early 2000’s. With the closing of Bay Meadows on May 11, 2008, Golden Gate became the only major thoroughbred facility operating in Northern California. It is owned by The Stronach Group, which also operates Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway. Golden Gate currently has a one-mile, synthetic main track (featuring the Tapeta surface as of 2007) and a turf course measuring about seven furlongs, along with stalls for 1,420 horses and seating for about 15,000 people.

Facilities:  Set directly on San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Fields provides a very scenic backdrop for racing. The best day to attend racing at Golden Gate is on Sunday, when admission is a dollar, parking is a dollar, a program is a dollar, and hot dogs, beer and mimosas are all a dollar. For those looking for a more VIP experience there is also the Turf Club, which is located on the top floor of the grandstand and offers an elegant yet casual dining experience.