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    San Jose Fair Downs

    5.0 (1 review)
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    Updated 1 month ago

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    7 months ago

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    Jockey Club at San Mateo Events Center - I cashed my 2025 Kentucky Derby tickets at the pari-mutuel teller to get my $788 winnings.

    Jockey Club at San Mateo Events Center

    2.8(14 reviews)
    29.8 mi

    This place is poorly managed and killing the off track betting operation of Horse Racing action…read more They charge you $10.00 admission with limited seating availability and betting machines that are often broken and scarcely available. They serve Gas station sandwiches and chips that are overpriced and not fresh. They have an assortment of can beers and Sodas. The place is filled with loud talking, smoke smelling and bad hygiene patrons who look to be chasing a broken dream of the ups and downs of gambling on Horse Racing. The place needs to reevaluate their customer service. Patrons rush in to hog seats and sneak outside food in hopes of not paying inflated prices at their Concession stands. The place has no desire to improve an already dying industry. The regular Old time bettors are so fed up that they go to other Satellite facilities or bet online just by not having to endure the pain of playing along side of rude customers hogging the self betting machines with zero regards for others who are waiting to place a bet. Also watch your vouchers closely as the unassuming are awaiting for you to forget a voucher in the machine for their next wager. This place can be a fun experience if they served decent food and opened the bar and kitchen up for the customers enjoying an afternoon outing with friends and loved ones. Sad times.

    Enjoyed my visit to the Jockey Club at San Mateo Events Center. Good cheeseburger and fries,…read morefriendly, helpful staff. Way too cold though, air conditioning needed to be lower. Lots of parking. It was a fun afternoon.

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    Jockey Club at San Mateo Events Center - I correctly bet three horse to finish in the top 2 and top 3 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby with a $51 wager and won $788.

    I correctly bet three horse to finish in the top 2 and top 3 in the 2025 Kentucky Derby with a $51 wager and won $788.

    Jockey Club at San Mateo Events Center - Santa Anita Turf Pick 3

    Santa Anita Turf Pick 3

    Jockey Club at San Mateo Events Center - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Garrod Farms Riding Stables

    Garrod Farms Riding Stables

    4.0(235 reviews)
    11.4 mi

    My trainer Vivian in my private lessons is by far the best and most qualified instructor I have…read moreexperienced in learning how to ride horses. She is patient, kind, supportive, and understands horse behavior. She truly cares about her clients and takes her job very seriously, working hard to make each lesson a fun, positive, and rewarding experience. I had a bad experience falling off a horse at another place and getting a small concussion. Vivian helped rebuild my confidence and appropriately guide me to where I am today. I'm very thankful for her expertise and feel Garrod Farms is lucky to have such a valuable member in their team! Garrod also has excellent horses and one in particular has touched my heart and doesn't even hurt my bulging disc in my back when I trot or canter like before.

    I want to give this farm a 2.6/5 since the scenery was nice even though my trail ride got cut short…read moredue to the rain. The horses are on the older side for the trail rides, fyi. One of the horses, Elmo (20yo), does walk a little funny. I rode Ben who was a nice horse, snacked a lot, but overall a little silly horse. One of the guides told me to pull on the reins harder to get him to stop grazing, but I didnt know if he had a bit or not. I didn't want to hurt him. Elmo did try to bite Ben, but the guide brushed it off as horseplay. I didn't think it was since he kept trying to create distance between them. Upon mounting and adjusting the stirrups, I noticed that the saddle kept leaning to the left. I asked the guide if the saddle was okay and not ready to slide completely to the left, but she told me that it was just uneven ground. During the whole ride, I had to overexert my left leg to distribute my weight and not fall off. We stopped to double-check the stirrups halfway, but the guide only checked my right stirrup. I tried speaking up, but she ignored me. The guide's horse also got angry with another horse which a child was on. He looked about 10 years old and he seemed scared. The guide's horse did try to kick the other one. One of the ponies had a muzzle on due to biting. He did try to bite a teenage girl's leg. I couldn't tell if she worked there or not, but she seemed pretty young. A 7 year old was mounted on the pony and he did not like it. He kept reversing and shaking his head. The next day, I felt really sore in my left leg. I thought it was because of the bumpy ride, but the soreness kept getting worse. I couldn't (still can't) walk properly, lay down, or bear weight on it without being in pain. I talked to my friend who does dressage and she told me it was because of the left stirrup and saddle was set incorrectly. I wish there was an adult guide alongside the ones who looked about my age (17-18) because it would make others feel safe (especially ones with little kids) to know that there's another adult who has a lot of experience. I'm not saying that the teens are inexperienced, but based on what I've seen and been through... it seems like the best option.

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    Garrod Farms Riding Stables
    Garrod Farms Riding Stables
    Garrod Farms Riding Stables - This is stirrup.            Yay.

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    This is stirrup. Yay.

    Solano Race Place

    Solano Race Place

    4.0(4 reviews)
    61.3 mi

    I only come here to Bet on the Big 3 Races Derby, Preakness, and the other one...I don't trust…read moreonline betting so this works for me. It's clean & and Safe place to play the ponies...

    Event: 2026 Kentucky Derby…read more This satellite only wagering facility gets the job done. And is the only place of it's kind within a fairly wide swath of area now. Fellow patron I met said he came from Novato to bet, because there wasn't a similar venue closer. The place here recently went through a renovation. But honestly, I didn't see any really radical differences from before. Parking to the wagering section of the fairgrounds is thankfully free (although this wasn't always so). Admission inside the facility to bet the ponies is $8. However, for the Derby this year, they were letting patrons inside for free, which was cool. Inside, they have traditional betting windows and electronic self-serve ticket machines. There's a new snack bar vendor that serves up pretty good-looking food. But, they don't want you bringing in your own (cook-dude checked me pretty good for bringing in an outside sandwich). Restrooms are still pretty spartan, bare-bones as before. There's a separate outside section for smokers. Seating availability throughout the venue is typically challenging. And in/out privileges are permitted. Most days during racing season, you could literally wager from early mornings into the evening. Bankroll permitting of course, lol. And for the second straight year, I face-planted betting the derby. As my horse came in 6th or 7th. Welp. Still, the wagering place isn't a bad place to spend the day if you like betting horses.

    California Rodeo Salinas - Sheriff I believe

    California Rodeo Salinas

    2.9(14 reviews)
    43.5 mi

    I bought my husband two tickets to the Rodeo earlier this year…read more We were seated in seats 4, 5 section 16 C. My husband is pure Scottish and from Dallas Texas. He brought and wore his Stetson that he keeps in pristine condition in the Red and Black Stetson Box. But he also wore his Brooks Brother dark blue polo shirt, Armani watch and Cartier wallet. Yes it was a hoot. The rodeo is located in the stadium in Salinas. We parked about a block away from the entrance. Minus one star because it doesn't say park in rear. All you can do is follow the massive line of cars driving to park on a grassy area in the rear of the stadium. There were vendors selling various mexican foods such as enchiladas, churros, tacos, nachos and burritos, and then there were vendors selling rodeo and western wear, cowboy hats, cowboy and cow girl shirts. We bought a cowboy hat for our son Matthew in black to match my husbands cowboy hat. We also took a picture of both of them on a bull (fake of course for 20.00). All in all, they had bullriding, horse racing, wagon racing, musical entertainment, clowns, alot of food and souvenirs. I loved that they had a corral for the kids. But I will take Matthew there when he turns 2. We had a great time and I will take them again next year.

    I attended an event at Salinas Rodeo Stadium and I was terrified by the security…read more I am a naturalized citizen and I am very away if what ICE is doing in this country. Many of the security guards hadasks over their faces. They had full on black baklavas. I thought that ICE was conducting a raid. This is is absolutely not acceptable. Whose idea was it to created such hostile environment at a college graduation?

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    California Rodeo Salinas - Rodeo

    Rodeo

    California Rodeo Salinas - Gorgeous dancing horses

    Gorgeous dancing horses

    California Rodeo Salinas - Chicken Quesadillas

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    Chicken Quesadillas

    Sea Horse Ranch - Amazing ride with Ramona

    Sea Horse Ranch

    3.2(603 reviews)
    34.8 mi

    A staple tourist type of activity for you or a group of friends / family to do while you're in the…read morearea. The horses are trained to go on the same trail in a single file line. Being a moderately experienced rider, it was a great introduction for my friends and an awesome experience. The primary guide was friendly and attentive.

    I am finally speaking up about my experience in hopes that no other person or child experiences…read morewhat I did. The ride was beautiful and the weather was gorgeous. The horse I rode was an angel. BUT the ride almost didn't happen for me. Why? Because one one of the workers abused me by yelling at me in a loud, condescending, and absolutely terrifying way that left me with fright, anger, and tears in my eyes that I had to hide behind my sunglasses so that my daughter and her cousin wouldn't see. It was infuriating and 3 months later I am still a bit distraught. It was my very first time EVER on a horse and still to this day I am not totally sure what I did wrong which prompted the worker to abuse me but I assure you I did nothing intentionally bad. Perhaps I pulled the reigns too far back. I am not sure and there was a language barrier as well so I did ask "what?" and had some confusion as to what he wanted me to do or not to do. I do not remember the worker's name. But I will never forget the anger, rage, and terror he spewed toward me. My cousin after the ride even told me he heard him yell at me. Whatever I did "wrong" there was no justification to be treated the way I did by this person. And for this I will never go back to this place nor will my child. The feeling I experienced after getting berated all the while trying to navigate a whole new feeling and experience of being on a horse for the FIRST time was overwhelming to say the least. I almost quit right there but I did not want to take away from my child's or family's experience. I also had looked forward to this adventure as I had gone through cancer treatment prior and what better way to celebrate than to ride a beautiful horse on beautiful Half Moon Bay...? THANK GOD there was another worker who was an absolute joy full of smiles and KIND who helped ease my angst and made the experience enjoyable. I'm glad I did it and completed it but BOY what a horrible horrible start. I hope this company takes a look at their workers and re-evaluates them because I will never return or suggest this place to anyone. I can NOT imagine if the person who yelled at me yelled at another person who was more vulnerable than I OR at a child god forbid. THIS is why I am finally writing something. I just had my family that went on the ride visit me recently and we were talking about the incident and my cousin's wife said ..."you know what, leave the review..what if that person treats a child like that in the future?" And so here I am letting people know that there is a worker out there who is totally completely out of line. I understand safety first BUT this was NOT the way in which to handle a situation not in dire need. The horse was at a standstill. I did not yank or do anything abrupt or out of line to warrant the horrid behavior spewed toward me. Even If the situation was dire or dangerous there should have been a totally different way to approach it. He ruined a part of a very meaningful experience. However, I'm glad I found the strength to go on and persevere and create memories with my family. The ride was in November 2025.

    Photos
    Sea Horse Ranch
    Sea Horse Ranch
    Sea Horse Ranch - Riding along the beach :)

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    Riding along the beach :)

    Levi's Stadium - Souvenir cup!

    Levi's Stadium

    2.8(1.7k reviews)
    9.4 mi

    Attending the Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium was absolutely amazing! The energy and vibes throughout…read morethe stadium were incredible, and everything felt really well organized. It was surprisingly easy to find our section and seats, which made the whole experience even smoother. Once we got to our seats, the views were awesome -- definitely one of those moments where you just stop and take it all in. The drinks were a little pricey, but that's pretty expected at a huge event like the Super Bowl. On the plus side, the food was actually really good, which made up for it. Overall, it was such a fun experience and an unforgettable atmosphere. Definitely a game I'll never forget!

    Five stars for the mighty home of the Faithful Levi's Stadium, where the red and gold glow like a…read moreCalifornia sunset and the spirit of the San Francisco 49ers rolls through the air like thunder off the Bay. From the outside, the place looks like a modern fortress built for football royalty steel, glass, banners snapping in the wind. Fans in scarlet jerseys circle the stadium like prospectors chasing gold, laughing, grilling, chanting "Niners! Niners!" It's part tailgate, part carnival, part time machine back to Montana, Rice, and the glory days history humming in every step, rhyme in every chime, red and gold bold. Step inside and BOOM the lights hit you like a halftime drumline to the chest. The field glows emerald bright while the stands explode in waves of red, the crowd roaring like a coastal storm. The sound system pounds, the Faithful get loud, and everywhere you turn there's something cooking: garlic fries sizzling, barbecue smoking, craft beer flowing like a victory parade. It's lights, bites, and fight-night vibes the kind of place where every cheer rhymes with "touchdown time," and every play makes the whole stadium shake like an earthquake highlight. And man, when the game kicks off, nostalgia hits like a blitz. The chants rise, the lights flash, and the crowd moves as one roaring sea of red and gold energy. It's football theater, comedy, chaos the kind of electric madness that would make even a stand-up comic shout, "THIS IS INSANE!" You don't just watch a game here... you ride the wave, you shout till you're hoarse, you leave smiling like you struck gold in the end zone. Bang Bang Niner Gang. Five stars, no doubt.

    Photos
    Levi's Stadium - Law enforcement allover the stadium perimeter

    Law enforcement allover the stadium perimeter

    Levi's Stadium - Let's get it done! Goooooo Niners!!!

    Let's get it done! Goooooo Niners!!!

    Levi's Stadium - 10.19.25 Game day: 49ers vs Falcons on primetime television

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    10.19.25 Game day: 49ers vs Falcons on primetime television

    Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show - Bull riding

    Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show

    4.2(19 reviews)
    41.7 mi

    Attended my first rodeo this past weekend, and the entertainment value was high, well trained bulls…read moreand horses keeping the crowd engaged... along with the humans running the show of course. Parking and event entry was quick and easy (though it cost $20 at Cow Palace). And there were several concession stands available serving typical snacks and treats like hot dogs, nachos, and even frozen beverages. The show started at 7:30pm, and various acts occurred for a little over two hours (before the main attraction). This included award presentations, an opportunity for moms from the crowd to enter the arena and race for a prize wearing only one shoe, corny jokes by the rodeo clown, saddle bronc riding (wild bucking horse trying to throw off the rider... similar to bull riding), horse barrel racing (female riders getting their horses to zoom around 3 barrels in the arena at the highest speed), and tie-down roping (cowboys wielding a lasso on the bull, competing for quickest time). I liked how the announcer explained the rules and animal ethics to the audience as some participants were disqualified during the roping challenge. The bull riding started around 9:45pm, and those spinning, twisting bulls were crazy! This 15-minute highlight of the event, with about 5 different bulls/riders, was followed by a bull jumper/stuntman performing acrobatics, dodging and doing flips in the air while being charged by a bull. The show ultimately ended around 10:15pm, and quickly turned into a country concert, opening up the arena to all, for live music entertainment. I enjoyed the event overall, and felt that Section 19 offered an ideal view of all the different acts. I do recommend coming a little early if sitting in the dress circle though, since it's "first come, first served" stadium seating and was pretty crowded. Cool and unique experience, and I will definitely return!

    Never in my life have I had the desire to go to a rodeo! Then I got married and my husband loves…read moreit. Eye roll...as a gift I got tickets for us to attend. There's a ton of people who enjoy this sort of thing, so we parked far and walked. As we entered we were greeted at the door and thrown into the chaos. It's an adult circus complete with clowns, rings and lights. The animals do most of the performing. We wakes the whole arena. Saw the horses in the back on the dirt ground, looked at the food options and viewed the merch that was being sold. We found our seats and listened to the dj intro, watched all the events and left. Not my favorite but glad I experienced it once.

    Photos
    Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show - Bull riding

    Bull riding

    Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show - Bull riding

    Bull riding

    Grand National Rodeo Horse & Stock Show - Saddle bronc riding

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    Saddle bronc riding

    San Jose Fair Downs - horseracing - Updated May 2026

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