The recent decision to terminate horse racing at Northern California fairs has thrown a wrench in the lives of many. In Pleasanton, the owner of Graceful Mischief, Sarah Jennings, is among those grappling with a tough reality. The bustling racetrack, once an emblem of community and tradition, will become a ghost town, leaving dedicated workers and their families with an impossible choice.

Imagine spending your life caring for these majestic creatures, only to have your livelihood vanish overnight. Groomers, trainers, and stable hands, affectionately called ‘back side’ workers, are now faced with the dilemma of relocating, often hundreds of miles away, or staying put and finding new jobs. Talk about a choice that feels a bit unfair, right?

Jenny, a longtime back side worker, voiced her frustration, saying, “I’ve built my life around these horses. It’s not just a job; it’s my family!” Many of these workers have spent years, if not decades, tending to their equine friends and building their lives around this community.

While animal rights concerns loom large, the human cost is equally troubling. Closing horse racing venues isn’t merely shutting down an entertainment business; it disrupts families, uproots livelihoods, and shatters dreams. Displacing families to follow job opportunities sounds like the way of corporate America, sadly familiar for many of us living paycheck to paycheck in the Bay Area.

As these horses are relocated to different venues, there’s a bittersweet sense of nostalgia lingering in the air. How many families will be torn apart for a decision made from above? This decision raises larger questions about the kind of society we want to foster: one that values tradition and community, or one that prioritizes bottom lines?

In a world where climbing the corporate ladder often comes at a steep cost, here’s hoping that our regional leaders recognize the importance of community and make decisions that reflect the diverse needs of their constituents. After all, horses might be beautiful, but humans, families, dreams, and futures, are precious.

We’re at a crossroads personified, facing a decision that echoes within each of us: do we prioritize the collective welzijn, or do we prioritize profit?