by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Sacramento Harness Association

The not-for-profit lessee, the Sacramento Harness Association (SHA), will conduct its last race program on Saturday evening, March 1.

Harness racing at Cal-Expo will continue uninterrupted under the leadership of the California Exposition and State Fair, and will begin for the new operator on Thursday, March 6.

The Cal-Expo Fair Board gave its approval to this arrangement at its monthly meeting on Friday, February 22, 2008. This agreement is still subject to approval from the California Horse Racing Board at its monthly meeting, which will be on Thursday, February 28, 2008, in Arcadia, California.

“We (SHA) can not perform under the terms of our lease with Cal-Expo,” said Dick Feinberg, General Manager of SHA. “Our goal has been to help in a smooth transition so that harness racing can continue uninterrupted at Cal-Expo for the horsemen, the track employees, and all their families. The industry is very fortunate that our landlord — Cal-Expo — has picked up the reins and will continue operating pari-mutuel harness racing at the State Fairgrounds,” Feinberg concluded.