"Golden Gate Fields, on its final stretch after nine decades of thrilling East Bay horse racing fans, is no Silky Sullivan, the thoroughbred known for fantastic finishes who in 1957 made up 27 lengths to capture the $25,000 Golden Gate Futurity and is now buried near the 1-mile track's tote board."
"Even as the Stronach Group ownership closes shop and serious bettors focus on out-of-state races with bigger payouts from the simulcast wagering rooms above mostly empty grandstands, much of the splendor and charm that brought 20,000 racegoers to the track's 1941 opening still endures today."
"A businesswoman brings clients to the winner's circle, which jockeys Frank Alvarado and Alexander Chavez would visit twice this day."
Golden Gate Fields, a historic horse racing track, will close in 2024 after nearly 90 years of operation. A nonprofit has reached a deal to purchase the site, which will be gifted to the East Bay Regional Park District for conversion into a public park. The track has seen a decline in attendance and activities, with fewer races and events. Despite its closure, the charm of the venue remains, as fans gather for one last experience before it shuts down permanently.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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