The Humboldt County Fair will present the richest horse race in its storied 128-year history when the $50,000 C.J. Hindley-Humboldt County Marathon at 1-5/8 miles is contested on Sept. 8.
The 70th edition of the Humboldt Marathon, along with the $20,000 Cream City Dash for quarter horses, plus a quintet of $25,000 overnight allowance races for thoroughbreds that include the Dave Mogni Special, the Irv Parlato Memorial and the Fred Costa help compose Ferndale’s most ambitious racing schedule ever.
“There will be a record amount of money in purses up for grabs that we hope attracts and boosts both the quality and quantity of horses on hand for this year’s race meet,” claims Humboldt racing secretary Tom Doutrich.
Perennially one of the most popular stops on the Northern California fair circuit, the Humboldt County race meet will run un-overlapped for eight days over three weeks.
Racing will open Aug. 23.
There will be horse racing slated for Aug. 23-25, the opening weekend, followed by afternoon programs Aug. 31-Sept. 2 on Labor Day weekend, and concluding Sept. 7-8th. Post-times for the opening race each afternoon will be announced in the near future.
Stamped as the longest stakes event on the NorCal fair calendar, the Humboldt Marathon will have its traditional spot on the Ferndale schedule — the last race on the Sept. 8 “Getaway Day” program.
“We like to save the best for last,” adds Doutrich. “The Marathon is such a unique (horses cross the finish line four times on Ferndale’s half-mile track) and popular race each year, and fans love to have it as the final race on the Fair’s final day. It’s a fitting way to wrap up the Humboldt race season each summer.”
The Humboldt Marathon had its original running in 195, and has been Ferndale’s marquee race ever since. And while it does not have the history of Humboldt County’s famed redwood trees, its stature on the NorCal fair circuit makes the Marathon a treasured prize to capture. Not to mention the $30,000 (from the $50,000 purse) that will go to the winning owner.
The Dave Mogni Special, named for one of Ferndale High School and Humboldt County’s greatest athletes who later served 12 years on the Humboldt County Fair Board including several years as its president, will be contested at seven furlongs for fillies and mares, and headline the Aug. 24 race program.
The Irv Parlato Memorial will highlight the Sept. 2 racing card, and at five furlongs crown the meet’s sprint champion.
Parlato, who also handled duties as president during a 25-year span of service on the fair board, was particularly influential in Ferndale horse racing. He played a major role in starting Appaloosa and mule racing here. His hospitality and generosity for the horse racing community attending the Humboldt County Fair was unmatched. He treated everyone like family, and no one was a bigger ambassador for the fair.
The Fred Costa Purse will headline the Sept. 7 program, and at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds-and-upward honor a “Damon Runyan” character who had a lifelong love affair with Humboldt horse racing.
Costa owned and trained thoroughbreds for more than 50 years, and made the backstretch his home away from home. He saddled four winners of the Humboldt Marathon that included Cajun Asset (1997), Ironman Dehere (2001), Derby Rider (2006) and Steel Blue (2011).
Along with those $25,000 allowance features, Doutrich hopes to lure standout fields for two other $25,000 filly-mare allowance headliners. Distaffers will duel five furlongs in the Sept. 1, feature, and the gals will battle seven furlongs in a Sept. 7 co-feature with the Fred Costa.
The Cream City Dash on Sept. 2 will be decided on a 220-yard dash through the stretch and crown the meet’s quarter horse champion.
And Doutrich is hopeful Humboldt will be able to card more quarter horse races this season with additional “shortliners” expected to be on hand for the 2024 meet.
Originally Published: July 25, 2024 at 10:53 a.m.
Source link : https://www.times-standard.com/2024/07/25/horse-racing-ferndales-fair-racing-calendar-is-ambition/
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Publish date : 2024-07-25 18:31:45
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