2008: Bay Meadows closes
Winning faces turned somber and employees began to cry when the trumpeter played “Auld Lang Syne” before the final race ever at Bay Meadows Aug. 17, 2008.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.
Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
Support the Peninsula’s only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe!
Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions.
Premium Subscription
As low as $8.25 per week
Premium Includes:
-- Access to the Daily Journal’s e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time.
-- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content
-- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community
-- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week!
Rate | Price | Duration |
---|---|---|
1 Year | $99.00 | for 365 days |
1 Month | $20.00 | for 30 days |
1 Week | $8.25 | for 7 days |
Support the Peninsula’s only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe!
Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions.
DJ Basic Subscription
As low as $5 per month
Basic includes:
-- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content
-- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community
What you're missing -- Additional features available only with the Premium level:
-- Access to the Daily Journal’s e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time.
-- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week!
All for as low as $8.25 per month.
Rate | Price | Duration |
---|---|---|
1 Year | $60.00 | for 365 days |
1 Month | $12.00 | for 30 days |
1 Week | $5.00 | for 7 days |
Rate | Price | Duration |
---|---|---|
Home Delivery - Year | $120.00 | for 365 days |
Mail Delivery - Year | $480.00 | for 365 days |
Counting down to our 25th anniversary Aug. 18, the Daily Journal is highlighting the top story of the year for each of our 25 years. https://www.sm-dj.com/25years
2008: Bay Meadows closes
Winning faces turned somber and employees began to cry when the trumpeter played “Auld Lang Syne” before the final race ever at Bay Meadows Aug. 17, 2008.
Approximately 9,000 people turned out to watch the sun set Sunday on the race track’s storied 74-year existence. Auctioneers were set to sell off pieces of the San Mateo landmark, making way for the wrecking that’s expected to start swinging later this year. Bay Meadows Land Company had plans to develop the 83-acre property into housing, retail and office space.
“It’s sad. Even though I haven’t played here in years because of the cutbacks; it’s sad,” said trumpet player David Hardiman. “It’s tradition. Consider how many people have been here over the years.
From show biz faces like Bing Crosby to world-renowned jockeys Willy Shoemaker and Russel Baze, Bay Meadows has played home to many important people. Mostly, it has been home to a family of employees and devoted visitors. Employees held their tears to the very end — maybe hoping to postpone the inevitable or praying for a miracle.
The crowd rose to their feet for the Last Dance race. Post time 6:33 p.m.
“Bay Meadows is poised to give us 90 more seconds of its majesty,” the announcer said over the hum of the crowd. “A quarter of a century is evaporating in front of our eyes.”
1
2
3
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 7:30 AM – 10:30 AMCrowne Plaza Foster City Read moreState of the Peninsula
Discover the Wild Beauty of Alaska – by Land and Sea! Read moreOn Stage Alaska Live!
Artists Hrabba Atladottir, Violin; Susan Freier, Viola; Stephen Harrison, Cello; Keisuke Nak… Read moreIves Collective Chamber Concert
It will take all of us to demand victory over mental illness. That’s why NAMIWalks San Mateo… Read moreJoin Us For NAMIWalks San Mateo County Annual Walk for Mental Health on October 4, 2025!
Thomas Morgan said:
steve.claesson said:
Joining ICE and violating citizens constitutional rights in order to stay out of legal trouble is terrible advise.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.