The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Golden Gate Fields has earned reaccreditation from the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance.
Located along the bay in Albany, Calif., near Oakland and San Francisco, the track opens its 24-day Summer Meet this Thursday. Both the main track and turf course have undergone renovations and purses have been raised on most claiming races to help increase field sizes. With the exception of Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3, live racing will be conducted on a Thursday through Sunday basis, with first post each day at 1:45 p.m. PT.
Golden Gate, a Stronach Group company, received its initial Alliance accreditation in 2010. All accreditations and re-accreditations carry an effective period of two years.
“We are naturally delighted to be re-accredited by the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance,” said track vice president and general manager David Duggan. “Having such accreditation at Golden Gate Fields can only bolster confidence for race fans and horsemen alike. Safety and integrity are at the core of our operation.”
The accreditation of Golden Gate Fields was the culmination of a lengthy process that began with the track’s completion of an extensive written application and continued as the track hosted several meetings with Alliance officials. An on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing operations. Interviews were conducted with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, horsemen, veterinarians, stewards and regulators.
The on-site inspection was conducted by Dan Fick, racetrack operations consultant and vice chairman of Racing Officials Accreditation Program; Mike Kilpack, security and integrity consultant, past chairman of the Organization of Racetrack Investigators; Steve Koch, executive director of the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance; and Dr. Greg Taylor, veterinary and regulatory consultant, longtime Ontario Racing Commission veterinarian, association vet at Woodbine, and member of the Breeders’ Cup veterinary panel.
Alliance certification standards address an extensive list of safety and integrity concerns within six broad areas: injury reporting and prevention; creating a safer racing environment; aftercare and transition of retired racehorses; uniform medication and testing; jockey health and welfare; and wagering security.
Golden Gate Fields is one of 24 racing facilities fully accredited by the Alliance that together host 96 percent of Grade 1 stakes and generate more than 75 percent of North American pari-mutuel handle. The other accredited racetracks are Aqueduct Racetrack, Arlington Park, Belmont Park, Canterbury Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, Indiana Grand, Kentucky Downs, Keeneland, Laurel Park, Los Alamitos Race Course, Monmouth Park, Pimlico Race Course, Santa Anita Park, Saratoga Race Course, Suffolk Downs, Sunland Park, Turfway Park, and Woodbine. Accreditations and re-accreditations carry an effective period of two years.
The NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance is a standing organization establishing standards and practices to promote safety and integrity in horseracing and to secure their implementation. Corporate partners of the Alliance include Insurance Office of America and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Information on the Alliance, including the Alliance Code of Standards, can be found at NTRAalliance.com.