CalExpo Harness Racing

We where there for country in the park great place for concerts great veiw and seating

If you are looking for a place to relax and sit down in the shade at the fair this is your place. The races are fun to watch and are very relaxing. They also have food vendors in this area. You can’t bring food from the fair into here. I did see several large ice chests and people sitting in their own chairs enjoying the races. If you were making a day of it I can see why you need an ice chest. Next time I’d like to stay longer. We just caught the last race.
The area around the track is beautiful. Very lush.

Horse racing is not everyone’s cup of tea — or mint julep — but for those interested in betting on horses making left turns, CalExpo Harness Racing does fit the bill. Even though they are open all year round, their location at the California Exposition makes them a fun option while attending the California State Fair as well. When the fair is over, parking is much easier although you will miss out on the fried Oreos.
There are several races per day, but the first race is always a treat. They hire someone to dress up and play the traditional horn to announce the beginning of the day’s races which is pretty cool. Of course, winning money is the main reason to be here. On my trip, I did win, but the race was very short. I would prefer a longer race more like the Triple Crown, but it was still nice anyway.
The facility has food options, but most people just want to catch a buzz with the plentiful drink options. This can be a fun options, but is mainly a hold over from when casinos were far away and gambling options were more limited. Heading to Red Hawk or Thunder Valley may be a more exciting way to lose money these days, but it is always cool to try something more retro.

Excellent ! Spend the day. At the turf club, enjoy great lunch, watch the races, and win lots of $.

This review is for the satellite wagering facility. I went on Kentucky Derby day… I know I know… I was prepared for a crowd but not the sardine pack I experienced. I got there around 1 pm. I left not long after. I didn’t place any bets; I couldn’t get into a groove… the place was crowded, too dirty, literal garbage piling up inside, bird poop exterior seating and sidewalk, and not enough employees vs attendees.
Wagering facility: overcrowded. I would bet money that they exceeded the fire code. I don’t think the attendance is computerized. I paid my $ 4 for entry, they give you a carnival tic stub, I give that stub to a guy that sits next to a turnstile. If I want to leave and return, I have to get my hand stamped. Do they keep taking admission until they run out of carnival stubs ?!?
To grab some oxygen, I went outside. But that seemed just as worse. Bird poop sidewalk and benches. Is the State not making a profit?! Can they not afford to clean and power wash once in awhile.
Dirty. Since there was soooo many people there. The refuse of food containers, snot rags were all over the place… garbage on the tables, in the wagering cubes, on the floor… everywhere…gross. The trash cans were overflowing. I did not see 1 employee cleaning.
Parking: it’s free for the race track/​wagering facility. But that day, cal expo had a massive girls volleyball tournament happening. Both parking was via the same gate. So to drive into the racetrack parking lot, i had to perpendicular cross the flow of cars leaving the tournament. What a cluster F. Think Frogger. No parking lot attendant to sort the madness.

What a disappointing experience. Years ago this was a terrific venue. Now the club house and turf club is closed and the box seats have no chairs and the grandstand seats haven’t been cleaned in months. Dust on the handrails was evident.
There were no betting windows or machines operating on the grandstand level, forcing people to walk down 50 plus stairs to place a bet.
I won’t be back. Worse track experience ever

While i am not the biggest fan of Harness racing, this place is actually pretty awesome. The people that hang around the track are almost as fun to watch as the races them selves, i think the word «characters» sums it all up.
We had a wonderful night here, my girlfriend wanted to take take her dad who was visiting from New Jersey to the race track, he often frequents the meadowland, and knows his stuff about racing. A friend of hers that work’s at the track was able to get us all rides in the pace car. Wow, the adrenaline that you feel when those horses are running at 35 MPH right in front of you is amazing and something that i will never forget.
My only hope is that they get rid of Harness Racing and bring in some real thoroughbreds, then people will actually come and check out a race, but until then, i highly recommend coming here, having a drink and maybe casting a few bets.
Good Luck!

I have no idea how to bet, but there are friendly and sweet people at the information booth and the bar!
Customer service is A-​OK with me!

I know absolutely nothing about horse racing but after being convinced by a friend that it would be a good way to spend my evening I made a couple of bets and walked away $ 7 ahead!!! Overall the experience was exactly like how they portray it in old mobster movies. The lines are chock full of old men reading the paper and rooting for their favorite pony to make them a fortune. I guess it’s pretty cool that we have a place like this in Sacramento, since judging by the amount of people patronizing the event, it’s unlikely they will be around much longer.

Going to the races is an experience that seems like it should be better than it actually is. The whole experience of horse racing is romanticized throughout our culture in events like the Triple Crown, movies like Seabiscuit and Secretariat, and books such as the mysteries of Dick Francis.
That being said, the experience at Cal Expo does not come close to meeting those expectations.
First of all, harness racing is nowhere near as interesting as watching thoroughbred. It’s like going to a track meet, but instead of bringing out the sprinters, you get the racewalkers.
Secondly, the facility itself, while perfectly acceptable has no romance whatsoever. You’re not getting to experience a historic track, merely a typical grandstand that has no interesting architectural features. If you’re a fan of classic track architecture you need to take a drive at least to Golden Gate Field, but even better would be to drive down to the tracks at Santa Anita or Del Mar.
Finally, you have to consider the crowd. Now, I was there for a Unilocal event, so the company was fine and we were up in the VIP area which was quite nice. But if you were just headed out to watch the races and hang out at the grandstand, it was clear that you are going to spend the night with a crowd of people who appear as if they would not be out of place at a Wal-​Mart.
Could horse racing come back as a sport and social activity in the way it was during the 1920s and 30s? Unfortunately the answer is probably not. Betting on horses takes skill and the rise of Indian casinos within driving distance of almost all US cities means that gamblers can get their fix easier and faster by pulling the lever on a slot machine. Sadly though this has killed the track and it means you shouldn’t waste your time at the Cal Expo Harness Races if you are looking for something to do.

It’s too bad «Luck» wasn’t a more interesting or popular HBO show. If it was, maybe it would help give amazing facilities like this one the exposure and recognition they need. In the meantime, all I can do is hope that the races will continue and the attendees will eventually come in droves much like in «Field of Dreams.»
My only occasion here was an amazing and surreal experience during a Unilocal gathering. A group of us ate from an all you can eat buffet in a private second level dining area complete with TV’s and its own bar. On this perfect spring day we stood on the deck and watched the harness racing on the mile-​long race track circling pools of beautiful blue water.
Each race was a new and exciting event. Even if you weren’t betting, it was great to hear the excitement in the announcer’s voice and watch the horses take off in dusty streaks around the track. it was also exciting to place a bet. Our group was lucky enough to get rides in the pace car as well.
I’ll reiterate what a previous reviewer said — that this is one of Sacramento’s hidden gems. Check it out while it’s still around!

Had a blast at CalExpo for Harness Racing with Unilocal’s Day At The Races! This is a great facility with top notch staff. Myself and fellow Unilocalers went up to clubhouse where we got to watch the exciting chariot races with plenty of Mint Julips to go around. We were attended to by a great bartender and very gracious waiter who made sure the night truly memorable. There was a huge spread of steak and turkey with all the sides you could want and three different cakes to choose from for dessert. Neither my wife or I won on our bets but that didn’t detract at all from a perfect evening. Riding in the pace car and watching a race yards away from the action was the high point for me. Being treated like VIPs by the pace car people while doing so was icing on the cake. One of our party even got to watch a horse/​jockey team win her bet from the pace car which was awesome. To top it off we got to be photographed in the winner’s circle. Needless to say I will be back very soon!

I came here Saturday with a group of friends. We enjoyed sitting outside at the picnic tables. Lots of families with their kids came out. Had a great time betting on the horses. $ 1 Beer/​$ 1 Wine/​$ 1 Hot Dogs every Saturday night! If you’re bored and are looking for some cheap fun, why not head to the races (they go through mid December)! There’s a bar and plenty of seating inside. Free parking and free entry! Whaddya waiting for?!
Website:

Don’t spend your social security check anywhere else! What better way to turn $ 1 into $ 250?

I have to give it 5 stars because there is nothing to compare it with. Only open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. Watching these trotters and pacers is fun! You can bet as little as $ 1 each race. They have daily drink specials. I like going to the club house for dinner and a couple of races. The food is decent and the clientele varied. Parking is FREE.
I have had 5 fundraisers in the club house and participants love the unique setting. They will name a race for your group and you get a photo in the winners circle. They also offer rides in the pace car for your group to raffle off.
Check it out.