Coronavirus

Golden Gate Fields will resume live racing on Thursday, May 14, after receiving provisional approval Wednesday morning from the Alameda County Public Health Officer. Live racing was temporarily suspended Apr. 2, following an order from Alameda County in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Live racing will be conducted under strict protocols and without spectators, to protect the health, safety and welfare of every person and every horse in the Golden Gate Fields community. The protocols are still being finalized with county officials and will be released in the coming days,...

The court-appointed receiver for Zayat Stables has "identified unorthodox, possibly fraudulent billing practices and billing errors in which trainers and other care providers effectively over-billed costs as a means of increasing the Receiver's statutory lien obligations," according to a report filed in Fayette, Kentucky, Circuit Court May 5. No trainers or other care providers were identified, and no further detail was provided, only that the identification of these practices is now "resulting in a significant savings to the Receivership." The report was the third such monthly report submitted by Elizabeth...

Germany gains a welcome foothold in Europe, today, as the first of the continent's big five racing jurisdictions to reopen for business and, with France preparing for a Monday restart too, the enforced period of inactivity appears to be at an end. Scandinavia has kept the ball rolling while elsewhere lay dormant, but now the spotlight shines on Hannover, which plays host to the country's first Thoroughbred race since Stall vom Odon's 9-year-old gelding Kitaneso (GB) (Medicean {GB}) prevailed in a 13 1/2-furlong selling heat, the closing act of Dortmund's...

While eager to see the return of live racing at Laurel, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Tim Keefe knows that the belt-tightening may not end any time soon. Casino revenues account for a large portion of the purse money for the Maryland tracks and its likely that the state's casinos will be closed for several more months. "It certainly is a concern and something on our minds," Keefe said. "Nearly70% of our purse revenues are derived from the casinos. With them being closed down, obviously it is a big concern...

Keeneland will offer digital inspections for all Book 1 and Book 2 yearlings in the Keeneland September Sale. Footage will be captured at the farms during the yearling preparation period and will be available online for all remote buyers, including those whose travel will be prevented by COVID-19. Keeneland will also aid consignors and breeders with yearlings in Books 3-6, who would like to photograph or video their horses. "Keeneland's award-winning Broadcast Services team will coordinate "digital inspections" for all Book 1 and Book 2 yearlings as an enhanced service...

Louisiana Downs will push back the opening of its spring/summer meet by one month, drop 20 dates from its schedule, and cancel the running of the GIII Super Derby because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) voted 11-0 at an emergency meeting Tuesday to approve the track's request. The decision was the only agenda item scheduled and none of the scores of participants on the conference call spoke in opposition to the changes. Louisiana Downs had been slated to start racing May 2. The 20 dates...

With the majority of U.S. tracks unable to race in April,  total pari-mutuel handle during the month fell by 24.42%. Bettors wagered $639 million during the month after wagering $845 million during April 2019. The numbers were provided by Equibase. It has been a roller coaster year for betting on U.S. racing. After posting an 11.8% increase over the months of January and February, handle fell by 22.8% in March when most tracks were forced to close. For most of April, there were only five Thoroughbred tracks racing, but several...

Musselburgh Racecourse has been granted another temporary license by the British Horseracing Authority in the hopes that it can get a deal done with Chester Racecourse to take over its operation, Racing Post reports. The Scottish course's previous temporary license expired on May 1. A joint statement from the BHA and Musselburgh owner East Lothian Council read, "The extension has been approved in order to give sufficient time for the complications that have arisen in the deal to appoint a third party operator due to the coronavirus pandemic to be...

A new program, Nourish the Backstretch, powered by Keeneland, Nourish Lexington and Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC), will provide weekly meals and groceries to stable area workers at Keeneland and The Thoroughbred Center (TTC), Keeneland announced Tuesday. More than 500 people are employed by trainers to care of horses at the two locations. Proceeds from wagers placed through Keeneland Select, Keeneland's online ADW, during May will be donated to Nourish the Backstretch. "Keeneland is forever grateful to the industry's front-line heroes, the men and women on the backstretch who are...

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has reopened the application process for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program after a short delay. Farms with fewer than 500 employees whose primary activity is breeding horses may now apply for these loans offered to businesses that have suffered economic hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. "This is welcome news and a terrific opportunity for horse farms that are currently facing a number of daunting challenges," said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. "The NTRA encourages quick action by...

Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd, which owns the majority of the racecourses in South Africa, is facing bankruptcy, Sporting Post reported on Monday. The company released its unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial results for the six months that ended on Jan. 31, 2020, and reported a loss of R115.1 million. Phumelela may now choose to file for voluntary liquidation. Racing was supposed to resume last Friday, May 1, but South Africa has continued its lockdown protocols due to the coronavirus. The G1 Horse Chestnut S., G1 South African Derby and...

The Breeders' Cup has launched a T-Shirt design contest designed to support industry workers in need while simultaneously building momentum for the organization's 2020 World Championships. Fans are invited to create a T-Shirt design to be produced and sold on BreedersCupShop.com. Breeders' Cup will donate all its proceeds from sales of the winning T-Shirt design to support the various backstretch communities and other industry stakeholders across the country who have been most heavily impacted by COVID-19. Submissions will be accepted until May 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The top five...