FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno could soon be home to California’s only venue for harness racing, a type of horse racing where the riders are pulled in lightweight two-wheeled carts called sulkies, instead of on horseback.<\/p>\n
The Big Fresno Fair announced Friday that there will be 38 race dates from December 2026 through May 2027, primarily on Saturdays and Sundays, pending a final race license approval expected in September.<\/p>\n
That means, unlike the prior horse racing at the fairgrounds, these events will not take place during the run of the fair in early October.<\/p>\n
The Big Fresno Fair Board approved a two-year lease last November with Watch and Wager, a California Horse Racing Board-approved racing operator.<\/p>\n
The Fair says the agreement brings an interim event that will increase year-round use of the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand, offer in-person racing and wagering opportunities for the community and create economic benefits for the Fairgrounds and the city.<\/p>\n
Harness racing is a dynamic form of horse racing featuring Standardbred horses that pull lightweight two-wheeled carts called sulkies, guided by skilled drivers rather than mounted jockeys.<\/p>\n
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