COVID-19

The newly created Lexington-based We Are Here Initiative (WAHI) has been launched to assist Thoroughbreds that have been retired from horse racing due to financial and economic strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The non-profit organization will serve as a layover point for Thoroughbreds before being placed in an approved aftercare facility, in an effort to ease the influx of horses on aftercare and adoption organizations. With limited racing opportunities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many owners and smaller training operations were forced to retire some of...

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has given permission for the state's Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks to resume racing. According to Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Sal DeBunda, Parx will resume racing June 22. Todd Mostoller, who heads the horsemen's groups at Penn National and Presque Isle Downs, said he hopes that Penn National will start racing again June 19. He said it would take longer to start racing at Presque Isle Downs because there are not any horses currently stabled there. "We had hoped to open earlier, but, because of...

The G2 Dante S. and G3 Musidora S. will be run at York on July 9 this year, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. The two races traditionally act as Derby and Oaks trials respectively, but with the Epsom Classics taking place on July 4 that is not the case this season following various changes to the race calendar necessitated by the coronavirus shutdown. The Dante was originally due to be held on May 14, with the Musidora a day earlier. Click for the revised Flat and Jump programmes...

As the 2020 Royal Ascot meeting will take place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus from June 16-20, the plan for the Royal Ascot at Home initiative was revealed by Ascot Racecourse on Tuesday. All 36 races will be able to be viewed on ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing by racing fans, with competitions and Royal Ascot-themed challenges occurring throughout the week. In addition to the many competitions, celebrity chefs will share recipes and jockey workouts will also be posted. Sing-along celebrations will also still continue alongside the...

Round two of Racing Welfare's Best Turned Out award series will be held at Newbury on June 13, Racing Welfare announced on Tuesday. Supported by Betfair, the charity has selected the It's Not Rocket Science with MansionBet H. S. as the next race in the series and all yards with a runner are offered the chance to submit a shrot video clip or image of their preparations for the public to vote on. Voting will begin at 6 p.m. on June 12, and end at the start of the race...

The 19th annual Track Superintendents Field Day, originally scheduled for this coming Sept. 14-16, has been rescheduled for March 2021. The event will still be held at Remington Park in Oklahoma City and hosted by that track's superintendent, Bob Blackburn. The Field Day brings together track superintendents and their crews from around North America and beyond to share ideas and information about track maintenance, safety, equipment and more. Last year's event at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia attracted more than 100 track superintendents and staff from...

The #styledwiththanks charity appeal campaign, in recognition of those working on the frontline of the global COVID-19 crisis, was launched by Ascot Racecourse on Monday. The racecourse donated £100,000 to be split between four frontline charities: The NationalEmergencies Trust Relief Fund, NHS Charities Together, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund. As Royal Ascot on June 16-20 will be held behind closed doors, fans across the globe are invited to dress up as part of 'Royal Ascot at Home' campaign and wear racing hats, take a...

While many questions regarding the Coronavirus pandemic remain unanswered, and with a stock market experiencing extreme volatility, there is continued uncertainty as to what could happen in our industry over the next few years. But many people in the industry have been through such ambiguity before. We sought the advice of industry leaders who successfully made their way through the Great Recession, and we asked what they learned from it and how they will use their experiences to advance through the coming years. KERRY CAUTHEN, Four Star Sales  Looking back...

PATTY WOLFE, Patty Wolfe Media Group  If I could live the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis all over again, I would certainly make different decisions. Anyone can make money in up markets, but it takes smart strategy and courage to capitalize on the down turns. I had neither. I was nervous. I played it conservatively. I removed risk wherever I perceived it. I wanted to be safe. That pretty much shut down my creative thinking. Opportunities abound in down markets, but I missed them all, especially the ones sitting...

Sunday Racing's Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) booked her ticket to the Breeders' Cup while defeating nine other Group 1 winners in the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday. The 1600-metre feature is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to 2018 Japanese Horse of the Year and 1-5 favourite Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who was slowly away. 2019 victor Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) was third. Made an 11-1...

While many questions regarding the Coronavirus pandemic remain unanswered, and with a stock market experiencing extreme volatility, there is continued uncertainty as to what could happen in our industry over the next few years. But many people in the industry have been through such ambiguity before. We sought the advice of industry leaders who successfully made their way through the Great Recession, and we asked what they learned from it and how they will use their experiences to advance through the coming years. DONALD LITTLE JR, Centennial Farms Our partnership...

With Louisiana moving into Phase 2, Louisiana Downs will allow spectators as live racing kicks off Saturday. Patrons will be required to enter via a specially marked designated entrance and temperature checks will be conducted. Face masks are not required, but recommended. Only trainers, grooms and jockeys will be permitted in the saddling paddock and no more than six individuals will be allowed in the winner's circle following their race, based on social distancing recommendations. "We have been in daily communication with the Governor's office and were hopeful that we...