FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) \u2014 No live horse racing at the big Fresno fair last year left a void in many horse lovers and owners.<\/p>\n
Now advocates for the event are asking the Big Fresno Fair Board to bring it back.<\/p>\n
Although it wasn’t even a topic on the agenda at the meeting, many showed up and spoke out during public comment, hoping it would be discussed in a future meeting.<\/p>\n
Last year, no horses were able to race here at the big Fresno fair after the California Horse Racing Board voted against it. <\/p>\n
Now, advocates of horse racing are calling to bring the long-time staple back to the fair.<\/p>\n
The sounds of hooves on the track were nonexistent at the Big Fresno Fair last year.<\/p>\n
People say that because of that, foot traffic was quieter.<\/p>\n
“I was disappointed that we didn’t have horse racing. It was the first year that I didn’t go to the Fresno fair in my entire life,” said a person who lives in Fresno at the meeting.<\/p>\n
Robert Kadayama owned 5 horses that participated in the Big Fresno Fair.<\/p>\n
Now he owns 3, all out of state, after the fair stopped having live horse racing.<\/p>\n
“I feel like this is the first time in my life, not my life, but from what I can remember, not coming to the fair as a fan or an owner,” said Kadayama.<\/p>\n
He says what got him into the horse business was being inspired by the horse races at the Big Fresno Fair growing up.<\/p>\n
“As a little kid, my grandpa would take us on the weekends to the fair. We always wanted to go watch the horse racing. That’s what kind of got me into ownership as well,” said Kadayama.<\/p>\n
“The tradition in the valley for racing is long. I can speak personally. It’s an event that we look forward to every year,” said a resident from Fresno.<\/p>\n