Coronavirus
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has added a 10-race make-up date to its calendar Aug. 31. First post on the added day will be 2 p.m. The oceanside track had been forced to cancel a weekend of racing in July when several jockeys tested positive for coronavirus. The 2020 summer meet will now have 27 live race dates. It had been scheduled to have 28 days.
Officials at Harrahs Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, LA, have announced an across-the-board purse increase of $1,500 per race beginning Saturday, Aug. 8 and continuing through the end of the meet Wednesday, Sept. 23. "We thank our local horsemen for their support since the live racing season began on June 6," said David Heitzmann, director of racing at Harrah's Louisiana Downs. "This has been a very challenging year due to COVID-19, so we are pleased to reward these hard working men and women with a purse increase of $1,500 across...
We are very lucky. My godfather spent 20 days in the ICU due to COVID-19 and twice was presented DNR papers to sign, giving him 30 minutes to improve his oxygen saturation levels prior to intubating him. He is home--still recovering, but home. He was diagnosed on Mar. 16. We spoke on Mar. 18 and at that time, "it was not as bad as the flu, just more aggravating." On Mar. 20 he was admitted to the hospital, Mar. 22 the ICU and discharged home on Apr. 12. He is...
An apprentice jockey in the UK has tested positive for the coronavirus, the British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Sunday. The rider in question has not participated in a race several weeks, but did recently attend a race meeting. The identity of the apprentice has not been released. British racing was halted in March until June 1 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Once racing started up again, all racing personnel have been operating under strict government guidelines and safety protocols to ensure that social distancing is followed and the chance...
Overseas buyers are an ever-increasing fixture of the American yearling sales. It is not only the big-spending Maktoum family and Coolmore partners who are vital to the health of the market; an international presence stimulates spending at all levels of trade, fueled by visitors from all across Europe-not least the pinhookers who have enjoyed so much success with their buys at the breeze-ups-and Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. Global travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have, naturally, caused some unrest in the minds of sellers as they put...
The long-term future for Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) to continue racing in Illinois involves selling its Arlington International Racecourse land for another purpose and transferring the corporation's racing license to another location. Bill Carstanjen, the chief executive officer of CDI, outlined the gaming company's desire to rid itself of Chicago's premier Thoroughbred venue in a July 30 conference call with investors. His comments came six days after Arlington's delayed 2020 season opening (because of the pandemic and a bitter contract dispute with local horse people) and one day before 2021...
The British government on Friday morning withdrew permission for Goodwood Racecourse to host 5,000 spectators on Saturday as part of a pilot project for the return of fans to sporting events. A joint statement from the British Horseracing Authority, the Racecourse Association and Goodwood said it is believed the cancellation of the event is due to concerns about the national infection rate of coronavirus and is not a reflection of any concerns about Goodwood or the measures taken there. Racing will take place on Saturday behind closed doors. David Armstrong,...
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has instituted a 10% purse increase, which will be retroactive to the track's opening day, July 10. Del Mar has also added a stakes race to its 2020 calendar--the $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf--a one-mile grass test for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 6. The race, which had been a regular feature at the seaside oval in the previous eight seasons, had been omitted from the original stakes schedule due to belt tightening measures. From July 10 through July 27, Del Mar conducted seven days of racing,...
Shannon Bishop Arvin, tabbed to replace Bill Thomason when he retires as Keeneland's President and CEO at the end of 2020, issued her first communique Wednesday evening. "First, I'd like to thank everyone who has been so kind and welcoming as I transition into my new role with Keeneland," Arvin said. "This is both a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I very much look forward to working alongside our team to support your needs as we move into the fall season and into the...
In our last article we discussed the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which the government initiated to cover business-related expenses such as payroll, rent and utilities. But the Government also issued a second (and lesser known) relief program, named the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The good news is that the EIDL can be used for a much larger group of expenditures, which we will discuss in this article. For small business owners hit hard by the Coronavirus Pandemic, the CARES Act still has funds available after the second round of...
Turf Paradise has rescheduled its opening day to Friday, Nov. 27. Originally the 133-day live meet had been scheduled to run from Oct. 17-May 1, 2021. The new schedule will run from Nov. 27-May 1, for 110 live race days. "We are hoping that by opening later the Coronavirus situation will settle down in Arizona," said track general manager Vincent Francia. "Regardless we will have health protocols in place when the meet opens." Francia added, "We are working with AZHBPA president Bob Hutton as to a date when the horses...
Starting Friday July 31, licensed owners with a horse entered may attend the races at Del Mar. Space is limited to two licensed owners per horse. No guests are permitted. Up until now, licensed owners have only been allowed on track in the morning to watch workouts. The first come, first serve seating in the afternoons will be located in the same area in the clubhouse box seating. Owners will be required to email Mary Forney, Executive Director of TOC (mforney@toconline.com) to secure access, and reservations can be made up...