Cal Expo 

Harness racing at Sacramento’s Cal Expo is coming to an end. The California State Fair Board has decided to terminate its lease with Watch and Wager LLC, ending a 54-year tradition at the one-mile track. The news came as a shock to the racing community. Chris Schick, General Manager of Watch and Wager, which ran the December–May racing meet, said they expected more time. “We thought we’d get until May 2026,” Schick said. “Instead, we got six months' notice.”

The lease always included a clause that allowed the Fair Board to end the contract early. That clause was triggered after the suspension of Thoroughbred racing at the track in March. Schick emphasized that the decision had nothing to do with harness racing, but rather the wider collapse of Thoroughbred racing in Northern California. With Cal Expo closing, it joins a growing list of shuttered Standardbred tracks like Pompano Park and Northville Downs. The closure hits especially hard because Cal Expo was one of the few winter harness tracks in a warm climate. Now, the nearest U.S. harness track is around 2,000 miles away.

Driver Nick Roland, who leads the current meet, said the shutdown is life-changing. He and partner Jessica Johnson can move, but many others can’t. About 75 families live on-site in trailers, paying low rent. They now face finding new homes, changing schools for their children, and losing work. “My biggest fear is that these people didn’t get enough notice,” said Schick. “They live here, store their equipment here, and now they don’t know what’s next.”

Roland, who competed in the final race night on May 2, said Cal Expo was more than just a place to race. “It doesn’t snow here, and it’s great for training young horses in winter,” he said. “We make most of our money in Minnesota, but Cal Expo gave us a good winter base.” After May, many horsepeople will head to places like Hawthorne in Illinois or Monticello in New York. Hawthorne’s Racing Secretary Robin Schadt, who also works at Cal Expo, said she welcomes them. “Their horses will fit in well,” she said. “We could use them.”

Though unlikely, some are hoping for a short extension into early 2026 to give the community time to adjust. Meanwhile, Schick is exploring future options, including Stockton’s San Joaquin Fairgrounds or even Arizona Downs. “It’s a beautiful facility,” Roland said about Arizona Downs. “If we can stay away from snow and keep racing, that’s ideal.”

For many, the final race at Cal Expo will be emotional. Memories of standout horses and friendships made over the years will linger. “I’ve been here since 1972,” said trainer Robin Clements. “It’s heartbreaking.” Cal Expo will close with a full card on Friday, including a special retirement ceremony for local favorite Allmyx’sliventexas, a 12-year-old who began his career at the track in 2015. His final race will symbolize the end of an era in California harness racing.