Cal Expo asks for delay to start of fall/winter meet

Cal Expo management announced Thursday that it is seeking approval from the California Horse Racing Board  (CHRB) to delay the start of its Fall/Winter harness racing meet from Friday, Sept. 12 to Thursday, Sept. 18. Upon approval, the race meet will be operated for 41 racing days on a Thursday through Saturday schedule until Saturday, Dec. 20. Racing will resume once again after the Christmas holidays pending CHRB approval.

The primary reason for postponing the race meet is to make additional improvements to the race track surface.

“Our racetrack underwent a major overhaul for the 2008 California State Fair Thoroughbred meet and it needs to have another major reconditioning for the harness meet,” said David Elliott, assistant general manager of racing events for Cal Expo. “We need the additional four to six days to tighten up the track and to ensure it is a safe and kind racetrack for all participants.”

Cal Expo has received stall applications for 650 horses for the Fall/Winter harness meet. “We are quite pleased with the interest in our meet and the number of stall applications received,” Elliott said. (Cal Expo)

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