The Big Fresno Fair opens its 12-day run. You’ll want to hit the horse races this year

Joshua Tehee
CRAIG KOHLRUSS/ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

The Big Fresno Fair is the last stop for horse racing on the fair circuit each year.

It’s also the only of the Valley’s fairs to offer live horse races and betting, which makes it a favorite for fans of the sport (both the seasoned and the newbies), but also for the trainers, jockeys and owners.

The fair kicks of its 12-day run Wednesday.

Horse races start on Friday, with race days through Monday and then starting again Oct. 14-16.

Post times start at 1:45 p.m., though that is subject to change.

The fair honors the county’s incorporated cities with the first race each day. City representatives are invited to be guests at the track and get to take a picture with the winning horse and jockey in the Winner’s Circle following the race.

Those wanting to show civic pride and follow their city’s race, the schedule is:

  • Fresno and Clovis, Oct 7

  • Huron and Orange Cove, Oct. 8

  • Reedley and Fowler, Oct. 9

  • Sanger, Kerman and Kingsburg, Oct. 10

  • Firebaugh and Mendota, Oct. 14

  • San Joaquin and Coalinga, Oct. 15

  • Parlier and Selma Oct. 16.

There are also two special stakes races during the fair’s run.

The six-furlong, $75,000 Harris Farms Stake is on Saturday and the $50,000 Bulldog Stakes (Handicap), a mile and an eighth race, is Oct. 16.

Wear Fresno State red during Bulldog Stakes Race to get entered to win cash prizes.

Even losers can win

On race days, losing bettors can turn in their wager tickets in for a drawing to win vouchers to bet on future races. Two winners will be chosen each day after races 4 and 8. Bettors can drop their losing race wager ticket (with name and cell phone number and the number of the race they lost) into one of several boxes on display on the ground floor and second floor of the grandstands.

In between races, the fair is offering a series of other events, including its Beer and Wine Fest, which happens 2-6 p.m. Saturday in the middle of the track. There will be more than 20 craft breweries and wineries, plus a DJ, food trucks and games (corn hole anyone). Tickets are $25 for those over 21 years old.

On Monday, the fair will hold a Kentucky Derby-style hat contest, with awards for men and women in two categories: best hat and funniest or most outrageous. Prizes will be given as cash vouchers for first through fourth place. All participants will get free reserved seats for the races (this does not include Box Seats or VIP Suite, Turf Club or Luxury Deck).

The following Saturday, Oct. 15, it’s the annual Derby Dog Dash, for small dogs only. Cash prizes will be awarded, along with bragging rights. That night, following the final race, the fair will host the Gran Jaripeo (or rodeo), featuring music from Tierra Cali and Los Creyentes. Tickets are $40.

On the fair’s two Sundays, Los Caporales de Fresno will showcase its dancing horses and singing riders.

What are the musical acts at the fair?

Of course, the ponies aren’t the only entertainment lined up at the fair. There are a slate of music (and other) options available, both on the fair’s main stage at the Paul Paul Theater and on the smaller stages around the fairgrounds.

How much you enjoy the fair’s main stage entertainment will depend on the broadness of your musical tastes. There are performances each night of the run and while you probably won’t love them all, you’ll likely to be intrigued by something.

The highlights happen early in the run, with Dwight Yoakam on Oct. 5 and Ice Cube on Oct. 6.

Ice Cube in particular should have a big crowd and exciting show. Fresno continues to prove its love for rap and hip-hop, especially old schoolers like Ice Cube. He sold out his last performance at the fair in 2019.

The Pretty Reckless on Oct. 10 should appeal to the heavy rock, black band T-shirt crowd, who haven’t seen a whole lot of these kind of concerts coming through as of late (though Lamb of God’s Omens tour was at Selland Arena on Tuesday night).

Tower of Power will certainly get a big draw, especially considering the concert has a huge push from KMJ, which is using the event as celebration for its 100th anniversary (which means it’s also the 100th year of The Fresno Bee, as a side note). The concert, which includes a performance from comedian Paul Rodriguez, is on Oct. 11.

Of the various other stages situated around the fairgrounds (there are several) the Save Mart Center Beer and Wine Garden has a nice lineup of performers through the fair’s run, especially on the weekend and later in the evenings.

  • Look out for everybody’s favorite hip-hop cover band The Box, 8 p.m. Oct. 8.

  • Outlaw Mariachi, featuring ex-members of Metalachi, performs 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

  • Blues rockers We Hunt Like Wolves takes the stage 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13.

  • Fresno’s long-running hard rock act Stoneshiver plays 8 p.m. Oct. 14.

  • The Bakersfield cumbia, salsa, merengue and bachata band La Marcha Sound performs 9 p.m. Oct. 16.

A full schedule of daily performances can be seen at the fair’s website.

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