COVID-19
Thoroughbred racing resumed in Wuhan, China on Oct. 1. Racing had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic which originated in the region. A crowd of 3,000 fans were allowed to attend the races, with masks and strict social distancing measures enforced. The first race of the five-race card was the China Cup (video), which went to Ashraf (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in track-record time. Racecourse announcer Wen Li proclaimed, "Wuhan racing, we are back."
During the Fall Meet, which opened Friday and runs through Oct. 24, Keeneland will continue to support and raise funds for Nourish Lexington, which uses the skills and resources of food service and hospitality employees displaced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to provide nutritious meals for people in need. Nourish Lexington is Keeneland's featured Fall Meet charity. Although Keeneland currently remains closed to spectators due to ongoing coronavirus concerns, Keeneland at Home fans and Keeneland Watch Party attendees will also have the opportunity to support Nourish Lexington, which was launched...
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has rescheduled the upcoming 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), originally slated for Feb. 12-14, to Aug. 27-29 due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The NHC, a culmination of a year-long series of tournaments of which the winner is honored at the Eclipse Awards, will be held at Bally's Las Vegas. "With the support of our partners at Bally's and Caesars Entertainment, we have secured dates that provide us with a great opportunity to host a world-class event in the safest possible environment for...
Like an overzealous professor, the pandemic has taken a bright red marker to the status quo, with the racing industry very much on the receiving end of this economic revisionism. When it comes to California alone, startling betting patterns have emerged with potentially serious ramifications for the long-term sustainability of the sport in the state--that's according to handle and purse data from the first eight months of the past three years put together for the TDN by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). Among the key takeaways is this: While...
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission has approved two additional 2020 racing dates for Indiana Grand at their regular monthly meeting Thursday, Oct. 1. The two dates will be included on the final week of racing, increasing the schedule to 92 days for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse action and a total of 96 days overall, adding in four days dedicated to all-Quarter Horse racing. The two additional dates added to the schedule will be Monday, Nov. 16 and Thursday, Nov. 19, which will become the new closing date for the 18th...
The Foxfield Races, the first of three fall National Steeplechase Association to run in October, kicks off Sunday in Charlottesville, Va. The card, consisting of seven races--five over hurdles and two on the flat--carries purses totaling $55,000. Post time is 12:30 p.m. The Foxfield Races mark the first 2020 NSA event that will permit owners, with horse entered, to attend, albeit with restrictions. Owners will be required to remain in a designated area for the entire afternoon; no one may cross the course or go to the paddock or barn...
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., America's leading jockey, has tested positive for COVID-19, the jockey confirmed in a phone call Wednesday afternoon. The news was first reported by Dave Grening of the Daily Racing Form. Ortiz, who had been serving two consecutive five-day suspensions for careless riding July 3 and 31 at Belmont and Saratoga, respectively, said that he was asymptomatic. He rode his last race Sept. 16 at Kentucky Downs, and had not ridden in New York since Sept. 7, the last day of the Saratoga meeting. "I'm feeling good,"...
The Meadowlands Racetrack, a top harness racing venue in New Jersey, temporarily shut down starting Tuesday evening after several employees tested positive for COVID-19. Live racing will take place as scheduled Friday, but without fans. The facility will reopen to fans Saturday at 10 a.m. The following is part of a statement the track release Tuesday evening: "The racetrack continues to take an aggressive stance against the spread of COVID-19. Over the past several days the medical team has identified a few individuals that tested positive for COVID-19 that they...
The National Steeplechase Association (NSA) announced Tuesday that the fall season's first sanctioned race meet, The Foxfield Fall Races, will take place Sunday, Oct. 4 in Charlottesville, VA. While the races will run without spectators and under strict health and safety protocols, the NSA will livestream the races, feature commentary from the industry's experts and strong competition by steeplechasing's top horsemen. In making the announcement, NSA President Al Griffin said, "This year has provided plenty of challenges for our sport, yet we continue to persevere. Despite the onerous regulations and...
Following a submission to Public Health England, there is now an addition to the British Horseracing Authority's Elite Traveller Exemption (ETE) protocols for elite sportspeople and essential support staff, which is effective immediately. The ETE applies for frequent travellers for competition in a country not covered by the travel corridor exemption, thus jockeys, trainers and stable staff who make frequent trips abroad for competition at COVID-19 secure venues in non-exempt countries may choose to register for a "Frequent Private Traveller" (FPT) option. This ruling will directly benefit the jockeys, trainers...
British jockeys may yet be exempt from two weeks of self-isolation after competing at ParisLongchamp on Arc Weekend Oct. 3-4. The British Horseracing Authority is making a submission to Public Health England on Tuesday. Currently due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, anyone traveling back from France is required to self-isolate for seven days under the elite sportsperson's exemption rather than the normal fortnight. If the exemption is allowed, stable staff and trainers would also be included along with jockeys. If the exemption is not granted, many high profile riders would...
Tattersalls Cheltenham will not be hosting the rest of its 2020 sales fixtures at Cheltenham Racecourse due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the Cheltenham November Sale will take place at Fairyhouse in Ireland on Nov. 12. Park Paddocks will host the Cheltenham December Sale on Dec. 3 and there will be an alternative Cheltenham December Sale back at Fairyhouse on Dec. 17. The Oct. 23 Tattersalls Cheltenham October Sale has been cancelled. "Whilst we naturally look forward to returning to Cheltenham Racecourse as soon as restrictions allow, this solution...