The prospect of horse racing in Northern California faced a significant setback on Monday when the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) decided unanimously to retract its application for a racing event planned for later this month at Pleasanton Fairgrounds.

Initially, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) was scheduled to address the issue of racing at Pleasanton during its upcoming meeting on Thursday.

Golden State Racing, a collective of owners, trainers, and breeders collaborating with CARF, had submitted a proposal for a shortened racing season ranging from December 26 to June 8. The current racing meeting at Pleasanton, which commenced in October, is set to conclude on Wednesday.

Racing activity at Pleasanton has seen a significant drop when compared to the fall season at Golden Gate Fields in 2023. Following its permanent closure in June, located roughly 30 minutes from Pleasanton, the Golden State Racing meeting was initiated.

In a statement released on Monday, the California Horse Racing Board expressed that “the increasing economic issues plaguing the horseracing industry and erratic betting patterns in Northern California leads us to believe that for now, it would be more beneficial for Pleasanton to function as a training venue while races take place in Southern California for horses based there.”

Just last month, CHRB chairman Greg Ferraro voiced his concerns regarding the Golden State Racing meeting, suggesting that if efforts to maintain racing in Northern California were unsuccessful, it could endanger racing statewide.

He added, “Although this conclusion is surely disappointing for nearly all parties involved and presents its own set of challenges, the CHRB considers this a temporary solution.”

The CHRB pointed out the potential for all involved parties to collaboratively seek purse increases, which are crucial for ensuring that California’s horse racing remains competitive compared to other regions of the United States.

They remained optimistic, stating, “We hope that should such financial enhancements materialize, California will eventually support two flourishing thoroughbred racing circuits with purses that are competitive or surpass those offered in other states.”

Additionally, representatives from Santa Anita, whose parent company previously owned Golden Gate Fields, have suggested centralizing racing events at Santa Anita in Arcadia, located 355 miles south of Pleasanton.