ALBANY, CALIF. – The 99-day Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring Meet will begin Monday, Dec. 26 with racing conducted four days a week through June 18.

Regular post time will be 12:45 p.m. every race day with five exceptions: 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 26 (Opening Day), 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 5 (Super Bowl Sunday), and 11:45 a.m. on May 6, May 20, and June 10 (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont).

Golden Gate will conduct twelve stakes races during the Winter/Spring Meet, highlighted by the three GIII races: $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on February. 18; GIII $100,000 San Francisco Mile on April 29; GIII $100,000 All American on May 29.

Notable events for the Winter/Spring Meet are our annual Wall Calendar giveaway that will take place on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1; on Saturday, February 4, come celebrate the Year of The Rooster at Golden Gate Fields and receive a red envelope filled with a mystery mutual voucher that may be worth $500; Join us this St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, for your chance to win $100,000 in our annual Horseshoe Pitch Contest. Entries and drawing will be done that day; online packages for the Kentucky Derby experience and the Belmont Wine Festival will be available on our website: www.goldengatefields.com. Lastly, beginning April 30, enjoy live music on Dollar Days with bands from around the Bay Area performing between the races until the end of the Meet, June 18.

Receive admission coupons for Saint Patrick’s Day at the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, February 18 and admission coupons for the Belmont Wine Festival on Saturday, May 6, during the Kentucky Derby.

General and Clubhouse admission are $6 and $10, respectively. Turf Club admission is $12 on Thursdays and Fridays and $15 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Frequent admission discounts and lower pre-paid rates are available to THOROUGHBREDS club members. Every Friday is Senior Friday, with free clubhouse admission offered to THOROUGHBREDS club members 62 years and older. The popular Dollar Day is held every Sunday, with Golden Gate offering $1 general admission, $1 general parking, $1 programs, $1 beers, $1 sodas, and $1 hot

The Winter/Spring Meet racing/post time schedule
Week 1 (Dec. 26-Jan 2): Monday 12:15 p.m., Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m., Monday 12:45 p.m.
Week 2 (Jan. 6-8): Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.
Week 3 (Jan. 12-16): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m., Monday 12:45 p.m.
Week 4 (Jan. 20-22): Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.
Week 5 (Jan. 26-29): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.
Week 6 (Feb. 2-5): Thursday 12:45 a.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 11:15 a.m.
Week 7 (Feb. 9-12): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 8 (Feb. 16-20): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m., Monday 12:45 p.m.

Week 9 (Feb. 24-26): Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 10 (March 2-5): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 11 (March 9-12): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 12 (March 16-19): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 13 (March 23-26): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 14 (March 30-April 2): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 15 (April 6-9): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 16 (April 14-16): Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.
Week 17 (April 21-23): Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 18 (April 27-30): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 12:45 p.m., Sunday 12:45 p.m.

Week 19 (May 4-7): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 11:45 a.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m.

Week 20 (May 11-14): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 1:15 p.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m.

Week 21 (May 18-21): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 11:45 a.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m.

Week 22 (May 25-29): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 1:15 p.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m. Monday 12:45 p.m.

Week 23 (June 2-4): Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 1:15 p.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m.

Week 24 (June 8-11): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 11:45 p.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m.

Week 25 (June 15-18): Thursday 12:45 p.m., Friday 12:45 p.m., Saturday 1:15 p.m., Sunday 1:15 p.m.

Albany, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2016) — Lady Valeur, shipped in from Southern California by trainer Patty Gallagher, ran the others down in the stretch to win the $50,000 Miss America stakes by 1 and ¼ lengths. The race was for fillies and mares, threes years old and upward, at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles and was completed in 1:43.35. Lady Valeur was well placed just off the speed by jockey Ricardo Gonzalez and waited until mid-stretch to rally to the front and then held off the others with a driving finish. “The ride played out beautiful. I sat right behind the speed just like we talked about and she relaxed really good for me. And I knew when she came to the stretch she was going to have a lot of run. She kind of waited for them and when they came she kicked back in. Trainer Patrick Gallagher said in the paddock that he thinks the 12 is going to clear and drop over and he did so I just sat right behind her. And it was beautiful,” said winning jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.

Mon Petite, ridden by Abel Cedillo, was never far back and came on late to take second. She was followed home by Hijra, who needed to swing wide for room, but still finished willingly for third with Catalino Martinez aboard.  Glory, a horse trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by lead jockey Juan Hernandez, set the pace all the way to the stretch but weakened quickly after the second turn and finished off the board. Lady Valeur paid $4.40 for her efforts today.

Trainer Patty Gallagher instructed Ricardo Gonzalez to let Lady Valeur run her race and it couldn’t have worked out any better. “Ricky rode her very good, it was nice. He put her in a perfect spot and after that she was good enough. We thought today if someone wants to go then let her stay comfortable if she is in and run her own race,” said Gallagher. The race, originally scheduled for the turf, was switched to the Tapeta due to rain, but this didn’t affect Gallagher’s decision to run. “Turf to dirt is a big gamble and it has been for years. But turf horses seem to take to this course and just run on it like it is grass.”

Tomorrow, December 11, will be closing day of the Fall Meet and Dollar Day with $1 Beers, $1 Hot Dogs, $1 General Admission, $1 General Parking, and $1 Programs. Live racing will resume for the Winter/Spring Meet on December 26 and run through June 18. Opening week will be highlighted with the annual Wall Calendar giveaway on January 1.

Albany, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2016) — Fast and Foxy, with jockey Catalino Martinez aboard, spent no time waiting for the group as she took off in the stretch to win by 4 ½ lengths. Trained by Holly Evans, Fast and Foxy, is the winner of the inaugural $75,000 Bear Fan stakes race named by Racing Secretary, Patrick Mackey. The race was for California bred or California sired fillies and mares three years old and upward. The race leader took the victory in a wire to wire performance in 1:09.48 proving herself much the best. Favorites, Desert Steel and Toomuchisnotenough, never offered closing responses and placed 3^rd and 4^th respectively. Light One circled five wide to the stretch, but still managed to get the nod over Desert Steel to place 2^nd. Fast and Foxy paid $14.60 for today’s effort.

Catalino Martinez hadn’t ridden the horse before, but had ridden against the horse and knew its style. “I saw the two and the five horse had a lot of speed so Holly told me send it and if they go with you it is nothing to worry about. And when they took back I saw I was in the lead and it was perfect. Then at the 3/16 pole I knew I still had a lot of horse and they would have to run to beat me. I was loaded and she was still wide open even at the end,” said Martinez.

This is Holly Evans’ second stakes race victory; she picked up her first in Santa Rosa with Sing and Tell. “She likes this track and it has been hard to hold her on the ground. I knew she was going to have speed today,” said Evans. Fast and Foxy had traveled down to Santa Anita, but didn’t do well and returned to Golden Gate Fields to rest. “She needed a vacation, she’d been running a long time. She just needs a jockey who will leave her alone and let her run.”

Next week, December 8-11, will be closing weekend of the Fall Meet. The weekend will be highlighted by the $50,000 Miss America on Saturday and a Mandatory Payout on Sunday. The pick six pool is currently at $47,000. Dollar Day is every Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with $1Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11^th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.

Albany, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2016) — Juan Hernandez captured his third stakes race victory of the 2016 Fall Meet aboard Colonel Samsen in the $75,000 Gold Rush. Trained by Eoin Harty, Colonel Samsen, though never far back from the lead, was caught behind Tipo Duro. Hernandez had to wait patiently for his move, but in mid-stretch the opportunity came and he ducked inside Aqua Frio and More Power To Him to close hard for the victory. Tipo Duro dueled with More Power To Him for the lead until the ¼ pole, but was out kicked in the stretch and then gave way. The mile race for two year olds was completed in 1:38.59 with favored 9-to-5 Colonel Samsen paying $5.60.

Juan Hernandez, winning jockey of both the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer and the $50,000 Golden Nugget, celebrated his third stakes victory today and remains atop the jockey leader board with 32 victories for the Fall Meet, claiming over $580,000 in purses. “I expected more speed in the race because it looked like a lot of the horses were coming from sprints. But then when the gate opened, the pace was slow. My horse was pulling hard and wanted to go, but I didn’t have anywhere to go on the backside. So I waited for my move on the stretch. The horse responded very well. And we won. He’s a nice horse, a very nice horse,” said Hernandez. Hernandez had a hat trick on the day.

Runner up jockey, Kyle Frey, still looking for his first stakes victory of the Fall Meet, finished strong, but was caught by Hernandez to finish ½ a length back from the winner. “My horse gave an amazing effort, it’s such a classy horse. It’s too bad, we kind of got out front too early then I was looking for a second and Juan came. Just one of those things, timing. But I tired, and the horse gave an honest effort,” said Frey.

Tomorrow, December 4^th, is the inaugural running of the $75,000 Bear Fan stakes race. Dollar Day is every Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with $1Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11^th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.

Albany, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2016)– In a well-timed ride by jockey Leslie Mawing, Stryker PhD, got up to win by a head over G. G. Ryder to capture the $100,000 GIII Berkeley Handicap. Trained by Larry Ross, Stryker PhD, rallied from last to first on the stretch to overtake Bronze Star and Southern Freedom; both were on the pace for the first five furlongs, but weakened quickly in the stretch. The 1 and 1/16 mile was completed in 1:43.67. Stryker PhD paid $4.60 and was favored by the betting community as a 13-to-10 shot by race time.

Mawing wasn’t at all surprised by the results. He knew the competition would be tough, but that Stryker PhD was going to produce the winning effort. “We clicked from the beginning. He’s got his own running style. He gives you that big quarter of a mile kick and that is just the way you got to ride him. I was so confident with today because he usually throws his antics prior to the race, sometimes he freezes up and won’t want to load. But this time he was pretty calm, cool, and collected. So I knew he was bringing his game face today. And I was pretty confident once that happened. When the gates opened I knew there was going to be some early speed, but I was patient and waited until he told me. This horse you have to wait for him to tell you. There was one time I came from 20 lengths behind to win the race by 3 lengths,” said Mawing.

Ricardo Gonzalez also gave an impressive effort up to the end, but the wire just couldn’t come soon enough for him.
“He ran so great. I knew the five horse, Stryker PhD, would be coming, so I was just hoping the wire would come up first, but we got caught in the final strides. He really gave me a strong finish,” said Gonzalez.

Trainer Larry Ross, knowing his horse was going to show late per usual, was happy to see him run as quick as he did today and wouldn’t want the excitement any other way. “He’s been a very cool horse and a lot of fun to train. Those closers like him always give you a thrill because you don’t know if they’re going to get there. When you have a closer like him, he just has to get there. Today, that’s about as close as you want it to get,” said Ross.

Dollar Day is every Sunday at Golden Gate Fields with $1Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.

Albany, Calif. (Nov. 25, 2016)–In a thrilling finish Isa Firecracker with Alejandro Gomez aboard won by a nose over the favorite, Grand Prix ridden by Kyle Frey, to capture the $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante stakes race. Isa Firecracker, trained by Thomas Jamey, pressed the pace to the turn and went determinedly to the line. The six furlong race for two year old fillies was completed in 1:10.21. Zensational Dancer was sent out early for the speed, but was caught promptly in the stretch, setting up the duel between Isa Firecracker and Grand Prix. Jerry Hollendorfer’s Americana got started late and though willing to the end, was unable to get there in time, settling for third. Isa Firecracker was three-to-one at the start of today’s race and paid $8.20. “I had a lot of horse left and knew we were going to finish pretty strong. This is a good horse, a good fighter, and it never gave up,” said Alejandro Gomez.

Kyle Frey, who rode the runner up, wished he had a few more feet, but was happy with the way the horse handled.
“We broke a little quicker than I was hoping so I was up in all the commotion and I couldn’t really get back and around and outside. So I tried to force in there, but couldn’t really get to the spot to split them. We shot in at the top of the stretch and one more jump and we would have had them,” said Frey.

It was Jamey Thomas’ first stakes win as a trainer and the first horse Myles McMahon has bred in his 12 years as a horse owner. “You know she is not a big horse. She doesn’t have the biggest stride, but she has a big heart and she tries. The first time she ran she was stuck down on the rail, was in the one hole, but she overcame that too. And ran great,” said Thomas. Thomas isn’t sure if he will stretch her out in her next race, but he’ll definitely be keeping her at Golden Gate Fields where he feels she skips around nicely on the track.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 26, will be the $100,000 guaranteed GIII Berkeley Handicap. Join us for Dollar Day on Sunday when it is $1 Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1 Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.

Albany, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2016)–A repeat performance of last year’s $50,000 Oakland Stake Race was given today by Star Student. Ridden by Julien Couton and trained by Dan Markle, Star Student did just what he was supposed to do; he held back following the pace, waiting to the very end to capture the victory by half a length. An early scratch in the day from Spirit Rules left today’s speedster, Quick and Silver, all alone with the pace, hitting the first pole in 21.78. Dream Saturday, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, was sent after him early on and the two horses led all the way until the turn, bumping and brushing repeatedly, until they both gave out. Stocking wide was Star Student who then rallied between the two rivals to cross the line in 1:09.03. Chasing with him were Indian Brut and Mah Gellin who finished respectively.

“I didn’t understand why everybody was kind of out at the first pole, but we all knew the pace was going to be a pretty fast fraction at the first pole and we just had to be patient, we had one way of going and it was to be patient. We needed one move from the 5/16 to the wire and he really put me right there to do that,” said Couton.

In a field of nine, Star Student left the gate at nine-to-two paying $11.40 when it was all said and done. Dan Markle in the winner’s circle was happy to have the race that fit Star Student perfectly lay out like planned. “I knew he had a lane to run into, so it was just up to the horse to get there. And Julien just kept riding him for every step he could out of him. And Julien just fit him perfectly. It was a real nice ride, and you have to give the horse a lot of credit for trying every step of the way. I wish I had more horses like him. He doesn’t get bothered in the paddock. And the post parade is a cakewalk for him. He doesn’t waste an ounce of energy. He uses it for the run down the lane. Luckily we won this race again,” said Markle.

Next weekend at Golden Gates Fields will be Stakes Weekend with the Golden Gate Debutante Friday and highlighted by the premier GIII Berkeley Handicap on Saturday. Tomorrow is Dollar Day where every Sunday it is $1 Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, and $1 Program. Golden Gate Fields will be running until December 11^th. The First Post time Thursday – Sunday is at 12:45 PM.

Cassidy Burg (19) picked up her first victory today aboard Shy She Is Not on the turf at one mile. Riding predominately for Tim McCanna, this is Burg’s 21st mount at Golden Gate Fields under 12 different trainers. Burg, however, isn’t new to the racing scene; she got her start a few years ago as a groom at Pleasanton where she went on to gallop for many years. Burg moved to Golden Gate Fields this year to gallop and work horses for Tim McCanna, riding her first mount on October 20th. “She worked horses for me for over a year galloping. She’s never missed a day. Cassidy has a great attitude and horses run for her. I wouldn’t have put her on these horses if I didn’t have confidence in her,” said McCanna.

The jockeys, in their first win ritual, doused her in ice water on her way to the locker room. Applauds were heard throughout the grandstand as patrons have waited patiently for this victory. Speaking with Cassidy afterward she said it was everything she thought it would be. “I was hoping the day was today. I wanted it so bad. I got so close yesterday. I didn’t know this horse, but I’ve galloped for McCanna for almost a whole year. This was not a horse I had been on, but I was looking at her and I liked her. During the race, she was going real good, I had her nice and relaxed, and I asked her to go and when we hit the wire, I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. It is actually how I pictured it would be. I’m still in shock. I’ve been dreaming about this for so long,” said Burg.

Burg’s breakthrough celebration didn’t last long as she still had two more mounts to complete and she was quick to say the battle had just begun and that just because you win one doesn’t mean you are going to win more. “I need to treat every race like it is my first race. You want to win every race. My goal was just to win one and now my goal is to win every race. That feeling is amazing. I just want to do that over and over again. That’s the name of the game. I just want to get back out there and do it again,” said Burg.