Fair tracks conjure images of cheap rac-
ing, cold, greasy fries, rusty Ferris wheels
and carnies, and in a lot of places that is
true. But put your stereotypes aside long
enough to consider what I am about to say:
The Sonoma County Fair offers one of the
great racing experiences in the country.
Yes, the Sonoma County Fair--also known
as Wine Country Racing for its proximity to
one of the most beautiful areas in the U.S.,
the wine regions of Napa Valley and Sono-
ma County.
The first-ever Sonoma County Fair was
held in 1885, but the modern fair, which
included horse racing, started in 1936. The
current fairgrounds is located in the town
of Santa Rosa, and while the racing there
may not be on par with Del Mar or Saratoga,
it is far from what you may expect from a
fair. Ferndale, Fresno, Pleasanton and Sac-
ramento make up the remaining tracks on
the Northern California fair circuit. Stock-
ton, also known as the San Joaquin County
Fair, ceased racing after the 2015 meet due
to red ink and slumping business and moved
their dates to Pleasanton. The fair tracks
