CHRB again rejects 2026 proposal to bring live racing back to Humboldt

The California Horse Racing Board voted at a special meeting in Arcadia on Feb. 26, 2026, to deny requests for 2026 thoroughbred dates at the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale and the Tehama District Fair in Red Bluff, ending the immediate prospect of live racing returning to Humboldt County this year. Most coverage reported the measures failed by 4-2 votes; KRCR published a differing 5-2 tally. The meeting lasted nearly three hours and had been added after the board tabled a larger fairs proposal in January.

Humboldt County Fair Association had applied for a 12-day meet, requesting Aug. 5–Sept. 1, while Tehama sought a nine-day meet Apr. 29–May 26. CHRB staff memos presented at the Arcadia meeting flagged unresolved financial and bureaucratic questions in Humboldt’s application, questioned whether enough horses, trainers and wagering interest would return after the Northern circuit has been dark since December 2024, and reported inspection findings that both Ferndale and Red Bluff lack major needed upgrades.

Board chairman Greg Ferraro framed the decision in blunt terms, saying, “As much as I would like to see them do well, they have no chance for success.” Ferraro added, “There is just no market for them up there. So, you’re going to end up destroying all of racing in California to bet on a no-chance situation in the north.” Commissioners and staff also warned that short Northern fairs meets could divert wagering revenue needed to support purses in Southern California; the Los Angeles Times estimated a month of fair racing could cost Southern California about $2 million in diverted revenue.

Vice-Chairman Oscar Gonzales and Commissioner Brenda Davis were reported as the two members who voted to grant the dates in the 4-2 accounts. The meeting included pointed exchanges about strategy for reviving the Northern circuit, with Gonzales telling Commissioner Dennis Alfieri, “Last year you said let’s give it a year off. But you keep moving the goalposts.” Alfieri had said, “We’re finally doing so well in the South,” a remark that drew scrutiny given the meeting’s focus on the industry’s fragility.

Local fair representatives argued they met CHRB requirements. Johanna Rodoni, a member of the Humboldt County Fair board, told a reporter by phone, “We jumped through all the hoops. We did everything they asked for and they still turned us down.” Mandy Staley, CEO of the Tehama Fairgrounds, spoke at the meeting, saying, “Our team has worked incredibly hard to prepare everything for you. We have overcome multiple roadblocks, which have only highlighted our determination, tenacity, and passion for pursuing this.” KRCR reported that inspection teams found both sites lacking significant upgrades and that Northstate News had reached out to the fairs for next steps.

The CHRB vote covered only the racing component of the fairs; the board has no jurisdiction over the county fair organizations themselves. Industry groups including the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the California Thoroughbred Trainers, along with Southern California tracks, opposed awarding the Northern dates, citing purse dilution and wagering impacts. With the Northern circuit idle since December 2024 and previous revival attempts rebuffed, the CHRB decision leaves no clear path for live racing at the Humboldt County Fair in 2026, though some commissioners signaled the possibility of revisiting the issue in future seasons.