Thoroughbred horse racing at Sacramento's Cal Expo suspended
SACRAMENTO — In what will be a first at the California State Fair, thoroughbred horse racing at Cal Expo has been suspended in 2025.
Cal Expo CEO Tom Martinez announced that he would make the recommendation to the board on Friday. In an update in the afternoon, Cal Expo announced thoroughbred racing was suspended.
"We have explored every possible avenue, but with a heavy heart, we've come to the unfortunate decision that it is simply not feasible to continue racing this summer," Martinez said.
Cal Expo did not mention if harness racing, which was also on the chopping block, was suspended.
"The sport has definitely changed from what it was," said Chip Lackey, who has been harness racing at Cal Expo for 50 years. "I graduated from UC Davis in '73."
Lackey left the track Wednesday and filed into a packed meeting to try and save his sport at Cal Expo.
"My father told me once that at one time, horseracing was the largest spectator sport in America," Lackey said.
Martinez said that the horse racing landscape has changed since the closure of Golden Gate Fields last summer.
Thoroughbred horses have left Northern California. County fairs are no longer applying to host races.
"I'm digesting this just as fast as you guys are," Martinez said. "It's been synonymous with state fair for over 150 years. So it's going to be missed."
Many horsemen and women live on the grounds at Cal Expo year-round.
"Certainly, it's foolish not to be concerned," Lackey said. "But in some respects, it's almost a waste of energy to worry about it because what's going to happen is going to happen."
Cal Expo reports that last year, thoroughbred racing at the state fair accounted for $650,000. Revenue from harness racing last year was $22,000.
