Coronavirus

The Tattersalls December Sales will take place in Newmarket on their originally planned dates-Nov. 23 through Dec. 3-in accordance with government regulations concerning livestock and horse auctions. The UK will enter its second national lockdown on Thursday and it will run through Dec. 2. The sales will be restricted to those attending in a professional capacity and under strict COVID safety protocols. Live internet and telephone bidding will be available. "We are delighted and relieved that we have received clarity on this crucial issue and it is clear that the...

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the National Hunt foals, fillies and broodmares that usually sell at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale will now have their own separate session on Nov. 19, and the catalogue is now available. Selling that day are 161 horses after three days of National Hunt horses-in-training, 2-year-old stores, and NH yearlings on Nov. 16-18. There will also be a 23-lot dispersal of Haras de la Croix Sonnet among the breeding stock. Online bidding will be available at www.arqanaonline.com.

Arqana has reached an agreement with local authorities that will allow its Autumn Sale to take place on its original dates later this month despite the national lockdown in France. Access to the sales complex will be restricted to those attending in a professional capacity, and the sale will take place entirely outdoors in the ring in the main yard. Inspections will begin on Nov. 13 and the sale will begin the following day with a flat-bred yearling session. After a day's break, horses in training will be sold on...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and TVG have announced a series of COVID-19 relief donations for a broad spectrum of non-profit organizations working to support the Thoroughbred racing community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $410,000 in charitable contributions will be distributed to seven non-profit organizations including the New York Chapter of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T), the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the Permanently...

Saratoga WarHorse, a not-for-profit organization which uses retired Thoroughbred racehorses to work with service members and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress, will now use its program to aid individuals mobilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Military Armed Forces and Racehorses Program is designed to assist service members and veterans during the immediate aftermath of trauma and prevent the negative consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress. The program, which will formally launch this December, is currently accepting participants and available to service members who were mobilized during the pandemic at no cost. Since April,...

Colin Keane has earned his second Irish Champion Jockey title and a century of winners when he booted home Pretty Boy Floyd (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB]) to win a handicap at The Curragh on Monday. The season is officially over in Ireland at Naas next weekend, but Keane's nearest rival, Shane Foley, is still seven winners behind. Foley was also in action on Monday, but both jockeys will not be present at Naas, because they are riding in the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The highlight of Keane's...

The UK phase of the Godolphin Flying Star programme for first-year trainees has begun remotely from Ireland, Godolphin announced on Monday. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the change. This segment will contain bloodstock insurance, racing administration, nominations sales, marketing, HR, racing and veterinary management, as well as an introduction to the legal system. Other changes include the practical experience with yearlings will be undertaken at Kildangan Stud, while the two-week course on exercising racehorses will be completed at the Racing Academy and Centre for Education (RACE) instead of the...

The Belmont Park fall meet generated $9,923,813 in average daily handle from all sources, a 33.6% increase over the 2019 fall meet, the New York Racing Association announced. Despite running 10 fewer days than in 2019, all-sources handle of $267,942,961 was down just 2.5% compared with 2019. The Belmont Park fall meet has traditionally opened on the Friday following Labor Day. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYRA adjusted the fall schedule by adding a one-week break following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga Race...

A new 2021 breeding initiative for Norman Court Stud's Sixties Icon (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was announced by the stud on Monday. Priced at £1,000+ VAT payable on or before covering a mare, the sire of 15 black-type winners and three Group 1 winners was £6,000 in 2020. "We realise the coming season is going to be tough for breeders," said Norman Court Stud Manager Keith Evans. "Sixties Icon, who is by Galileo out of Oaks winner, Love Divine (GB) (Diesis {GB}) continues to belt out winners, with a winner to...

Following the UK government's announcement of a nationwide lockdown on Oct. 31, all possible options and dates will be considered for the upcoming Tattersalls December Sales, Tattersalls announced on Monday. The COVID-19 cases in the UK and abroad have been rising, and, as a result, the lockdown will begin on Nov. 5 and last through at least Dec. 2, interfering with the current sales dates. "As has so often been the case this year, we are having to respond to events and decisions entirely outside our control, but we would...

In his first year as President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, 38-year-old Drew Fleming has found himself trying to stage a global event in the midst of a global pandemic. In a socially-distanced phone call with TDN Publisher Sue Finley, he discusses the challenges and the triumphs of Breeders' Cup 2020. SF: You picked a heck of a year for this to be your first Breeders' Cup. DF: Well, this is my first Breeders' Cup as the CEO, but I've been working for the company since 2016. And then...

British racing is continuing despite the upcoming second lockdown this Thursday, and a decision will be made on Monday to determine whether owners can watch their horses race, British Horseracing Authority Nick Rust said on Racing TV's Luck on Sunday. The lockdown begins Nov. 5 and will last for four weeks. Betting shops will be closed during the lockdown as well. "The Government has shown plenty of faith in us, and we can show what an important role racing plays in national life over the next month," said Rust on...