Meeting Feb. 26 in Arcadia, Calif., the California Horse Racing Board declined to award 2026 race dates for the Tehama District Fair and the Humboldt County Fair, both of which had sought a resumption of racing in Northern California.
Both fairs had advanced proposals in recent months as part of a broader push to restore a viable circuit. But in detailed analyses released ahead of the meeting, CHRB staff outlined substantial regulatory, financial, and operational concerns related to those meets. Those points were re-emphasized before the commissioners and attendees Thursday.
The Thoroughbred Owners of California and California Thoroughbred Trainers both opposed awarding Northern California race dates at the fairs, as did representatives from Southern California tracks.
A revival of racing in Northern California would cause a 5% drop in purses in Southern California, according to the TOC. Since Northern California racing ceased, a redirect of simulcast revenue has flowed to Southern California tracks, strengthening fragile purses in a state without authorized purse-generating gaming.
Tehama sought nine days of racing April 29-May 26 at Red Bluff, marking what would have been its first sanctioned pari-mutuel in decades. Humboldt, historically a staple of the summer fair schedule, requested 12 race dates over a four-week period from Aug. 5-Sept. 1.
CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales and commissioner Brenda Washington Davis supported awarding dates to the fairs, while the remaining commissioners in attendance—Dr. Greg Ferraro, Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, and Peter Stern—opposed. Commissioner Thomas Hudnut was absent from the meeting.
Gonzales has long advocated for continued Northern California fair racing, emphasizing increased racing opportunities in a state with a declining foal drop. He further mentioned the importance of horse racing to the fairs and their communities.
Washington Davis also backed supporting racing in Northern California, explaining that broad statewide support could be needed if tracks are to receive authorization for historical horse racing gaming—viewed as a lifeline for the equine industry there.
Ferraro, the chair of the CHRB, called racing in Northern California a "no-chance situation" after hearing speakers' perspectives and CHRB staff analysis about Tehama.
"So you're going to end up destroying all of racing in California to bet on a no-chance situation in the north," he said. "There will come a time (when) the north will be ready for racing, but it's not right now."
CHRB staff analysis was also critical of Humboldt's application. Staff cited missing contractual documentation and unresolved agreements with industry stakeholders.
Another practical concern debated was whether sufficient horses, trainers, and wagering interest would return to sustain racing in Northern California after more than a year's absence. While some Northern California horsemen have shifted their stables or portions of their stable to Southern California with limited success, many others have departed to race out of state at lower-level tracks such as Emerald Downs in Washington and Turf Paradise in Arizona. The Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale has also historically drawn horses from Oregon.
TOC president and CEO Bill Nader said Ferndale had short fields when it last raced.
"The sad fact of the matter is that it's become a meeting for largely Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and other horses," CTT executive director Alan Balch added.
Humboldt County Fair's proposed meet would have come at a valuable time for simulcast wagering, with both Del Mar and Saratoga Race Course offering popular summer racing.
