History

Golden Gate Fields began prior to World War II as another racetrack which failed. The site had previously been a marshy area between Fleming Point, a rocky promontory, and the eastern shoreline of San Francisco Bay. In the late 19th century, it was the site of the "Giant Powder Company," manufacturing black powder, dynamite and nitroglycerin.

 

Between 1879 and 1892, the plant blew up four times.  Golden Gate Fields built its new grandstand up against the eastern slope of Fleming Point, and the marsh was filled in for the track. The inaugural meet was on February 1, 1941. In the period just before the war, the track was used as the location of the crime central to the plot of the movie Shadow of the Thin Man. With the onset of World War II, the United States Navy took over the property and used it to store hundreds of landing craft destined for use in the Pacific theater. After the war, Golden Gate Fields resumed horse racing. In 1950, Citation and Noor met in the Golden Gate Handicap. The English bred Noor beat the great Triple Crown Winner Citation, prompting Citation's rider, Steve Brooks, to say, "We just can't beat that horse."

 

In 1957, Silky Sullivan came to the track and with him came the excitement that followed him throughout his life. Silky Sullivan, nicknamed "the loveable laggard" as well as "The Heart-Attack Horse", a legend in horse racing, is honored by having a stakes race in his name run every year at Golden Gate Fields. He is also the only horse to be buried in the infield.

 

The infield turf course was opened on February 22, 1972.  In 1974, the first $2 million dollar day in Northern California was held on California Derby Day.  In 1984, the great gelding, John Henry, set a course record winning the Golden Gate Handicap.

 

From 2001 to 2004, Golden Gate Fields was the home track for the Grade III El Camino Real Derby, before returning the race back to Bay Meadows.

 

Before his death in 2006, Lost in the Fog was based here. On September 17, 2006, he was euthanized due to the inoperable tumors found on his spleen and along his spine. Prior to his early death, Lost in the Fog won three races at his home base — winning twice, and placing once. On September 30, 2006 Golden Gate Fields held a celebration of his life.

Physical attributes

The track is set on approximately 154 acres of land in the cities of Albany and Berkeley, Golden Gate Fields' facilities currently include a one-mile dirt track and a 7/8-mile turf course, stalls for more than 1,350 horses, a main grandstand with seating for approximately 9,000 customers, a clubhouse with seating for approximately 4,500 customers, a Turf Club with seating for approximately 1,200 customers and parking for over 8,500 cars.

 

Owned and managed for 25 years by the last owner of Silky Sullivan, the foreign car importer and horseman, Kjell Qvale, Golden Gate Fields is now part of the Magna Entertainment Corp. (who also own Santa Anita Park and the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center Bonsall, California). Magna Entertainment announced on October 12, 2006, that the track will install the Tapeta Footings, a synthetic racing surface on its main racetrack.

The California Horse Racing Board mandated that effective January 1, 2008 Thoroughbred racing facilities in California must install a polymer synthetic type racing surface.  Construction in Golden Gate Fields is scheduled to begin in May of 2007.