Author's note: Back in 2008-09, I attempted to write a book about my experiences working at Bay Meadows Racecourse during its final year, but I eventually abandoned the project.
Recently, a person posted in the Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields & Nor Cal Fair Racing Memories Facebook group that she had recently adopted a 22-year-old mare who had been rescued from a kill pen in Oklahoma. She said the mare's name was Bai and Bai and was seeking information about her.
I remembered that I wrote about Bai and Bai's victory over Somethinaboutlaura in the Foster City Handicap on March 1, 2008 at Bay Meadows as part of my attempt at writing a book and promised I would edit and post my account of the race. What I am posting here is a revised version of what I had written in late 2008. It was to be part of a chapter that focused on Russell Baze's and Jerry Hollendorfer's dominance over Northern California racing. Twenty-three minutes before the Foster City, Baze and Hollendorfer competed in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap, with Hollendorfer saddling Heatseeker to victory and Baze finishing 12th aboard the favorite Monterey Jazz, who was trained by Craig Dollase. Hollendorfer trained Somethinaboutlaura and Dollase trained Bai and Bai.
