Coronavirus

For the American Graded Stakes Committee, 2020 presented challenges unlike anything it has faced before as the pandemic played havoc with racing schedules and caused the cancellation of numerous stakes. The TDN sat down with the committee's chairman Everett Dobson to discuss the challenges, why it made the changes that it did for 2021 and what might in store for future years. TDN: Take us through what the process entails when it comes to evaluating stakes races. What are the numbers that you crunch? ED: We look at a tremendous...

Keeneland has released its health and safety protocols for the January Horses of All Ages Sale, which takes place Jan. 11-14. For the safety of all participants, the policies and procedures are very much consistent with those from the September and November sales. A few highlights: Attendance at the January Sale will again be limited to credentialed sales participants. Please apply for a new credential in the Virtual Badge app. Your credential from the November Sale will not be valid for the January Sale. COVID-19 testing will again be required...

Woodbine Entertainment has announced a trio of initiatives designed to support the 130 people living on the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack during the winter months. Woodbine has partnered with the Horses First Fund, which will sponsor a nutritious, hot meal each week. The program will start Wednesday, Dec. 23. The Horses First Fund assists Thoroughbreds and their caretakers in need of emergency aid due to large scale neglect, natural disaster, or other catastrophes. Horses First Fund founder Jaime Roth of LNJ Foxwoods said, "I was especially moved by the misfortune...

Horse Racing Ireland's 2021 budget has been approved, with measures to combat the threats of COVID-19 and Brexit key among the priorities. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "The HRI budget for 2021 is set in the context of two lifetime challenges hitting the sector simultaneously and the priority is to shield the industry from the impacts of both Covid-19 and Brexit, while being cognisant of the welfare of our horses and the people that work with them. Thanks to the effort of many, the finances of...

Visit Horse Country, like many others, suffered a serious financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Several members of the industry, such as Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, the Breeders' Cup and The Jockey Club, stepped into help. However, Visit Horse Country has now partnered with the Bluegrass Community Foundation to launch a charitable fund supporting initiatives like services for TAA-accredited aftercare members of Horse Country which receive a complimentary membership; scholarship and field trip visits; community outreach such as Meet the Neighbors; and a new workforce development partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of...

The third and final session of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale was topped by the wildcard Laurina (Fr) (Spanish Moon) (lot 801A). A Grade 1-winning daughter of Lamboghina (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}) over jumps, the Ballincurrig House Stud-consigned 7-year-old was knocked down for €290,000 to Ridgewood Stud. Another 7-year-old wildcard, the grey Moskovite (Ire) (Flemensfirth) (803A) found a new home at The Beeches Stud for €160,000. Consigned by Boherna Stables, the mare has placed twice at graded level over fences and is carrying her first foal by Crystal Ocean...

Keeneland, which debuted its first digital sale in June, will take perhaps its biggest swing at the on-line platform Tuesday with a December Digital Sale catalogue featuring some 70 offerings of weanlings, yearlings, broodmares and broodmare prospects and racing and stallion prospects. "We are very happy with what we came up with," Keeneland's Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde said of the strength of the catalogue. "It was kind of a surprise in that we just finished the November sales and leading into this time of year, we really didn't...

When the owners of Fancy Green (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}-Fancy Stone {Ire}, by Rainbow Quest) decided to enter her and seven others into Keeneland's December Digital Sale, they did so with years of personal experience with the technology and methods that made digital buying and selling possible. "We are international owners," said Majdolin Shatrit, the Executive Director of Marbat LLC, based in Saudi Arabia. "We don't live in America or Europe, and so we've used this method for a long time." Indeed, the offering of Fancy Green (Fr), who sells as...

Jockey Christophe Soumillon told Hong Kong Jockey Club officials that a negative result was returned on his most recent COVID-19 test and with that, he has completed all necessary quarantine requirements as set out by the Hong Kong SAR Government. The Club will require that Soumillon take further tests beginning Saturday in accordance with established protocols and the earliest he may accept mounts will be Sunday, Dec. 20. The Belgian is on a short-term contract through Feb. 14 and was to ride Sunday's Longines HKIR, but was stood down Thursday...

By the time Turf Paradise opens Jan. 4 for Arizona's first live Thoroughbred racing since March 14, track management projects the horse population could top 1,200 for the five-day weekly, 84-date meet that runs through May 1. Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia said during the Dec. 10 Arizona Racing Commission meeting that 664 horses are currently stabled on the grounds, adding that "I expect by the end of the month that that figure is probably going to double." Francia explained that Turf Paradise is the recipient of a mixed...

Scottish horse racing will receive £2-million in grants as part of a £55-million funding package for sports to help navigate the pandemic. Delly Innes, manager of Scottish Racing, said, "As Scottish racecourses continue to race behind closed doors, this financial support from the government is not only very welcome, but absolutely vital for everyone in our sport. We're delighted that the Scottish government has recognised the importance of the nation's second most popular sport and the potentially devastating financial implications the pandemic has had on the industry north of the...

Christophe Soumillon will miss Sunday's Hong Kong International Races meeting after failing to secure an 'unconditional' release from the 14-day quarantine he has been undertaking in Hong Kong. Having been granted a short-term riding contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club set to begin HKIR day Dec. 13 and last through Feb. 14, Soumillon--who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Breeders' Cup in Kentucky early last month--arrived Nov. 26. A release from the Club Thursday evening indicated that even though Soumillon had cleared his first COVID-19 test upon his arrival,...