Sacramento, Calif. - The California
Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) and current harness racing operator Watch
and Wager LLC have reached an agreement to keep Cal Expo as the home of
California Harness racing until May of 2022.
The Cal Expo Board of Directors voted
unanimously to extend the lease agreement at Friday’s Fair Board meeting in
Sacramento.
“As the home facility for five
professional level sporting operations, Cal Expo is particularly pleased with
Watch and Wager LLC operation of harness racing,” said Rick Pickering, CEO of
California Exposition and State Fair.
“This contract extension is just one
example of our mutual commitment to the sport of horse racing.”
Watch and Wager LLC took over
operation of Cal Expo harness racing in November of 2012 and recently completed
their fourth year of operation with a winter/spring meeting that ended on May 8
and featured a pair of 10 percent purse increases.
“I want to thank the Cal Expo Board
for their confidence and support,” said Ed Comins, President of Watch and Wager
LLC. “We are fully committed to Cal Expo and the California Standardbred Racing
Industry.”
Jim Perez, Executive Director of the
California Harness Horseman’s Association expressed his organization’s support
“This extension will provide further industry stability and allow our horseman
and breeders to make long term plans.”
Harness racing is set to return to
Cal Expo on Saturday, October 22.
