The California State city of Santa Rosa, with a population of over 175,000, is the county seat of Sonoma County and is the largest city in Californias Wine Country. Sonoma County has held a Fair since October 1855 when it held a one day Fair on the Rosa Courthouse Plaza. Much greater events followed when, in 1879, a 90 acre site was purchased for the development of an 8 furlong dirt racetrack, along with grandstands and other outbuildings. Pari-mutuel betting was allowed in the State by the middle of the 1930s, so on 6th October 1936 the track held its inaugural meeting, and it has continued to offer top class racing, normally towards the end of July and early August. The 8 furlong Wine Country oval dirt track with 350 metre home straight, complete with separate 7 furlong oval turf course which opened on 8th April 2004, together with two chutes, one of 6 ½ furlongs and the other of 10 furlongs, offers thoroughbred racing and has also offered Standardbred races. The culmination of the season at Wine Country is the running of the Joseph Grace Handicap. |
