Horse Racing Returns to Humboldt Fairgrounds for third weekend

The Humboldt County Fairgrounds has the only half mile racetrack recognized for horse racing in California, and there are more horses this year than ever before. 

“It doesn’t look like it. But there’s a lot of vans moving up and down the freeways transporting those thoroughbreds. They’ll get out, they’ll train and prepare to race, for the next three weekends,”says Tom Doutrich, racing secretary at the Humboldt County Fair. 

“We love coming up here. The horse racing is exciting. Big crowds on the weekend. It’s one of the few places in the nation, in fact, that has more people come out to the races on the weekends than there are population here. Population of Ferndale is 1,700, and we will get upwards of 5,000 people here on Saturdays and Sundays. So it’s really a big social event and the people have a great time.The horse racing is exciting, close, fun and in fact, this year will be the 70th edition of the Humboldt County Marathon, which is the longest run stake race in the state of California,” says Ellis Davis, racing publicist for the Humboldt County Fair. 

It’s a tradition spanning more than 70 years and will be held on the third weekend. 

“On the weekend of September 8th, closing day, we’ll have the Humboldt County Marathon, the richest race ever run here. It’s a 50,000 guaranteed three year olds and up going a mile and 5/8. So we’re really excited about that. Attracting a few better horses. And down south, looking at having a full field. And it’s going to be a really, really exciting day on closing day, September 8th,” Doutrich says. 

Junior livestock auctions will be another big attraction with more than 300 animals entered. 

“Wednesday, Thursday and Friday there will be youth livestock being shown on those days. On Saturday they’ll be the Dairy Heifer replacement auction, which will be followed that evening by round robin for stage and FFA. And then on Sunday there will be the annual barbecue for the auction, followed by the junior Livestock auction, which last year with add ons totaled almost $1.5 million,” says Andy Titus, President of the Humboldt County Fair Association. 

Story by Tucker Caraway