S5E38: Farewell, Golden Gate Fields

The closing last weekend of Golden Gate Fields and the future of California racing are the subjects of this special edition of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod.

A reunion by phone of Hall of Famers Jerry Hollendorfer and Russell Baze highlights this episode. Arguably the most successful trainer-jockey combination in racing history and unquestionably the best ever to be paired at Golden Gate Fields comes together again to reminisce about the good old days in Northern California and ponder what the future might hold with the closing of the track in which they were inextricably linked.

Track general manager David Duggan and trainer Steve Sherman also discuss their memories and their thoughts about the closing of the 83-year-old racecourse.

John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times has covered the story of the end of Golden Gate Fields more closely than anyone, and he provides his perspective on what is next not only in the north state but whether this was a sign of things to come for all of California racing.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod via Horse Racing Nation is available via free subscription from Apple, Firefox, iHeart and Spotify as well as HorseRacingNation.com. This episode is sponsored by Xpressbet.

For information on Sunday’s Santa Anita Closing-Day Challenge, go to https://www.xpressbet.com/sap-1500-6-16-24.