2008 San Mateo County Fair | Augutst 8

Visit the Bay Meadows Website
Image is a link to the bay meadows website.

Horse Racing

Come hear the sound of thundering hooves one last time at San Mateo County Fair's Race meet, hosted steps away at Bay Meadows Race Track. Fair admission gets you free admission to the track, just ask for a Bay Meadows Voucher when exiting the Fair. Come catch the excitement, from first timers, company events, to those who love to play the ponies.

See thoroughbreds, quarter horses, Arabians and mules race. Stakes races include the $15,000 Jack Clifford Race Saturday, August 16th, with 3 year olds and upward quarter horses running a 400 yard race and the $50,000 Last Dance Stakes on Sunday, August 17 with 3 year old fillies running a 1 1/6 mile on the turf.

History of Horse Racing in San Mateo County

Horse racing has been one of mankind's most popular sports since the beginning of recorded time. The sport has evolved from fields and country lanes to ancient arenas and modern racetracks. Modern racing dates back to the 12th Century when swift Arabian horses were bred to sturdy European horses in order to produce horses with speed and endurance. Horse racing is conducted not only in the United States but in such countries as France, England, Ireland, Japan, Argentina, Singapore, China (Hong Kong) and the United Emirates.

There are four major thoroughbred racetracks in California besides Bay Meadows - Golden Gate Fields (Albany), Santa Anita (Arcadia), Hollywood Park (Inglewood) and Del Mar (Del Mar).

The history of Bay Meadows dates back to the 1930s.

In 1933, William P. Kyne was responsible for the return of modern day racing in California after it had been banned by a vote of the people in 1910. The Ballot measure passed by nearly a 2 to 1 margin even through a similar measure launched by Kyne had been narrowly defeated in 1932.

After investigating the possibility of establishing a racetrack in Southern California, Kyne acquired the old Curtis-Wright airfield on the south side of San Mateo. The site had once been a meadow and was near the bay, hence the name "Bay Meadows". The ground breaking for the racetrack was on April 8, 1934 and the track opened on November 3, 1934. Attendance on opening day was 15,000 and the mutuel handle on the eight race card was $117,753. Wagering was then limited to win, place and show.

When the United States entered World War II, all racetracks on the west coast were ordered closed. As a result of Bay Meadows agreeing to dedicate 92% of its profits to the war effort, Bay Meadows received an exemption from the order and was allowed to remain open throughout the duration of the war. Due to gas and tire rationing, race goers were not allowed to use cars or buses to get to the track. Horse and mule drawn wagons were the means of getting to the track. As a result of operating during World War II, Bay Meadows is the longest continuously operating racetrack in California.

Over the years, Bay Meadows has been the site of many "firsts" for racing. The Puett Electric Starting Gate, such gates now being used at most major racetracks in the United States, was first used at Bay Meadows. Quarter horse racing was presented at a major track with pari-mutuel wagering for the first time at Bay Meadows. Bay Meadows was also the first track in California to use the totalizator system and photo finish camera, and the first to present the daily double and night racing.

In 1945, the first horse, El Lobo, was transported by air to a racetrack. The plane took off in Los Angeles and landed in the Bay Meadows parking lot and then taxied up to the Grandstand entrance where El Lobo was unloaded. El Lobo raced the next day in the Inaugural Handicap and won.

In 1948, the legendary Bill Shoemaker began his illustrious career galloping horses at Bay Meadows and won the first stakes races of his career at Bay Meadows in 1949. In April of 1954, Determine won the Bay Meadows Derby and in May went on to win the Kentucky Derby. In 1984, Wild Again ran at Bay Meadows and a week later won the $3,000,000 Breeders Cup Classic.

The El Camino Derby is Bay Meadows signature race, a race that has proven to be a stepping stone to the Triple Crown Classic for such as horses as Golden Act (placed in all three Triple Crown races), Gate Dancer (won the Preakness), Tanks Prospect (won the Preakness), Snow Chief (won the Preakness), Tabasco Cat (won the Preakness and Belmont), Casual Lies (placed in Kentucky Derby), Charismatic (won Kentucky Derby and Preakness), and Cavonnier (placed in Kentucky Derby).

Among the famous horses that have run at Bay Meadows were the legendary Seabiscuit who won back to back running of the Bay Meadows Handicap, Noor, Native Diver (broke his maiden-and won 4 of his 33 stakes races at Bay Meadows), Round Table, Citation, Coal Town, Majestic Prince (broke his maiden at Bay Meadows and went on to win the Kentucky Derby) Tizna, John Henry, The Bart, Track Robbery, Super Moment, Lady's Secret, Palace Music, Skywalker, Ruhlman, Cigar, Brown Bess, King Glorious, and Soviet Problem, and Lost in the Fog.

It is difficult to top jockey Ralph Neves' a (leading jockey in his time) experience at Bay Meadows. He was involved in a spill during a race at Bay Meadows and was then taken by ambulance to the local hospital where he was announced dead on arrival. A few minutes later he startled a nurse by getting up and announcing he had to get back to the track to ride a horse in the next race. He ran out of the hospital and jumped into a taxi bound for the track. The next day he returned to riding.

Since the 1980s, Bay Meadows has been known as "Baze Meadows" as jockey Russell Baze has been an unstoppable force at the peninsula racetrack. A Hall of Famer and the winningest jockey in North American thoroughbred racing history, Baze has won 38 riding titles at Bay Meadows. Through July 24, 2007, Baze had 9,783 career victories. He overtook the great Laffit Pincay, Jr. as North America's all-time win leader on Dec. 2, 2006, at Bay Meadows when he scored career victory No. 9,531 aboard Butterfly Belle in the fourth race. Baze will be competing each day during the 2007 San Mateo County Fair meeting.

Exhibits & Vendors Shopping, Food and more that you can only find at the Fair More info...	General Fair Information Fair Hours, Special Days, concert breakdown and more... More info...	It's Free, It's easy, and it's the best way to keep up with latest!
COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS & CONTESTS \| FAIR ENTERTAINMENT \| TICKET INFORMATION Home \| About Us \| Daily Schedule \| Carnival \| Horse Racing \| Fair Employment \| Vendor & Exhibitor Applications Maps & Directions \| ADA Information \| Site Map \| Contact Us Copyright 2008© San Mateo County Fair. All Rights Reserved. XO Pandora Web Design

Home Live Entertainment Carnival Exhibits & Contests Tickets Horse Racing Schedules Directions

Fair Map - Click to Enlarge Coming Soon: The Jockey Club Satellite Wagering & Sports Bar at the San Mateo County Event Center! The new Jockey Club will open Wednesday, Aug. 20. For more information on the the grand opening, special promotions and more please join our email list (sign-up below)	Visit the Bay Meadows Website Horse Racing Come hear the sound of thundering hooves one last time at San Mateo County Fair's Race meet, hosted steps away at Bay Meadows Race Track. Fair admission gets you free admission to the track, just ask for a Bay Meadows Voucher when exiting the Fair. Come catch the excitement, from first timers, company events, to those who love to play the ponies. See thoroughbreds, quarter horses, Arabians and mules race. Stakes races include the $15,000 Jack Clifford Race Saturday, August 16th, with 3 year olds and upward quarter horses running a 400 yard race and the $50,000 Last Dance Stakes on Sunday, August 17 with 3 year old fillies running a 1 1/6 mile on the turf. History of Horse Racing in San Mateo County Horse racing has been one of mankind's most popular sports since the beginning of recorded time. The sport has evolved from fields and country lanes to ancient arenas and modern racetracks. Modern racing dates back to the 12th Century when swift Arabian horses were bred to sturdy European horses in order to produce horses with speed and endurance. Horse racing is conducted not only in the United States but in such countries as France, England, Ireland, Japan, Argentina, Singapore, China (Hong Kong) and the United Emirates. There are four major thoroughbred racetracks in California besides Bay Meadows - Golden Gate Fields (Albany), Santa Anita (Arcadia), Hollywood Park (Inglewood) and Del Mar (Del Mar). The history of Bay Meadows dates back to the 1930s. In 1933, William P. Kyne was responsible for the return of modern day racing in California after it had been banned by a vote of the people in 1910. The Ballot measure passed by nearly a 2 to 1 margin even through a similar measure launched by Kyne had been narrowly defeated in 1932. After investigating the possibility of establishing a racetrack in Southern California, Kyne acquired the old Curtis-Wright airfield on the south side of San Mateo. The site had once been a meadow and was near the bay, hence the name "Bay Meadows". The ground breaking for the racetrack was on April 8, 1934 and the track opened on November 3, 1934. Attendance on opening day was 15,000 and the mutuel handle on the eight race card was $117,753. Wagering was then limited to win, place and show. When the United States entered World War II, all racetracks on the west coast were ordered closed. As a result of Bay Meadows agreeing to dedicate 92% of its profits to the war effort, Bay Meadows received an exemption from the order and was allowed to remain open throughout the duration of the war. Due to gas and tire rationing, race goers were not allowed to use cars or buses to get to the track. Horse and mule drawn wagons were the means of getting to the track. As a result of operating during World War II, Bay Meadows is the longest continuously operating racetrack in California. Over the years, Bay Meadows has been the site of many "firsts" for racing. The Puett Electric Starting Gate, such gates now being used at most major racetracks in the United States, was first used at Bay Meadows. Quarter horse racing was presented at a major track with pari-mutuel wagering for the first time at Bay Meadows. Bay Meadows was also the first track in California to use the totalizator system and photo finish camera, and the first to present the daily double and night racing. In 1945, the first horse, El Lobo, was transported by air to a racetrack. The plane took off in Los Angeles and landed in the Bay Meadows parking lot and then taxied up to the Grandstand entrance where El Lobo was unloaded. El Lobo raced the next day in the Inaugural Handicap and won. In 1948, the legendary Bill Shoemaker began his illustrious career galloping horses at Bay Meadows and won the first stakes races of his career at Bay Meadows in 1949. In April of 1954, Determine won the Bay Meadows Derby and in May went on to win the Kentucky Derby. In 1984, Wild Again ran at Bay Meadows and a week later won the $3,000,000 Breeders Cup Classic. The El Camino Derby is Bay Meadows signature race, a race that has proven to be a stepping stone to the Triple Crown Classic for such as horses as Golden Act (placed in all three Triple Crown races), Gate Dancer (won the Preakness), Tanks Prospect (won the Preakness), Snow Chief (won the Preakness), Tabasco Cat (won the Preakness and Belmont), Casual Lies (placed in Kentucky Derby), Charismatic (won Kentucky Derby and Preakness), and Cavonnier (placed in Kentucky Derby). Among the famous horses that have run at Bay Meadows were the legendary Seabiscuit who won back to back running of the Bay Meadows Handicap, Noor, Native Diver (broke his maiden-and won 4 of his 33 stakes races at Bay Meadows), Round Table, Citation, Coal Town, Majestic Prince (broke his maiden at Bay Meadows and went on to win the Kentucky Derby) Tizna, John Henry, The Bart, Track Robbery, Super Moment, Lady's Secret, Palace Music, Skywalker, Ruhlman, Cigar, Brown Bess, King Glorious, and Soviet Problem, and Lost in the Fog. It is difficult to top jockey Ralph Neves' a (leading jockey in his time) experience at Bay Meadows. He was involved in a spill during a race at Bay Meadows and was then taken by ambulance to the local hospital where he was announced dead on arrival. A few minutes later he startled a nurse by getting up and announcing he had to get back to the track to ride a horse in the next race. He ran out of the hospital and jumped into a taxi bound for the track. The next day he returned to riding. Since the 1980s, Bay Meadows has been known as "Baze Meadows" as jockey Russell Baze has been an unstoppable force at the peninsula racetrack. A Hall of Famer and the winningest jockey in North American thoroughbred racing history, Baze has won 38 riding titles at Bay Meadows. Through July 24, 2007, Baze had 9,783 career victories. He overtook the great Laffit Pincay, Jr. as North America's all-time win leader on Dec. 2, 2006, at Bay Meadows when he scored career victory No. 9,531 aboard Butterfly Belle in the fourth race. Baze will be competing each day during the 2007 San Mateo County Fair meeting.