COVID-19

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, with the support of the Irish European Breeders' Fund and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, will resume Barrier Trials for unraced 2- and 3-year-olds at Dundalk Stadium July 29. The Irish EBF Barrier Trials will operate under the same COVID-19 protocols in use on regular race days. Entries, which opened July 15, will close July 24. Terms & Conditions are listed at www.itm.ie. A later date for the Irish EBF Barrier Trials is scheduled for Aug. 24, pending approval.

A surge in positive Coronavirus tests among jockeys was met on Tuesday with a flurry of new movement-related restrictions at Thoroughbred tracks from coast to coast in an effort to keep the pandemic from spreading further. For the industry in general, any sizable spike in COVID-19 positives among participants will almost certainly trigger another wave of racetrack shutdowns. But for jockeys specifically, the balance of maintaining safety under pandemic precautions often comes down to treading a fine line between protecting one's health versus protecting one's livelihood. Since the end of...

In a reversal from an earlier announcement, the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby program at Mountaineer Park has been cancelled. Changes in West Virginia's COVID-19 policy and the logistics of shippers, both equine and human, prompted the change. The regular racing program, which had already been scheduled to be conducted without patrons, will not be affected.

Doug Cauthen is the managing partner at Doug Cauthen Thoroughbred Management LLC. As anyone not under a rock is noticing, COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections are on the rise across the country, and this tragedy is causing renewed shutdowns and concurrent economic damage to many businesses and families. As everyone is learning, a positive step towards avoiding rollbacks and future shutdowns is to wear a mask and socially distance, and to accept and follow protocols which are put in place to screen event attendees. In order to have a successful horse...

Ellis Park Racing & Gaming has increased track and racing protocols/testing requirements, effective immediately. All jockeys and valets must have a negative COVID-19 test result taken prior to being admitted to Ellis Park. Once a negative test is reported, they will not need additional testing unless they leave the local area, Kentucky or ride/race at another racetrack. All backside entrants, including jockeys who do leave the local area or the state of Kentucky after their initial test, will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48...

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Goffs and Tattersalls have revised the store sales dates to allow sufficient time for vendors to quarantine between the Goffs UK Summer Sale and the Irish Store sales at Goffs and Tattersalls Ireland in compliance with Irish Government quarantine requirements. A two week gap between sales in the UK and Ireland has been agreed to give adequate time for Irish vendors to return from England and quarantine before they head to Kildare for the Goffs Land Rover Sale and then to the Tattersalls Ireland Derby...

The Laytown Races Committee has cancelled the Sept. 1 Laytown race meeting at Laytown strand, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. The decision was made due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and for public health and safety reasons. All customers that have already purchased tickets and other hospitality options will receive a full refund. "Laytown Races is in a unique position as we race under temporary facilities and our racetrack on the beach is a fantastic amenity, open to the public," said Laytown Races Chairman Joe Collins. "As the health...

Trainers Aidan and Donnacha O'Brien have been fined €2,500 each and prohibited from attending race meetings in Ireland for two weeks for failing to enter The Curragh through the health screening area at a meeting last month. The pair were found to have breached coronavirus health screening protocols at the County Kildare course on June 12, which was G1 Irish 2000 Guineas day during the week racing resumed in Ireland. The matter was heard by the referrals panel of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday. A tweet from the...

Have saddle, will travel--a well-worn aphorism. But is it a wise one to emulate in this time of the coronavirus? Within the past week, Flavien Prat, Victor Espinoza, Eduard Rojas Fernandez, Luis Saez and Martin Garcia have all tested positive for the virus--a chain of events that can be traced back to Los Alamitos over the July 4 weekend, said Derek Lawson, Prat's agent. "There's no question that that's where it happened," he said, of Prat's infection occurring at the Southern California facility. But against a broader surge in coronavirus...

With the latest developments nationwide, the following Out of State restrictions will be in place at Prairie Meadows effective Friday, July 10, 2020 at 6:00pm until further notice: Entry of any horse(s) currently in Texas or Florida will be accepted if the Out of State Trainer agrees to transfer such horse to a Trainer currently stabled at Prairie Meadows Shipping arrangements of such horse(s) should be made with the understanding that no essential barn area workers from Texas or Florida will be allowed on the grounds at Prairie Meadows.

Spectators will be allowed to return to French racecourses in a limited fashion beginning on July 11, France Galop, LeTROT and the Federation Nationale des Courses Hippiques announced on Saturday. However, this decree applies only to racecourses that are not located in zones that are in a state of emergency due to COVID-19, and no more than 5,000 spectators, racing professionals and staff needed to run a race meeting combined may attend. Social distancing rules have to be observed, as well as mandatory face masks must be brought and worn...

The Black Album (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), winner of Wednesday's Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial S. at Indiana Grand, is one of the five latest supplements added to Monday's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. The French Group 2 winner earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his recent victory. He will be consigned to next week's sale as hip 177 by Bluewater Sales, agent. The latest batch of supplements are catalogued as hips 177-181. Click to view the enhanced online catalogue for the sale, featuring pedigrees, race videos, statistical...