Built in 1938, the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand at The Big Fresno Fair will be dark in 2025 with the final rejection of horse racing by a state board of June 19, 2025. Big Fresno Fair photo

A bid led by John Harris to revive horse racing at The Big Fresno Fair proved unsuccessful Thursday, with the California Horse Racing Board declining the proposal in a 4-3 vote.

The decision followed public testimony from Central Valley political leaders, The Big Fresno Fair board and leadership and more. Prominent California horse owners and breeders John Harris of Harris Farms and George Schmitt of Pleasanton established Bernal Park Racing, LLC, to cover start-up costs and potential losses in partnership with fairs up and down California.

In February 2025, The Big Fresno Fair board voted to pause live racing for the year after the California Authority of Racing Fairs announced it would no longer manage live race meets for Fresno and other Northern California fairs.

The proposal by Bernal Park Racing, LLC’s operational contract would’ve included live horse racing in Fresno on Sept. 19-21, 26-28 and Oct. 1, and would’ve aligned with race schedules in Washington, Wyoming and Arizona, according to a Big Fresno Fair news release.

The Big Fresno Fair has a strong track record of promoting live racing, according to a release. In 2024, a 14-day meet that began in September in advance of the fair and continued during the fair’s Oct. 2-14 run generated $3.2 million in on-track wagering and drew more than 50,000 fans to the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand.

Horse racing has been part of The Big Fresno Fair for more than 120 years.

“It’s very important that Fresno maintain its race dates. We will never give up continuing this storied tradition of Fresno racing. Today’s decision is not the end – we will come back again next year,” said John Harris.

Thursday’s vote represented the third straight month that the California Horse Racing Board had rejected proposals to allow racing in Northern California, reported thoroughbreddailynews.com

Bernal Park Racing, LLC, had also proposed to partner with fairs in Pleasanton and Ferndale in Humboldt County to revive racing at those venues.

“We’re incredibly disappointed by the CHRB’s decision to deny 2025 race dates for Fresno, especially given the strategic and extensive work behind this effort and the strong support it received – particularly from Central Valley elected officials,” said George Schmitt, co-founder of Bernal Park Racing, LLC. “This is a major blow to horse owners, trainers and breeders who were ready to support this meet and rely on these opportunities to stay in business and remain competitive.” 

While live horse racing will not be part of the 2025 Big Fresno Fair, the Fair’s satellite wagering facility – The Starting Gate – remains open year-round, Thursday through Sunday, offering racing enthusiasts the opportunity to wager on tracks throughout the state and nation.