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No school for a couple of months. That can only mean one thing – summertime!
This is the time of year that I rely on you, the reader. Any and everything is open this summer – in other words, if you think you have a good story about sports related to the local scene, let me know.
This could be any sport or athletic achievement. For instance, next Friday is June 19, the day that the Alameda County Fair begins.
For the second straight year, the fair will be without horse racing. There were plenty who missed what had become a summer ritual: The fair is in town, time for horse racing.
Having been in Pleasanton since 1968, I have a full understanding of what racing means to Pleasanton and to the fair.
Last year, it never seemed quite right. Walking around the fairgrounds, there was something missing.
It’s going to be weird again this year but perhaps a bit easier to deal with the lack of live racing, which is sad. As people within the industry have moved on, gaining employment in something other than horse racing or moving completely out of the area to another city or state that still offers horse racing, the population of racing personnel has diminished.
One lingering thought remains – is horse racing in Pleasanton gone forever?
It’s easy to look at the sport and the anti-Northern California horse racing community based in Southern California that holds almost all of the cards and figures that group won’t let it happen.
There is no one I know who loves horse racing in Pleasanton any more than I do. Of course, there are those that love it as much as I do, but certainly not more.
For years I hosted the daily handicapping seminar each day at the races during the fair meet and seeing some of the same faces every year was a special memory.
I started going – and betting – on the races when I was at elementary school at Valley View in Pleasanton, right through middle school at Pleasanton School, and was solidly hooked by high school.
I am very fortunate that I was able to turn horse race handicapping into a career that I still enjoy today. But to have the chance to bring my love for racing back to the Pleasanton community would be a dream come true.
Can it happen?
There are some in the area that believe it is possible and are going to make a big push in 2027 to bring horse racing to the Alameda County Fair and the adoring community of Pleasanton.
Next week I jump into this issue feet first, talking with some of the people behind the effort. You’ll want to make sure to read the story and perhaps give all a hope there will be horse racing in Pleasanton again.
This is the type of story we are looking for during the summer months!
It can be individual accomplishments or team success. If you think it’s of interest, let me know and I will look into it. It’s the time to bring to the limelight that many in the area do not know about.
My contact information is acesmag@aol.com or my phone number is 925-200-0719.
Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division.
