COVID-19
Colonial Downs Group, which includes the Virginia racetrack that reopened last summer and Rosie's Gaming Emporiums at three other in-state locations, announced Wednesday that it will transition its closed restaurants to provide 20,000 free "grab and go" meals for police officers, doctors, nurses, firefighters, grocery store employees and other workers on the "front lines" of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The company closed its facilities on Mar. 15. The meals will be provided starting Apr, 1, with day-before ordering requested. Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to sign...
The New York Racing Association has officially suspended live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack through at least Apr. 5 due to the continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic in New York. As a result, the GII Wood Memorial S., previously slated for Apr. 4 at Aqueduct, has been postponed to a date yet to be determined. A decision regarding the other Apr. 4 stakes, including the GI Carter H., will also be made at a later date. "While this decision is necessary, NYRA is working hard to determine when we can...
The challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic have led to new protocols for Thoroughbred breeding to minimize risk of infection among farm staff and related personnel charged with transporting and handling horses. The Jockey Club recommends that all North American, Central American, and Caribbean Thoroughbred stud farm operations at a minimum follow guidelines from the Kentucky Department of Ag Guidelines for COVID-19: Breeding Shed Activity issued by E.S. "Rusty" Ford from the Office of the State Veterinarian, Kentucky Department of Agriculture. With vans and individuals visiting multiple facilities each day...
Churchill Downs Inc. will delay the reopening of its stable areas at both Churchill Downs Racetrack and the auxiliary training center Trackside until Tuesday, April 14. The decision was made after ongoing consultation with public health officials amid public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Churchill Downs' stable areas have been closed since Dec. 31 for annual winter renovations and were originally scheduled to reopen Tuesday, March 17. "Together, we are in the midst of an unprecedented global health crisis and every tough decision we make is made with the...
The Ocala Breeders' Sale Company has rescheduled its 2020 Spring and June Sales of 2-Year-Olds in Training in response to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The Spring Sale, originally scheduled for Apr. 21-24, will now be held June 9-12. The June Sale, which was slated for June 10-12 will now be held July 14-17. The Spring Sale under tack show will be May 31-June 6 and the June under tack show will be July 6-11. The Spring Sale catalog will stay as is and entries will be accepted from the June...
Horse racing in South Africa has been temporarily suspended from Mar. 27 to Apr. 16, after a presidential directive was issued on Monday. The upcoming suspension is part of a three-week coronavirus lockdown, as cases in that country hit 554 on Tuesday.
All sporting events in Ireland have been suspended following an announcement from the Irish Government. Racing has been continuing to stage meetings behind closed doors since Mar. 13, as countries around the world try to limit the spread of the coronavirus. However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced on Tuesday that all sporting events, even those without spectators, would be cancelled. Racing in Britain was suspended from last Wednesday, with no action anticipated before May 1 at the earliest. Racing had been due to take place at Dundalk on Wednesday. The Board...
After the latest batch of coronavirus restrictions on Monday evening, the Tattersalls offices in Newmarket will remain closed, the sales company announced on Tuesday morning. The staff of Tattersalls, Tattersalls Ascot and Tattersalls Cheltenham are all working from home and are available via email or their mobile phones. This policy will remain under constant review and Tattersalls will continue to follow the latest government guidelines to safeguard the best interests of our clients and all employed by Tattersalls.
NETFLIX, ANYONE? In these days of self-isolation, the need to find your next great t.v. series or movie is greater than ever. We asked some industry folks what they're watching these days, and for their top recommendations to last us until we can leave our homes again. Pull up a couch! ANNE ARCHER HINKLE I just watched Shawshank Redemption the other night. It's on Netflix right now. It's a classic, timeless movie that celebrates friendship and perseverance - a perfect film for the current situation! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hB3S9bIaco DAVID ANDERSON I am...
One thing that the French trainers seem to have in common at present is their opinion that racing will not resume in mid-April. Claude Beniada spoke to Pascal Bary and he was adamant that the wait for racing action will be a lot longer than that. CB: How have the recent measures affected your daily schedule? PB: "They haven't really. We can continue to train the horses and in that regard not much has changed. The staff is there, no one is missing, the tracks are very well maintained and...
The virus is not a joke. The virus does not just infect old people. The virus is not like the flu. Most of the youth around the world is missing the point. The virus will make you want to die if it doesn't kill you first. On Monday (3/18) my wife said to me in the middle of the night, "What's wrong with you? You're gasping for air." My response was, "I think I have a chest cold developing." It felt like there was phlegm stuck in my chest. On...
We are in the midst of a global pandemic unprecedented in modern times. The global stock market is plummeting. Lives are being lost before their time right across the globe, numbers compounding by the day. A trivial question emerges--but an acutely important one for those in our industry--who is going to buy our horses? The global financial crisis saw yearling prices drop more than 40% overnight. It's not unrealistic to see a similar drop this year and we need to face that reality now, not later. However, there is a...