COVID-19

Effective Wednesday, May 13, all restricted personnel accessing Woodbine's backstretch will be mandated to wear a mask or face covering as a further precautionary measure against COVID-19, Woodbine Entertainment announced Monday. The only exception to wearing a mask or face covering will be when a rider is actively breezing or actively galloping a horse, otherwise face masks must always be on and covering the nose and mouth. Jockeys will be permitted to access the Woodbine backstretch to breeze horses under strict physical distancing protocols beginning Wednesday as well.

The British government released its timeline for the potential resumption of sporting events on Monday, and in its Our Plan to Rebuild, cultural and sporting events conducted behind closed doors-like racing-are part of the second step of lifting the current coronavirus restrictions and would resume no earlier than June 1. The news was welcomed by British horseracing's executive committee comprised of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Racecourse Association, The Racehorse Owners' Association and the National Trainers Federation, who are "committed to plan for resumption on June 1st," according to...

by T.D. Thornton & Bill Finley Even before their stabling areas officially begin readmitting horses next week, Churchill Downs and Keeneland are already working in tandem to provide on-site COVID-19 testing of backstretch workers and licensed personnel who will be involved when racing resumes at Churchill May 16. A negative result will be required to gain access to both racetracks. The mandate of swab testing for all Kentucky racetrack personnel exceeds the scope of recommendations published May 7 by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Bob Elliston, Keeneland's vice president...

Lara Telfer earned the top prize of £1,500 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the G1 Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe, courtesy of Racing Breaks, concluding Racing Welfare's singing competition, the Furlong Factor. Clinching the title following her rendition of James Bay's Let It Go, Telfer was named the winner during a special live broadcast on Sky Sports Racing hosted by Luke Harvey. She will also receive a trophy donated by Inkerman London. Racing Welfare, in association with Great British Racing (GBR) and Tote and Sky Sports Racing, launched the...

The Washington Horse Racing Commission voted to approve a 44-day season for Emerald Downs Friday. Racing was originally scheduled to begin Apr. 18 and has now been approved to begin Monday, June 22. Races will be conducted every Monday and Tuesday with no fans in attendance. Horse Racing without public participation is included in Phase 3 of Governor Jay Inslee's "Safe Start Washington" plan. Upon entering Phase 4, racing will open to the public and Emerald Downs will return to a traditional weekend race schedule. A revised stakes schedule will...

Fitting into a five-phase reopening plan for the state of Indiana outlined by its governor, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission has announced four major dates to pay attention to for the reopening of the state's racetracks. The dates are as follows: May 11--Essential travel restrictions are lifted (local non-essential travel allowed). Horses currently located in Indiana will be allowed to begin moving onto the backside of both racetracks. This applies only to those trainers with horses currently located in-state. Please contact Harrah's Hoosier Park or Indiana Grand's racing office to...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance has released a document outlining best practices for North American racetracks determined to prioritize the health and safety of all participants and employees, when conducting live racing in a spectator-free environment in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The document will assist racetracks that wish to resume live racing by establishing the safest public health environment possible, while also enabling gainful employment and economic activity at a time of uncertainty for so many. These best practices are based upon the most...

Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg received provincial clearance Wednesday to open its live racing season May 25. "I'm confident we will be the first racetrack in Canada to open a live race," since the COVID-19 pandemic, the track's chief executive officer, Darren Dunn, told the CBC news outlet. Spectator-free racing will be conducted Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The season had been slated to open May 10 but got pushed back because of pandemic precautions. The meet will run until Sep. 15. Health and temperature checks will be...

The Western Regional Off Track Betting Corporation (WROTB) is facing scrutiny in upstate New York after the Investigative Post news site revealed that the state-created public corporation recently reaped $3.2 million in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) emergency funding that is supposed to aid small private businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the article, authored by Phil Gambini, WROTB is "owned by 15 counties and two cities, and [is] charged with running legalized betting operations in western and central New York. It shares its profits with those local governments...

While eager to see the return of live racing at Laurel, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Tim Keefe knows that the belt-tightening may not end any time soon. Casino revenues account for a large portion of the purse money for the Maryland tracks and its likely that the state's casinos will be closed for several more months. "It certainly is a concern and something on our minds," Keefe said. "Nearly70% of our purse revenues are derived from the casinos. With them being closed down, obviously it is a big concern...

Keeneland will offer digital inspections for all Book 1 and Book 2 yearlings in the Keeneland September Sale. Footage will be captured at the farms during the yearling preparation period and will be available online for all remote buyers, including those whose travel will be prevented by COVID-19. Keeneland will also aid consignors and breeders with yearlings in Books 3-6, who would like to photograph or video their horses. "Keeneland's award-winning Broadcast Services team will coordinate "digital inspections" for all Book 1 and Book 2 yearlings as an enhanced service...

A new program, Nourish the Backstretch, powered by Keeneland, Nourish Lexington and Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC), will provide weekly meals and groceries to stable area workers at Keeneland and The Thoroughbred Center (TTC), Keeneland announced Tuesday. More than 500 people are employed by trainers to care of horses at the two locations. Proceeds from wagers placed through Keeneland Select, Keeneland's online ADW, during May will be donated to Nourish the Backstretch. "Keeneland is forever grateful to the industry's front-line heroes, the men and women on the backstretch who are...