Coronavirus

The ever-growing threat to American life that is coronavirus COVID-19 has rapidly chipped away at horse racing's business after shutting down the affairs of all major sports. Only a handful of tracks are choosing to stay open without spectators as of this writing, and news of the four-month postponement of the GI Kentucky Derby drove home once and for all that the sport would not be unaffected by this crisis. But deeper into the heart of Kentucky than the Twin Spires, are stallion and breeding farms. As much as racetracks,...

NEWMARKET, UK—It's hard not to feel like Christmas has just been cancelled. The Flat turf season doesn't revolve around Newmarket, of course. There are more than 14,000 horses in training in Britain and only about 2,500 of those are based in the East Anglian town, but that does make it the busiest training centre and, as the place where it all began, Newmarket lays claims to being the sport's unofficial HQ. Having emerged from the wettest and windiest of winters with the start of the turf now just days rather...

With France on Tuesday placed under a mandatory 15-day lockdown, whereby all but 'essential' outings are prohibited, the likelihood of the Thoroughbred breeding season continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic has been called into question. Though government directives are changing day-to-day-and rumours are spreading as quickly as the coronavirus itself-as of Wednesday afternoon it was business almost as usual at major studs in the Normandy region. "Things tend to change very quickly and there is a certain amount of [speculation] going around on Twitter and elsewhere suggesting the breeding season should...

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will lead a submission to government seeking financial support for those within the racing industry who are affected by the sport's suspension during the coronavirus pandemic. Amid fears that many of those working in racing and subsidiary businesses, such as jockeys, race day support workers and transport companies, will face hardship as racing grinds to a halt, a number of the sport's senior executives met to discuss ways in which racing can benefit from the pledged financial package unveiled by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Tuesday....

Irish horse racing has been given the go-ahead to continue behind closed doors with "greater restrictions" and without any overseas runners. Citing the need to maintain income and employment for people working in the industry, the board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) came to the decision during a meeting on Wednesday afternoon. "These are unprecedented and sombre times and we are seeking the best ways to support the racing community and industry throughout what lies ahead," said Nicky Hartery, chairman of Horse Racing Ireland. "Health and welfare of employees and...

After the operators of Turf Paradise announced suddenly over the weekend that racing was suspended and that trainers stabled there had until March 28 to vacate the premises as a result of the coronavirus, a compromise has been reached keeping the track open to training until May 1, with the doors to shut May 9. As part of the negotiations between the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and Turf Paradise management, the HBPA will pay half of the expenses incurred for track maintenance while horses remain training there...

While Ireland's flat turf season is still scheduled to get underway at Naas on Sunday, an announcement is expected by Wednesday afternoon regarding the nation. Britain became the latest European country-following France, Germany, Italy and Spain-to call off racing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and it is conceivable that the Emerald Isle could follow suit. With a legitimate Classic contender in his care in Siskin (First Defence), trainer Ger Lyons is no doubt keen to get up and running but said he fears that doing so amidst the...

NTRA President Alex Waldrop was the first speaker on the NTRA's teleconference Tuesday, during which he spoke at length about the current coronavirus pandemic, recommendations on dealing with it and different steps being taken by the racing industry. The following are some of the highlights of that talk: "So much of this pandemic is local in nature. Central Kentucky has its own special circumstances. Some tracks may be in an area with less community spread. We ask everyone to stay in touch with your state and local health department and...

The Arqana Breeze Up Sale, despite the coronavirus pandemic, will keep its May 8-9 schedule, the French sales company announced on Tuesday. A provisional catalogue will be online on Mar. 25, however changes may occur to this timeline, depending on COVID-19 and the response required to maintain the health and safety of all participants. The closing date for the Arqana yearling and store sales has been moved to Apr. 3, while the planning of yearling and store inspections is underway. These will occur as confinement measures allow, as France is...

The Tattersalls Ascot March Sale, originally scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 19, has been cancelled, the sales company announced on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, British racing was suspended until the end of April following changes in government guidelines in battling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Now, the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze Up Sale, originally set for Mar. 31-Apr.1 and the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, slated for Apr. 13̀-15, have been combined and will take place in Newmarket from Apr. 29-May 1. Also, the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training Sale...

The GI Kentucky Derby has been rescheduled from May 2 to Sept. 5 and the GI Kentucky Oaks has been moved from May 1 to Sept. 4 due to the coronavirus, Churchill Downs announced Tuesday morning. The dates are contingent upon final approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission which is expected Mar. 19. CDI's CEO, Bill Carstanjen, stated: "Throughout the rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic, our first priority has been how to best protect the safety and health of our guests, team members and community. As the situation...

On a day when racetracks around the world, including Keeneland, announced they would be shutting their doors due to the COVID-19 outbreak, NYRA, Oaklawn, Gulfstream and the Fair Grounds announced their intentions to continue racing. The decision by NYRA may have been the most surprising among the three as it came just hours after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a ban of gatherings of 50 people or more and that restaurants, bars, movie theaters and casinos must shut down. Aqueduct's next scheduled day of live racing is Friday. As...