FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS WILL TEMPORARILY CLOSE FOR LIVE RACING EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

BERKELEY, CA. (April 2, 2020)–In accordance with instructions received this morning from the Alameda County Public Health Officer, Golden Gate Fields will temporarily close for live racing effective immediately in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golden Gate Fields is abiding by the instructions issued two weeks ago by the California Horse Racing Board to operate under the sanction of the local health authorities.

At Golden Gate Fields, the health, safety and welfare of every person and every horse in our community is our top priority.  At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Golden Gate Fields.  This measure is being taken in response to a mandate from Alameda County officials.

At Golden Gate Fields, there are over 1,200 horses stabled who require daily care. That care is provided by the 400 backstretch team members, most who live on-site and have been operating under stringent new measures for protection aligned with the best guidance from local and international health and government authorities on COVID-19. The track has been closed to the general public and to closed all but essential personnel since March 12, 2020.

We will continue to work with authorities to familiarize them with the protocols which have been put in place to protect the health and safety of those who work with the horses and the horses themselves.

We look forward to the return of live racing at Golden Gate as soon as approval is received from local regulators.