COVID-19

Churchill Downs Incorporated will make an announcement regarding the timing of 146th GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. ET, the company announced Monday. Media, investors and other interested parties may listen to the teleconference by calling (877) 372-0878 and entering the conference ID number 1848836 at least 10 minutes before the appointed time. International callers should dial (253) 237-1169. The Oaks and Derby are scheduled to be run May 1 and 2, respectively, but the feasibility of running them has come into question in...

by Brian DiDonato & Steve Sherack The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company will hold its two-day March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Tuesday and Wednesday amid unprecedented circumstances as the nation and world grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused most major events to be canceled or postponed and racing conducted without spectators, if at all. Add to that a plummeting stock market--circuit breakers were again triggered as trade opened Monday despite the Federal Reserve announcing Sunday evening that it would slash interest rates to 0% and launch a $700-billion quantitative...

Monmouth Park Racetrack will close for simulcasting and sports wagering beginning at 8 p.m. Monday, Mar. 16, as the State of New Jersey and the rest of the country continue to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Wagering will continue as normal on 4NJBets.com as well as online sports betting apps. In addition, based on the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control to limit public gatherings to fewer than 50 people, Monmouth Park will postpone its opening day originally scheduled for May 2, 2020 until...

Tampa Bay Downs is set to join the growing number of Thoroughbred tracks that are conducting racing without spectators during Wednesday's eight-race card, which begins at 12:40 p.m. The decision to limit attendance to horsemen, jockeys, essential staff, state-licensed officials and accredited media for the foreseeable future was made in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. Tracks in Florida, California, New York, Kentucky, Arkansas and Texas are racing without patrons. It was also announced that the Mar. 28 G1 Dubai World Cup card will be run without spectators. Keeneland's spring...

Keeneland issued the following release Sunday afternoon: Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our horsemen, staff and visitors with regard to COVID-19, Keeneland has announced the following restrictions regarding access to its grounds and stable areas: Beginning Monday, Mar. 16, Keeneland will be closed to all non-essential guests and horsemen. Only essential employees, owners, trainers, veterinarians, blacksmiths and stable workers will be allowed entry. Screening checkpoints will be set up at Gates 1, 2, 3 and at the Rice Road barn entrance to monitor...

Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and Winner's Circle Race, Sports, Pub locations in Downtown Indianapolis, New Haven and Clarksville, Indiana will be closing for at least 14 days beginning at 6:00 a.m. Monday. parent company Caesars Entertainment announced. The Indiana Gaming and Indiana Horse Racing Commissions also announced that all licensed gaming and racing operations in Indiana will close at 6:00 a.m. Monday. "There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Caesars Entertainment's Indiana gaming and racing properties to date. This decision is...

Derby City Gaming, the Churchill Downs-owned casino in Louisville, as well as simulcasting at Churchill Downs itself, will close for 14 days in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Sunday. In a statement released by Churchill, the company said, "In the best interest of our guests, employees and the community around us amid public health concerns regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, Derby City Gaming and Churchill Downs Racetrack simulcasting has made the difficult decision to voluntarily suspend operations, effective Sunday, Mar. 15 at midnight, for 14 days. There...

Sunland Park in New Mexico has become the latest racetrack to shutter indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic--the GIII Sunland Derby, which offered qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby and was scheduled for next Sunday, will not be run. The announcement came within minutes of the release of an overnight for the would-be Sunland Derby card. "Yesterday afternoon we received a call at about 12:30 from [Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham]'s office," Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino GM Rick Baugh said in a video posted on twitter Sunday by Felix...

In light of the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has issued an emergency order to close all Maryland casinos, racetracks, and simulcast betting facilities to the general public indefinitely. "This situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically," Hogan said. "These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe." The emergency order, which takes effect at midnight Monday, affects Thoroughbred facilities Laurel, Pimlico and Timonium and harness tracks Rosecroft...

Churchill Downs issued the following statement regarding COVID-19 and the status of the GI Kentucky Derby Saturday afternoon. "During times of uncertainty, our traditions provide a great sense of comfort. We realize, that for many of you, the Kentucky Derby is a treasured annual tradition, and for others, a bucket-list experience. The time-honored traditions of the Kentucky Derby are as much about the fans as the race itself. We recognize that the impact of this iconic event extends well beyond the historic racetrack of Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is...

All-sources handle rose sharply Friday at Aqueduct compared to the second Friday in March last year as the track held races without spectators due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A total of $4,614,051 was bet on a nine-race card, compared to $3,585,745 on Friday, Mar. 8, which was also a nine-race card. "The health and safety of employees, fans, horsemen and the backstretch community is paramount," said NYRA's Patrick McKenna in a statement sent to TDN Friday evening. "In addition to closing Aqueduct to all fans, we have taken additional steps...

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company reiterated its decision to continue on with its March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, amid COVID-19 concerns which have prompted Keeneland to cancel its April 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale scheduled for Apr. 7 and Fasig-Tipton to cancel its Apr. 1 Gulfstream Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training. "We are moving forward with the sale," confirmed OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski Friday evening shortly after a meeting of shareholders. "We have been listening to...