This is the cleanest stable I have ever seen in the bay area…read more I'm taking lessons from Sarah and she is amazing! I have taken some lessons at other barns in Portola Valley, the Sand Hill Road exit on 280 but Sarah at Menlo Circus Club is my favorite riding instructor. My posting trot has improved a lot with her training and she is willing to answer all my not-so-smart questions. Sarah also pointed out my bad riding habits and make me a better rider. My lesson horse is Roxy and she got a lot of character!

Our family's membership began about 50 years ago. We swim here and play tennis as often as…read morepossible. Staff is all very accommodating and non-intrusive but when you need something it will be taken care of immediately. I hear it now costs about $100,000 to join but the monthly dues are less than $1,000. It's worth every penny in my opinion and I've never heard of any member who doesn't feel the same way.

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.

Had the greatest evening of my life. I was new to betting, and on my first attempt, I won. The…read morevideo screens fill the room and the customers are friendly. Had a great burger and fries. The energy in the room was incredible.

From the owner: San Jose Fair Downs brings the excitement of live horseracing to over 100 new large video screens…read moreand our new Sports Bar hosts major league action including NFL Sunday Ticket. Fairdowns OTB is located on the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds near the intersection of Monterey Highway and Tully Road in San Jose. So come Watch, Wager, and with a little luck, Win!

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.

AFFORDABLE STALLIONS INCLUDING THE $2,000,000 HORSE…read more What's affordable about a $2,000,000 horse? I've been a big fan of horse racing some the 1990s. One aspect that intrigues me is not only the racing, but also the breeding in the thoroughbred industry. As a horse racing gambler I like to use pedigree of a horse as an insight especially big race such as the Kentucky Derby. Not this year but the last two years I bet the correct winner of the Kentucky Derby. What's cool about pedigree also is that when I handicap a horse sometimes I notice that I either bet on that horse's father or mother in the past. This is my second thoroughbred farm I visited in California, but my first in Northern California. I came here three Fridays ago to see three stallions, 2 of them have local ties to Golden Gate Fields Racetrack or Bay Meadows Racetrack. The third is the $2,000,000 horse, which I'll get back to later. When I arrived I was greeted by Jim Daehling the owner of this farm. He took me to a tour of the farm. Besides the horse farm this property inhabits a nursery and winery, which the farm sells grapes to Gallo Winery, to compensate for the horse farm. That's an ingenious approach to make money. As I surveyed the property I was impressed with large yet green pastures. I found out that despite the drought this farm is located near the Consumes River. The underground water from that river makes the land fertile. The main attraction for me was the stallions. This farm has 6 stallions, but I came to see 3. The stallion Peppered Cat ran at Golden Gate Fields where he won his second race, which ended up as his last win in his career. A little history note his father Tabasco Cat won the El Camino Real Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race when that race was run at Bay Meadows Racetrack but now is run at Golden Gate Fields. He would end up winning two Triple Crown races - Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The stallion Under Caution never ran at either Golden Gate Field or Bay Meadows Racetrack, but his father AP Indy, who was sold at a public auction in Kentucky for $2,900,000, won his second race at Bay Meadows. He would end up winning a Triple Crown race, the Belmont Stakes, and be named Horse of the Year. (The two years that I bet the consecutive winners of the Kentucky Derby was because AP Indy was their grandfather.) The other stallion Gotham City is main reason why I came to visit this farm. Several years ago he was sold at a public auction for $2,000,000 as a racing prospect. His potential was never fully realized as he only ran on two races due to injury. I have visited numerous farms in Kentucky, which is considered the thoroughbred breeding capital in the world due to its million dollar, blue-blooded horses. Some of the stallions I visited in Kentucky are in the pedigrees of the three stallions I came to see at Daehling Ranch. However I didn't know what to expect from these stallions' disposition as I encountered some of relatives. Regarding Peppered Cat I visited his great-grandfather Storm Bird in Kentucky. He was known for his volatile temper and wore a muzzle. I was not allowed to pet him. In fact Peppered Cat's father Tabasco Cat almost killed his trainer when he ran him over. However Peppered Cat was mild manner when I saw him in his stall. With respect to Gotham City I visited his grandfather Halo in Kentucky. He even had a more psychotic temper because he would deliberately try to hurt humans. He definitely was one stallion that I was not allowed to pet though I was able to get close to him. Gotham City's appearance resembles that of Halo. Did Gotham City inherit his grandfather's infamous temper? Surprisingly he did not. I was allowed to pet him. How often do you get to pet a $2,000,000 horse? With Under Caution I visited his father AP Indy when I was in Kentucky. However he's one of the nicest stallions I ever met as likes people however he has a reputation of producing sons who tend to be temperamental. I wouldn't say Under Caution is temperamental but of the three stallions he was the most aggressive as I've seen dents on his fence. The farm's website has pictures of the stallions that reside. Based on the website I didn't think Peppered Cat looked impressive but when I met him he was the best looking of the three stallions I visited. Gotham City, though mild manner, has the most intimidating appearance because he's almost black with that white blaze on his face. The three stallions I visited have blue-blooded pedigrees with a stud fee that is reasonable cheap in the thoroughbred breeding industry. In Kentucky the breeding fees of highly selective stallions can range from $50,000 to $300,000. The breeding fees of the stallion at Daehling Ranch are less than $2,000. If you want to breed your mare to a blue-blooded stallion without "breaking the bank" by paying an expensive breeding fee this is one farm you might want to consider as its motto is "Affordable to the Small Breeder!"

I have known Joe & the crew for over 20 years. Their care & ethics w/their animals is outstanding…read more The ranch is always clean and tidy, always ready for an inspection, even when none are expected.. Whether you're looking to purchase, board or train, Daehling ranch should be your first choice. They are a model facility that all in the business can learn from.. AAA+

Steve rescued me after my other farrier failed to show up. Have used him 2 times so far and am…read moreblown away by how much better my horses feet look. He listens to any concerns you may have, works with your vet if need be. Totally different experience for me and I'm in heaven. Just because your shoer claims to be the best, do your research. My pony foundered and could have been helped if dealt with in a timely manner, had my previous farrier actually listened to my concerns and kept on a schedule. If your farrier now is always doing major reconstruction of drains and patches maybe it's time for a new farrier.

Steve is the absolute BEST farrier. I've got a thoroughbred with CRAP feet. I just got him in July…read moreand Steve came highly recommended to me by several other horse owners at my barn. He has been so responsive and worked miracles for my Larkspur. He had a nasty quarter crack that made him lame and Steve did some kind of miracle shoes. He's caring and compassionate and loves horses. Plus he will keep you in stitches while he works. He's got an incredible team of guys who work with him but he is super serious about quality and makes sure your horse is his top priority. I absolutely would not let anyone else touch my horse's feet.

My friend from Germany wanted to ride a horse while visiting the states, so I very last minute…read morecalled Garrod to see if they had any availability. I was easily able to book a private guided ride with just the two of us and an expert rider. Our guide was so nice and equipped us with everything we needed to have a safe, but fun trip. You can tell the horses are very well taken care of and loved by the staff at the stables. The tour itself had beautiful views overseeing Los Gatos. It was a reasonably priced experience and absolutely worth it!

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.

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.

This was quite literally my first rodeo so what do I know? Nothing! But we had fun! The parking…read moresituation was chaotic, but we were able to find a lot within walking distance for a $10 fee, rather than dealing with the event lot. There were plenty of vendors inside, but food options were a bit limited. We ended up choosing the Mexican food stand and my friend and I got tacos and a Chicken Quesadilla to share. The tacos were very disappointing - literally nothing on them but meat. There was a little station with free pico and salsa, but still not worth the $5/taco. The Chicken Quesadilla was much better though - easy to share too! My friend also got a Watermelon Agua Fresca and I got a Horchata, which were both massive. They were tasty enough but way too sweet to finish. The rodeo itself was a ton of fun, with two events happening at all times and lots of excitement. Would return!

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.