Golden Gate Fields Horseracing
Located along the shoreline of Albany, California, Golden Gate Fields was a premier 225-acre, two-track thoroughbred horse racing facility. For decades, it served as a cornerstone of Northern California's racing culture, typically hosting its primary racing seasons from January through April and again from November through December.
As one of California's most prominent racing venues, it regularly showcased the state's elite talent and hosted several prestigious stakes events. The track's calendar was anchored by celebrated races, including:
- El Camino Real Derby
- Berkeley Handicap
- Golden Gate Derby
- Work the Crowd Handicap
- Brown Bess Handicap
- Ken Maddy Sprint
After more than 80 years of operation, the storied venue reached the finish line of its final stretch. The track's owners, The Stronach Group, announced the closure of Golden Gate Fields as part of a strategic shift to consolidate racing operations in Southern California. The facility hosted its final day of racing on June 9, 2024, marking the end of professional horse racing in the East Bay and leaving behind a rich legacy of sporting history.
Golden Gate Fields Facts
- Main Track
- Dirt course
- One-mile oval (sandy loam)
- Width in stretch: 78 feet
- Backstretch: 75 feet
- Distance from last turn to finish: 1,000 feet
- Distance from finish line to first turn: 383 feet
- Nine-tenths mile oval
- 65 feet wide throughout
- Three-sixteenths mile chute
- Maximum width, 75 feet
- Minimum width, 50 feet with movable rail
- 225 acres
- 14,750 people (Grandstand 7,960; Club House 5,230; Turf Club 1,560)
- Stalls for 1,420 thoroughbreds
Lakeside Turf Course
Paddock
Seating Capacity
Stable Area Capacity
Golden Gate Fields Records
| DIST | RECORD | HORSE | AGE | WGT | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2F | :21 4/5 gd | The Money Doctor | 2 | 118 | Feb 21, 1975 |
| 4F | :47 sy | Glenbar | 2 | 118 | Mar 12, 1952 |
| :47 | Giddy Up | 2 | 115 | Mar 25, 1952 | |
| 4 1/2F | :50 1/5 | Victory Found | 2 | 117 | Apr 8, 1990 |
| 5F | 0:56 2/5 | Valley Land | 5 | 119 | Apr 8, 1990 |
| 5 1/2F | 1:02 | Proudest Hour | 4 | 114 | May 30, 1986 |
| 6F | 1:07:55 | El Dorado Shooter | 4 | 114 | Jan 20, 2001 |
| 1M | 1:33 | Caros Love | 4 | 117 | Feb 13, 1988 |
| 1 1/16M | 1:39 2/5 | Restless Con | 4 | 118 | Jun 24, 1991 |
| 1 1/8M* | 1:45 | Simply Majestic | 4 | 114 | Apr 2, 1988 |
| 1 3/16M† | 1:52 3/5 | Fleet Bird | 4 | 123 | Oct 24, 1953 |
| 1 1/4M† | 1:58 1/5 | Noor | 4 | 127 | Jun 24, 1950 |
| 1 3/8 | 2:18 3/5 | Forin Sea | 5 | 114 | Dec 15, 1990 |
| 1 1/2M | 2:29 2/5 | Bo Donna | 4 | 120 | Jun 8, 1979 |
| 1 3/4 | 2:57 1/5 | Sirmark | 5 | 103 | Oct 16, 1948 |
| 2 M | 3:25 4/5 | Mantourist | 5 | 117 | Oct 23, 1948 |
Lakeside Turf Course Records
| DIST | RECORD | HORSE | AGE | WGT | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 1/2F | 0:50 2/5 | Bonnie Nuite | 5 | 121 | May 22, 1994 |
| 5F | 0:56 | Black Tornado L'Natural Goldie's Goldian |
5 4 4 |
119 114 115 |
May 10, 1975 May 28, 1977 May 27, 1978 |
| 7 1/2F | 1:28 | Struttin' George His Honor Clever Song |
5 6 4 |
122 118 122 |
May 5, 1979 Apr, 25 1981 May 25, 1986 |
| 1M | 1:33 2/5 | Don Alberto | 5 | 114 | Mar 22, 1980 |
| 1 1/16M | 1:40 2/5 | Announcer | 5 | 115 | Apr 16, 1977 |
| 1 1/16M (chute start) |
1:41 1/5 | Gum | 6 | 118 | Apr 11, 1992 |
| 1 1/8M (chute start) | 1:47.71 | Blues Traveller | 4 | 112 | May 14, 1994 |
| 1 3/8M | 2:13 | John Henery | 9 | 125 | May 6, 1984 |
| 1 1/2M | 2:27 2/5 | Silveyville Kings Island Val Danseur |
6 4 6 |
121 116 119 |
Jun 10, 1984 Jun 9, 1985 Jun 8, 1986 |
| 1 7/8 | 3:12 1/5 | Paired And Painted | 4 | 114 | Jun 28, 1987 |
| 2 miles (Chute Start) | 3:25 3/5 | Never-Rust | 8 | 114 | Jun 26, 1988 |
| 2 3/8 miles | 4:10 4/5 | Situada | 7 | 115 | Jun 25, 1990 |
Golden Gate Fields History
1941
The gates opened for the first time on February 1.
1977
On arch 5, a modern day on-track attendance record for the Bay Area was set as 26,108 fans turned out to see riding sensation, Steve Cauthen, make his local debut aboard Make Amends.
1980
On February 7, the track introduced one-window wagering through the American Tote 300.
1981
On May 10, after an eight-year absence, Sunday racing returned to Northern California.
1988
On May 7, Northern California attendance and handle records fell as on-track and satellite crowds totaled 34,408 and wagering $5,715,683.
1992
On April 16, Russell Baze established a Northern Californiarecord for most victories on a single card. On June 10, Russell Baze set a Golden Gate Fields record for most wins in a meet with his 165th victory.
1995
On May 6, the track eclipsed the $7 million mark in handle for the first time in Northern California history. A total of $7,093,420 was wagered at Golden Gate and its satellite facilities.