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Sports

Wine Country Racing Breaks Ties with Fair Racing Authority

Tickets for horse racing at Sonoma County Fair become available June 1 at the Fairgrounds, online June 3

Live horse racing returns to the Sonoma County Fair this summer, and although the 2013 Northern California summer fair racing schedule has a familiar look, a major change has taken place behind the scenes.

The Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa has withdrawn from the umbrella of the California Authority of Racing Fairs, and will run as a separate entity. According to the Daily Racing Form, CARF and Sonoma signed a separation agreement April 2.

Sonoma County Fair manager Tawny Tesconi said a great deal of thought over the past two years went into the decision, which she said was ultimately an economic one. “We discovered we can do this on our own and save money,” she said. “We asked CARF to reduce expenses, and they were unable to do that.”

Tresconi noted an increase in the CARF costs that were passed on to the fair. CARF organizes racing at the fairs, performs administrative work, helps with track maintenance, and distributes purses. She said the fair staff handled maintenance on the turf course and could maintain the main track as well.

Richard Lewis, director of racing, said that Santa Rosa’s purses would be slightly lower than at other stops on the fair circuit this year, but would remain higher than purses for similar races at Golden Gate Fields.

Lewis also said that the fair would run one fewer stakes race than last year and trim the purse of another, saving $100,000. Eliminated is the $75,000 Wine Country Debutante for 2-year-old fillies, and the Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes will be worth $50,000, rather than the $75,000 of last year.

Russell Baze, along with other top riders, will return, and some high-stakes races have been added. Santa Rosa will run six stakes, all overnight stakes with purses of $50,000 and a California-bred bonus of $15,000.

The meet will run two fewer days than last year, opening on Friday, July 26. Fans can watch and wager live Wednesdays through Sundays thereafter during the run of the Fair. The Sonoma County Fair dates are July 25 through August 11 (no racing on opening day, Mondays or Tuesdays). Race post time on Fridays is 3:15 pm and 1:15 pm on other race days. 

Enthusiasts can purchase premier Box and Grandstand seating for the Wine Country Races beginning at 8:30 am on Saturday, June 1, at the Sonoma County Fair box office, located at 1350 Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa.

Wine Country Racing tickets will be available online beginning Monday, June 3, at 8:00 am at sonomacountyfair.com. The Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Ground level entry is always free to the racetrack with Fair Admission. Grandstand ticket prices are $3 and Box Seats are $5.

The Sonoma County Fair promises lots of "Home Spun Fun" at this year’s Fair, from July 25 to August 11. Enjoy 16 days of family fun, live horse racing, a giant carnival, the spectacular Hall of Flowers, tons of free entertainment and much, much more. For details, go to www.sonomacountyfair.com or call (707)545-4200. 

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