STATE FAIR CONSOLIDATES HARNESS
RACING MEET New Meet Schedule is Wednesday
though Saturday; Sundays Dark
Wednesday,
August 24, 2005 - from the
California State Fair Media Center
SACRAMENTO, CA -- In an
effort to improve the quality of the harness racing program,
Cal Expo officials have decided, with the approval of the
California Horse Racing Board and the California Harness
Horsemen’s Association, to consolidate the State Fair
harness racing program into four nights instead of five. The
new schedule will operate live nighttime harness racing from
Wednesday through Saturday for the duration of the Fair.
There will be no Sunday night racing programs on August 28
or September 4, 2005, as previously scheduled.
“We want to offer the highest quality race meeting
possible,” said Norb Bartosik, General Manager and CEO of
the California State Fair. “The horsemen have really stepped
up and supported us in many ways and with this schedule
shift we hope to alleviate some of the pressure of having to
race their stock so many nights of the week.”
A focus on the health and wellbeing of the racehorses
prompted the State Fair to reevaluate its meeting schedule.
“We feel we can provide a higher quality race meet and
support the overall health of the industry and horses by
focusing our attention on four days instead of five.”
Bartosik said.
The revised racing schedule for the remainder of the fair is
Wednesday, August 24 through Saturday, August 27; Wednesday,
August 31 through Saturday, September 3; and a special Labor
Day daytime program on September 5. Cal Expo will continue
operating the harness racing meet after the Fair for 6
racing programs on September 9 and 10, and September 14
through 17. The Sacramento Harness Association will take
over the operation of the harness racing meeting at Cal Expo
beginning September 23, 2005.
For more information about the State Fair harness program,
please contact the California State Fair Media Center at
916-263-3108 or
media@calexpo.com
