COVID-19

Ellis Park will reopen for Historical Horse Racing (HHR) gaming this Monday at 10 a.m. Following coronavirus safety protocols, the facility will be limited to 33% occupancy and every employee and guest will have their temperature measured before entering. Ellis Park has been closed since Mar. 16 due to the global pandemic. Gov. Andy Beshear late Thursday afternoon approved the opening of Kentucky tracks' (HHR) operations starting Monday under similar restrictions placed on restaurants. Gaming terminals available for play will be at least six feet apart, with Ellis Park reconfiguring...

The Maryland Jockey Club announced policy changes Friday at Laurel Park in response to Maryland Governor Hogan's authorization to enter into Phase 2 of the state's Roadmap to Recovery plan. Effective Saturday, June 6, a limited number of owners will be permitted to watch races from the track apron while adhering to the COVID-19 mitigation protocols already in place at the track. Owners must enter the facility at the Clockers' entrance and must display a Maryland Racing Commission badge. The MJC has requested that owners watch their horses race and...

Keeneland has released the condition book for its five-day Summer Meet at Keeneland, to be held Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12. The condition book is available online at Keeneland.com/racing or by clicking here. "We are excited to offer such a high-quality Condition Book and to have the opportunity to present a number of major graded stakes traditionally held during the Spring Meet," Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. "We thank our horsemen for their strong support of Keeneland and our racing program."   Keeneland will...

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced on Thursday that the state's four historical horse racing (HHR) facilities can re-open Monday, June 8 after having been shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) released the following statement in response: "KEEP applauds Governor Beshear's announcement that historical horse racing (HHR) facilities can reopen on June 8, 2020. KEEP commends the Governor and the horse industry for working together on this solution, which will allow the facilities to operate at one-third capacity and provide a safe environment for the...

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. SHANNON POTTER, Town and Country Farms Looking...

After Shug McGaughey saddles the likely favorite Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) in the GIII Westchester S. Saturday, he will send out on of the top choices in Belmont's GI Runhapppy Carter H. in the talented Performer (Speightstown). The Carter is typically run in April at Aqueduct, but was rescheduled and relocated due to the COVID-19 racing shutdown. It is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Graduating at second asking going six panels at this oval last June, Performer followed suit with an...

Evangeline Downs is marking its return June 5 with the first of 50 live racing nights featuring a nine-race program. The season had originally been scheduled to kick off Apr. 8. The season's highlights include Louisiana Legends Night, held July 4, as six stakes races will be run with purses totaling $360,000 and dual divisions (2-year-old colts and fillies) of the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity, contested on closing night Aug. 29. Live racing at Evangeline Downs will be conducted weekly, Wednesday through Saturday. First post will be 5:50 pm C.T....

The Thoroughbred Racing Economic indicators for the month of May released by Equibase Thursday reflected the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which halted racing in March. Including worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races, wagering was down 30.16% ($908,504,654) from May of 2019 (1,300,923,869). Other figures that showed marked decreases in 2020: • U.S. Purses - $31,971.002 (-72.39%) • U.S. Race days - 123 (-450) • U.S. Races - 1,059 (-70.99%) • U.S. Starts - 9,145 (-64.77%) Figures which showed increases over the corresponding period in 2019 included: Average Field Size,...

Lone Star Park, which kicked off its abbreviated 36-day meet May 22, released its revised stakes schedule, featuring 18 stakes worth $1.4 million. The meet continues through Aug. 2. Texas Champions Day, originally scheduled to be contested at Sam Houston Race Park Mar., but cancelled due to a blown transformer, will be hosted by Lone Star June 14. Texas Champions Day includes the Bara Lass S., Groovy S., Richard King Turf S., San Jacinto S., Spirit of Texas S., Star of Texas S. and Yellow Rose S. Three additional stakes-the...

The Irish Flat season has been extended an extra week and will end at Naas on Nov. 7, as an updated Irish fixture list was released by Horse Racing Ireland on Thursday. The revised schedule covers August through December and sees an additional 39 race meetings added in the final five months of the year restoring 48 of the 87 fixtures that were lost between the end of March and Irish racing's June 8th resumption. HRI's Director of Racing Jason Morris said, "We have worked closely with all racecourses to...

Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (The Sport Corp.), has postponed the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill until October 14-17, 2021. Originally scheduled for this October, the international three-day eventing competition has been postponed due to health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The FHOC made the decision in conjunction with the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill planning committee, its competition management partner, Fair Hill International (FHI), and additional constituents including the State of Maryland and Cecil County. "It was a very difficult decision and we are very...

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. TOMMY EASTHAM, Legacy Bloodstock The effects of...