Coronavirus

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has announced the return of its juried photography exhibition program, Photo Finish. The Museum is now accepting submissions for consideration from both amateur and professional photographers of scenes depicting Thoroughbred racing in America for its third annual exhibition. Racing scenes, portraits (both human and equine), whimsical, morning workouts, retired racehorses, etc., are all welcome; it is up to the photographer to interpret the theme and be as creative as possible. The Museum also welcomes photographs documenting what racing was like during...

Jockeys competing in any group or graded race no longer need to self-isolate upon their return to Ireland, the Racing Post reported on Monday. Previously, only jockeys competing at the Grade or Group 1 level were exempt from quarantine. However, jockeys are still required to undergo a trio of COVID-19 tests-prior to traveling and twice once they travel back to Ireland. "It's positive news," said Irish Jockeys Association Secretary Andrew Coonan to Racing Post. "Flat riders travelling abroad will be helped by this but principally at the moment it will...

NEWMARKET, UK—Whether in situ or online, breeders from all over the world ensured that the Tattersalls December Mares' Sale got off to a promising start, with a 90% clearance rate helped by plenty of action from internet bidders. The dispersal of Lady Rothschild's Waddesdon Stud had led to a buoyant session on this day last year, so markers were down 12 months on, but there was still a healthy level of activity, with 12,292,200gns traded for 243 fillies and mares. The median dipped by 14% at 30,000gns and the average...

'Racing is Everyone's Sport' campaign was announced by Great British Racing on Monday. The goal of the initiative is to encourage and welcome LGBT+ participation in racing and bring the racing community together to champion lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. Former jockey Victoria Smith and trainer Mick Appleby are involved with the initiative and have shared their personal experiences. "This year has been challenging for all [during the coronavirus pandemic]--however research demonstrates that minority groups have been disproportionately affected during the crisis," said Diversity in Racing Steering Group David...

A limited number of spectators will be allowed on certain English racecourses as of Dec. 2, the British Horseracing Authority announced. Spectators are permitted in some areas of England, according to the latest guidelines revealed by the UK government. Owners are able to attend fixtures across all three tiers, while regular spectators are allowed only in Tiers 1 and 2. Spectators and owners are both permitted in the Amber Zone (formerly the Owner Zone) at racecourses, but there will be specific areas reserved for owners only. Pre-registration is essential for...

Arqana has released its COVID-19 protocols for its December Breeding Stock Sale, which runs Dec. 5 through 8 in Deauville. Access to the sales complex is restricted to vendors, buyers and sales personnel, and anyone seeking access must fill out a request for access form. Those traveling from abroad will receive a travel authorisation from Arqana to permit them to clear controls. Face masks must be worn at all times on the sales complex-snoods and scarves do not qualify. The auction will take place in the indoor arena, with a...

Mark Casse topped the Woodbine trainers leaderboard for the 12th time with 93 wins during the abbreviated 2020 meet. Beginning June 6, the meet was originally scheduled to conclude Dec. 13, but was forced to end early Nov. 22 due to a government-mandated lockdown for the region of Ontario due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The jockeys' race went right down to the wire with Rafael Hernandez edging out Justin Stein. It was the first riding title at Woodbine for Hernandez, who racked up 129 wins. Barber was the leading money-winning...

While attempts were made to reach an agreement with the Ontario government to continue racing despite a mandatory 28-day lockdown of Toronto and its suburbs, Woodbine Entertainment announced Thursday that the track's 2020 Thoroughbred meet was officially over. "While I am extremely disappointed we are not able to complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet, what we achieved this year in face of significant adversity is quite remarkable," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "I have been around horse racing my entire life and I can proudly say that I have never...

Founder, president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds Terry Finley joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday to discuss an array of industry issues and potential solutions. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Finley provided his insights on how the game can better attract new customers, whether or not racing's drug problem is finally going to be cleaned up, the evolution of the owner partnership and much more. Asked about how his friends who are casual observers of racing view the sport,...

News last week that more than 200 people living or working on-site at Golden Gate Fields had tested positive for COVID-19, and that the facility would have to close its doors to live racing through November, arrived against a state-wide backdrop of rising cases, hospitalizations and COVID-related deaths. As with Golden Gate, these trends have landed with subsidiary impacts. Over the weekend, L.A. County public health officials suspended outdoor restaurant dining. Before that, the county announced other restrictions, including curfews and capacity limitations at certain stores and other public places....

Five stakes races--three of which are graded--highlight the 2020 Los Angeles County Fair Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos. The season will begin Friday, Dec. 4 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 20. Racing is scheduled to be conducted Friday-Sunday the first week (Dec. 4-6) and Thursday-Sunday the final two weeks (Dec. 10-13 and Dec. 17-20). Post time will be 1 p.m. on weekdays and 12:30 p.m. on weekends. The $300,000 GI Starlet S. and the $200,000 GII Los Alamitos Futurity will be run, respectively, Saturday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec....

The 2021 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Irish Stallion Trail will be held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ITM announced on Wednesday. Instead, the event has been branded the ITM Irish Stallion Showcase, a digital and media event highlighting the success and appeal of Irish stallion farms. There will be videos from a range of Irish stallion farms, social media content, and an ad campaign which will be released from mid-December 2020, with a concentrated period of content going out from Jan. 11-16. "The ITM Irish Stallion Trail has become...