Coronavirus

The 2020 racing season was fraught with many challenges, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic, and halted racing in New York for about three months, continuing to wreak havoc with on-track attendance at many of the nation's racing venues throughout the remainder of the year. And while for many it was a time of turmoil and struggle, it proved to be a banner season for Wachtel Stable, campaigning not one but two Eclipse champions in 2020--Vequist (Nyquist, Champion Juvenile Filly) and Channel Maker (English Channel, Champion Turf Male). "Unfortunately, I...

Several changes for the upcoming 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino were approved by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission at its Tuesday meeting regarding race dates and wagering and takeout rules. Indiana Grand was initially set to hold live racing Saturday, May 1 during GI Kentucky Derby Day. However, due to uncertainty directly related to COVID-19, a request was submitted to the IHRC to reallocate that date to Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, which will become closing day for the 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing...

Keeneland has released plans to offer fans a limited number of ticket packages for dining, Reserved Grandstand seating and General Admission for the 2021 Spring Meet, to be held Apr. 2-23. All ticket packages were designed in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols and will be pre-sold online in two phases. Fans are encouraged to visit Keeneland.com/tickets for information on Spring Meet ticket options and the process to purchase. "Keeneland is eager to welcome fans, although fewer in number, back this spring for what promises to be an exciting race meet,"...

At a time when travel and nostalgia have become poignantly conflated, there is something especially striking about the way Richard Powell is seeking to promote his Normandy farm overseas. You may have noticed a series of pastel evocations in TDN, in the mold of those vintage posters that prompted generations past to book a steamer cabin across the pond. The images are allowed to speak for themselves, accompanied by no more than a video link. Click that, however, and you see that no artifice is necessary to present Haras du...

The British Horseracing Authority is planning to welcome owners and amateur riders back to racecourses on Mar. 29. Spectators are expected to be allowed back on racecourses in mid-May. This year's Cheltenham Festival and the start of the flat season on Mar. 27 will take place behind closed doors. A BHA update released on Friday evening read, "Following the publication on Monday, Feb. 22 of the UK Government's plan to ease lockdown restrictions in England, the industry Covid-19 group has carefully studied the implications for racing in England. Any changes...

Rebecca 'Beck' Edmunds of Bryan Smart Racing was named the 2021 Employee of the Year at the virtual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Monday evening. The free-to-air broadcast was hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin on Racing TV, while the GSSS Awards were organised by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in conjunction with the Racing Post and Racing TV. Edmunds, Head Girl of Bryan Smart Racing and married to Smart's assistant trainer Kevin Edmunds, has worked at the yard for 17 years. She will receive £10,000 for herself...

The John Gosden-trained, Prince Faisal homebred Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) stole the show in Saturday's $20-million Saudi Cup. Gary King caught up with Ted Voute, racing manager to Prince Faisal, on Monday morning to reflect on the win. GK: Prince Faisal has enjoyed incredible success in the bloodstock world over the years, which includes breeding and racing Invincible Spirit (Ire). Where does this victory rank? TV: I think being on his home dirt, as it were, I would have to say Mishriff has made Prince Faisal a very proud...

Crowds will not return to UK racecourses until mid-May at the earliest Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, when discussing the UK's path out of its current COVID-19 lockdown. Schools will reopen on Mar. 8, but grassroots sport will not begin prior to Mar. 29, along with larger groups being allowed to gather in parks and gardens. Johnson is planning on crowds back at sports venues no earlier than May 17. Racing has taken place behind closed doors in England since it resumed in June with the exception of a few...

Several major shifts in riding assignments were underway Friday morning after Umberto Rispoli and John Velazquez were not allowed to fly to Saudi Arabia due to a mixup in flight arrangements Wednesday and problems with COVID-19 restrictions Thursday. Ron Anderson, the agent for Velazquez and Rosario, said that Mickael Barzalona would ride Max Player (Honor Code), that William Buick would be aboard Tacitus (Tapit) in the Saudi Cup, and that Joel Rosario would ride New York Central (Tapit) in defense of his title in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. In the...

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has released its annual report, covering both the fiscal year 2019-2020 and the calendar year 2020. As expected, given the onslaught of a global pandemic, it paints a rather grim economic picture, but there are major positives to be gleaned, chiefly in the equine safety arena. When it comes to the business side of the equation, all-breed total handle generation during 2020 declined by 7% over the prior year. Because of a wholesale shift away from bricks and mortar wagering towards ADW platforms last...

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has awarded $14.3 million to qualified breeders through the Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund for Kentucky Thoroughbreds' wins in 2020. The incentive fund requires owners to board mares in Kentucky from the time of breeding until the birth of the foal. Incentive payments are based on the foal's eventual winnings on the racetrack. Last year, nearly 3,500 races were won by a Kentucky-bred receiving a breeder award. Kentucky-breds won over 245 graded stakes in the United States and 18 group races in Canada, England, France and...

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 184 entries for The Gulfstream Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training, to be held Wednesday, Mar. 31, in the racetrack's walking ring. The sale will begin at 2 p.m. The under tack show is scheduled for Monday, Mar. 29, beginning at 9 a.m. Fasig-Tipton was forced to cancel last year's Gulfstream Sale due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are excited to be returning to Gulfstream Park in March to conduct the nation's premier 2-year-olds in training sale," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "The Gulfstream Sale annually provides...