California Horseracing
Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in California was legalized on June 27, 1933 after voters approved Proposition 5. In September of that same year, Fairplex Park became the first track in Southern California to offer pari-mutuel wagering.
The rest of the 1930s saw the rapid growth of horseracing in California with the opening of Bay Meadows, Santa Anita and Del Mar. Santa Anita was even the first thoroughbred track to install photo finish cameras.
On August 12, 1938, the legendary Seabiscuit, with "Iceman" George Woolf aboard, outduels Ligaroti, ridden by Spec Richardson, to win their historic $25,000 match race before 20,000 at the track and a nationwide radio audience. Sporting types note the race put Del Mar "on the map."
In 1939, Bay Meadows introduced the first ever electric, all enclosed starting gate, invented by Clay Puett.
On February 1, 1941 Golden Gate Fields had its inaugural meeting in rainy and muddy conditions. Shookumchuck, a horse bred by Bing Crosby, wins the first race under apprentice Eddie Franklin.
Today, California continues its rich horseracing history with the introduction of new generation tracks. Hollywood Park has a cushion track for training. Golden Gate Fields has a revolutionary, all-weather Tapeta racing surface.
In 2010, California was named as first state in which all major thoroughbred racetracks were fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.
California Horseracing Tracks
- CalExpo
- Del Mar
- Fairplex Park - Pomona
- Ferndale Race Track - Ferndale
- Golden Gate
- Hollywood Park
- Los Alamitos
- Santa Anita
California Horseracing Fairs
- Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton
- California State Fair, Sacramento
- Humboldt County Fair, Ferndale
- Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona
- San Joaquin County Fair, Stockton
- Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa
- The Big Fresno Fair, Fresno
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Horseracing Tracks
- Arizona
- Rillito Park - Tucson
- Turf Paradise - Phoenix
- Yavapai Downs - Prescott Valley
- Arkansas
- California
- Alameda County Fair - Pleasanton
- Bay Meadows Racecourse - San Mateo
- Del Mar - Del Mar
- Fairplex Park - Pomona
- Ferndale Race Track - Ferndale
- Golden Gate Fields - Albany
- Hollywood Park - Inglewood
- Los Alamitos Race Course - Cypress
- Santa Anita Park - Arcadia
- Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa
- The Big Fresno Fair, Fresno
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Arlington Park - Chicago
- Balmoral Park Harness Racing - Crete
- Fairmount Park - Collinsville
- Hawthorne Race Course - Chicago
- Maywood Park - Maywood Park
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Churchill Downs - Louisville
- Ellis Park - Henderson
- Keeneland - Lexington
- Kentucky Downs - Louisville / Franklin
- Red Mile - Lexington
- Turfway Park - Florence
- Louisiana
- Delta Downs - Vinson
- Evangeline Downs - Lafayette
- Fair Grounds Race Course - New Orleans
- Louisiana Downs - Bossier City
- Maryland
- Laurel Park - Maryland
- Ocean Downs - Ocean City
- Pimlico - Baltimore
- Rosecroft Raceway - Fort Washington
- Timonium - Timonium
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Great Lakes Downs - Muskegon
- Hazel Park Raceway - Hazel Park
- Mount Pleasant Meadows - Mt. Pleasant
- Minnesota
- Canterbury Park - Shakopee
- Nebraska
- Fonner Park - Grand Island
- Horsemen's Park - Omaha
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Freehold Raceway - Freehold
- Meadowlands Racetrack - East Rutherford
- Monmouth Park - Oceanport
- New Mexico
- Downs at Albuquerque - Albuquerque
- Ruidoso Downs - Ruidoso
- Sunland Park - Sunland
- SunRay Park and Casino - Farmington
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Fair Meadows - Tulsa
- Remington Park - Oklahoma City
- Will Rogers Downs - Claremore
- Oregon
- Portland Meadows - Portland
- Pennsylvania
- Ladbroke at the Meadows - Pittsburgh
- Penn National Race Course - Grantville
- Philadelphia Park - Bensalem
- Pocono Downs - Wilkes-Barre
- Texas
- Virginia
- Colonial Downs - New Kent
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- Wyoming Downs - Evanston