In a significant development for Central Valley sports and entertainment, the Big Fresno Fair has announced that harness racing will return to Fresno for the first time in more than 100 years through a partnership with Watch and Wager, LLC. The move makes Fresno the only approved venue for live harness racing in California.

The deal

The Big Fresno Fair Board approved a two-year lease agreement with Watch and Wager, LLC in November 2025, following the California Horse Racing Board’s unanimous approval of 38 harness race dates running from December 2026 through May 2027. Racing will primarily take place on weekends at the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand, with final licensing approval expected at the CHRB’s September 2026 meeting.

“This represents a significant step forward for horse racing in Fresno,” said Christina Estrada, CEO of The Big Fresno Fair. “The return of harness racing continues our longstanding tradition of live horse racing that dates back to 1884, while also driving positive economic impact and community engagement.”

What is harness racing?

Unlike traditional thoroughbred racing, harness racing features standardbred horses pulling lightweight two-wheeled carts called sulkies. Drivers guide the horses rather than riding them as jockeys, and horses compete at trotting or pacing gaits over one-mile distances. The races begin behind a mobile starting gate and are known for strategic precision and the collaboration between horses and drivers.

About Watch and Wager

Watch and Wager, LLC is a licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) service owned and operated by Webis Holdings PLC, a publicly traded company. The company operates from its operational base in Lexington, Kentucky, with its head office in San Francisco’s Bay Area.

As an ADW provider, Watch and Wager enables customers to place wagers on horse racing online and through mobile apps, with bets going directly into racetrack betting pools in real time. The company operates a wagering hub in Hunt Valley, Maryland, which connects bettors to races worldwide.

Watch and Wager is licensed to accept wagers from residents in over two dozen states and offers access to more than 500 tracks globally, including racing from North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Dubai, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The company has secured licenses in major racing states including California and New York.

The team leading the harness racing operation at Fresno is headed by Ed Comins as President, with Christopher Schick and Ben Kenney managing the live racing meet. Combined, the team brings over six decades of experience operating Standardbred race meets in California and nationwide.

Watch and Wager’s move to Fresno comes as the company faces significant financial headwinds. Parent company Webis Holdings reported a net loss of $1.47 million for the year ending May 31, 2025, with total revenue declining from $50 million to $43.3 million year-over-year.

The loss of the Sacramento Cal Expo contract proved particularly costly — the racetrack operations generated $41.5 million in revenue but the ADW segment produced just $1.8 million. The company now carries $3 million in debt, primarily owed to related-party lender Galloway Limited at interest rates ranging from 7% to 13%, and has been forced to hire an investment bank to explore strategic options including potential sale of the business.

The company’s annual report notes “material uncertainty” about its ability to continue operations without ongoing financial support, making the Fresno agreement critical to maintaining a foothold in California’s harness racing market.

The Sacramento connection

The announcement comes as Watch and Wager’s 13-year run at Sacramento’s Cal Expo comes to an end. Cal Expo declined to renew the company’s contract in April 2025, ending harness racing in Sacramento after the May 2025 meet concluded. The venue is now exploring a partnership with Sacramento State to potentially convert the racetrack and grandstand into a football stadium.

“We knew after our first meeting that the quality of the facility and the vision of The Big Fresno Fair Board and Management made it the perfect place for our horsemen and patrons,” said Ben Kenney, chief financial officer, and Chris Schick, general manager of Watch and Wager LLC. “We are hearing from horsemen throughout the country and western Canada who are excited for the resumption of harness racing in California.”

Economic, community impact

The partnership aims to increase year-round utilization of the fairgrounds’ grandstand, which was left without horse racing in 2025 after the CHRB and California Authority of Racing Fairs made decisions affecting several Northern California racing fairs. The Fair pivoted to alternative grandstand entertainment including rodeo, arenacross, monster trucks and car shows.

Races will be available for in-person wagering and will also be broadcast worldwide via satellite, strengthening the Fair’s existing satellite wagering program at The Starting Gate, Fair officials say. Online bettors using the Watch and Wager platform will also be able to access Fresno’s races from anywhere the service is licensed.

Fair officials emphasized that harness racing does not preclude the potential return of thoroughbred racing during the annual Fair, as the two racing circuits do not conflict.

“Our community has always shown up in a big way for horse racing, filling the Grandstand and creating an unforgettable atmosphere,” said Gary Chahil, president of the Big Fresno Fair board of directors. “Reintroducing harness racing strengthens the racing legacy and represents an important investment in the future of the Fairgrounds and the Central Valley.”

Looking ahead

Track preparation and facility improvements are currently underway. The Fair plans to release additional details about the harness racing meet in July 2026.

The Big Fresno Fair, founded in 1884, is the fifth-largest fair in California and the largest annual event in the Central Valley, drawing an average attendance of 500,000. The fairgrounds hosts more than 250 events year-round beyond the annual Fair, which runs October 7-18, 2026.

Safety standards

California harness racing operates under strict safety regulations enforced by the CHRB, including mandatory pre-race veterinary examinations, strict medication controls and immediate removal of any horse deemed unfit to race.