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.
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.
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.
The Big Fresno Fair Board approved a two-year lease last November with Watch and Wager, a California Horse Racing Board-approved racing operator.
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.
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.
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