1/ST Things 1/ST: Saying Goodbye to Golden Gate Fields

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00:00Well, Sunday was a sad day, not just for horse racing in the Bay Area, but for horse racing

00:05in general as we lost another racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, the last major track left in

00:11San Francisco Bay Meadows closed down several years ago, called it a quits at the end of

00:15the day.

00:17Last Sunday was the last day ever.

00:18Zoe, I know you were there and I think the atmosphere from I was watching you doing the

00:23simulcast.

00:24You did a great job, by the way.

00:26I think it was kind of a bittersweet afternoon.

00:29People seemed to be really glad they were there to say goodbye, but at the same time,

00:33you're saying goodbye to an old friend.

00:36Absolutely.

00:37And guys, that leads us to this week's edition of First Things First.

00:41I made the trip up to Golden Gate Fields.

00:44Driving in there, there was a sign off of the freeway saying racetrack traffic, which

00:48is something that I don't think I've ever seen at Golden Gate Fields.

00:53They were queued up from the freeway to get into Golden Gate.

00:58I've been up there a lot of times and I've never seen that many people.

01:02A lot of people coming in to celebrate Golden Gate Fields, like a celebration of life, so

01:07to speak, and not so much a funeral.

01:10They were lying 10 deep around the paddock.

01:12They ran out of beer.

01:14If you bet a race and you were trying to cash a ticket, good luck.

01:17That line went around the grandstand.

01:19But generally the feeling was just a feeling of celebration.

01:24People came far from a long way away.

01:26I interviewed some people that came in from Vegas that had actually never even been to

01:31Golden Gate and just thought it was closing weekend and they wanted to come in.

01:35I did check out the bathrooms because the men's bathroom, sorry guys, I went in there

01:40and snapped a picture.

01:41There was no one in there.

01:42I just want to let you know.

01:43But the best view of the Bay Bridge is from the men's bathroom in the turf club.

01:49We did have an eight race card and it was a really cruel twist of fate that a Southern

01:55California shipper trained by Phil D'Amato won the last and final race ever held at

02:01Golden Gate Fields.

02:02But all in all, it was a great day at Golden Gate Fields.

02:06I'm glad I was there.

02:07We know that the great late Sam Spear was looking down on Golden Gate from the sky and

02:12it really was a great day to celebrate Golden Gate Fields.

02:17Meanwhile, racing goes on at Santa Anita.

02:20We will start a Thursday through Sunday card for closing weekend.

02:25We do have a pick six carry over expected to exceed over $500,000 on Thursday.

02:32So come and play at Santa Anita.

02:34Sunday is Father's Day, guys.

02:36What a better day to bring your dads out to Santa Anita where we have a special Father's

02:41Day brunch there and the San Juan Capistrano.

02:43So a lot of things going on at Santa Anita.

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