Bay Meadows Race Course, long rumored to be facing demolition in favor of redevelopment plans approved by the city of San Mateo, might seek an exemption from a California Horse Racing Board mandate to replace its existing dirt track with an artificial one by the end of 2007.

The Bay Area track is the only major facility in the state to not announce its synthetic surface plans. Jack Liebau, president of racing for the Bay Meadows Land Company, which also owns Hollywood Park, said Dec. 29 that Bay Meadows is operating “on a year-to-year basis and we may have to get an exemption” from the CHRB in order to continue receiving race dates after the deadline.

“We have no definite plans (for synthetic track) at this point,” Liebau said. “We are in a waiting mode.

“Our track is pretty well acclaimed as a good track to race on,” he added, “especially in the winter