Coronavirus Update - state by state
/By Bill Heller
As tracks continue to juggle their schedules regarding training and upcoming meets, we’ve put together a snapshot of what is happening across different racing jurisdictions as well as provide website links for horsemen who need support. Nationally, the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation was set up to help backstretch workers. Working with the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, the Safety Net Foundation is focusing on the immediate need of stocking food pantries at racetracks around the country. Donations are tax deductible and can be made at tjcfoundation.org/donate. Because of the coronavirus, checks are not being accepted. On April 17, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) issued suggested guidelines for all tracks. “We’re not trying to tell government health officials and racing commissions what to do,” Eric Hamelback, CEO of the NHBPA, said in a release. “We hope it provides a path forward.” The NHBPA disclaims any liability for use of those guidelines, which can be found in its entirety on the NHBPA website: www.nationalhbpa.com. Among the guidelines:
• To limit exposure and prevent the spread of germs and disease, no visitors or guests will be allowed to access the backside, racetrack, track aprons, paddocks or jockeys’ room. Nonessential personnel are prohibited on the grounds.
• There must be multiple health check stations at every accessible gate/entry for the stable area. Health check stations will take temperatures of all people and note any symptoms of illness before granting access. A log will be kept of all people granted access. Before authorized personnel arrive, all must have had their temperatures taken.
• Trainers are responsible and accountable for ensuring all their employees have had their temperatures monitored and approved.
• Racetrack management is accountable for ensuring all their employees have had their temperatures taken and approved.
• All incoming van drivers not showing symptoms of illness must wear a mask, scarf or bandana over their nose and mouth and wear gloves to pick up or drop off horses. Drivers and attendants must have minimal contact with any stable personnel.
• All pony personnel must wear a mask, scarf or bandana over their nose and mouth and gloves when in contact with jockeys.
• Gate crew workers must wear a mask, scarf or bandana over their nose and mouth and wear gloves when loading horses in the starting gate. They will have no contact with any other personnel unless it’s in the best interest of safety.
• No owners, media or fans will be allowed. There will be no guests with no exceptions.
• All personnel should observe social distancing.
• All jockeys and essential personnel in the jockeys’ room, including valets and the clerk of scales, will have their temperatures monitored daily. Anyone showing any signs of illness must be denied access. All saunas and extraneous facilities must be closed. Showers can remain open but will be sanitized frequently throughout the day.
• All jockeys are required to wear riding gloves.
• The guidelines include several suggested cleaning and hygiene protocols.
Even the long trip to normalcy begins with slow steps. Additionally, the National Thoroughbred Racetrack Association has a wealth of information for horsemen at its website, www.NTRA.com.
HERE’S THE LATEST INFORMATION, STATE BY STATE:
ARIZONA Turf Paradise’s meet, which was scheduled to conclude on May 3, ended on March 14. The backstretch has remained open with over 700 horses on site. Horses are currently able to remain in situ until mid-May, but no training is permitted on the track.
ARKANSAS See “Last Five Standing” article about Oaklawn Park.
CALIFORNIA Racing at both Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields ended abruptly on March 17 and April 9, respectively by their respective county mandates. Santa Anita has now issued a conditions book (click here). Racing resumed at Santa Anita on May 15 under strict protocols, including the exclusion of spectators.
Del Mar’s meet is scheduled from July 18 through September 7. The San Diego County Fair, which was supposed to run from June 5 through July 5, was canceled. Los Alamitos, which is currently conducting Quarter Horse racing, will race Thoroughbreds from June 26 through July 5.
Golden Gate Fields is set to resume racing (without spectators) on May 14. A revised conditions book and stakes schedule will be released over the coming days with the signature $250,00 San Francisco Mile (Gr.3 turf), moved to the closing day - June 14.
Sanitising according to the guidelines at Santa Anita.
DELAWARE Delaware Park’s meet was scheduled to run from May 27 through October 31.
The first day of the meet has been delayed by three weeks to Wednesday, June 17, and the meet will finish on Saturday, Oct. 17.
FLORIDA See “Last Five Standing” article about Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
Tampa Bay Downs has subsequently applied for dates in June, looking to race on a Monday / Wednesday schedule: June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and 24. Tampa would then race again on June 30 and July 1 with the June 30 date being the first day of the track's normal two-day summer festival of racing.
ILLINOIS On April 23, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order through the end of May. Arlington Park, which was supposed to open on May 1, is now hoping to run a 30 day meet during August and September.
INDIANA Racetracks have a reopening plan that includes additional protocols and procedures that all participants will be asked to abide by to ensure everyone’s health and safety as these stages are rolled out. Both racetracks will be posting those protocols on their website.
May 11 – Essential travel restrictions were lifted (local non-essential travel allowed). Horses currently located in Indiana were 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 schedule your arrival date.
May 24 – No travel restrictions; horses originating from out-of-state are allowed. Horses currently located outside of Indiana will be allowed to begin moving onto the backside of both racetracks. This applies to those trainers with horses originating from out of state. Please contact Harrah’s Hoosier Park or Indiana Grand’s racing office to schedule your arrival date.
June 14 - Pari-mutuel racing allowed to commence – spectator free.
July 4 – Pari-mutuel racing and County and State fair racing anticipated to begin (with spectators) should there be no change in the ‘Back on Track Indiana’ roadmap.
Governor Holcomb’s ‘Back on Track Indiana’ roadmap includes four guiding principles the state of Indiana will utilize to determine if the stages outlined continue to move forward. Participants should be aware that if these principles are not met, the stages may be paused, or we may need to return to an earlier stage. Details regarding the principles can be found at www.backontrack.in.gov
“Our industry leaders, from racetrack management, horsemen associations and IHRC staff have been working diligently to advocate for our racing industry to get us to this point. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding as we move forward and navigate through this reopening process,” stated Deena Pitman, Indiana Horse Racing Commission Executive Director.
Indiana Grand are planning to run a 86 day thoroughbred meet - from June 15 through November 18. Racing will take place from Monday to Thursday.
Indiana Grand has issued a revised condition book and stakes schedule for the 2020 season.
IOWA Prairie Meadows, which had a Thoroughbred only meet from May 1 to June 8 and a mixed Thoroughbred/ Quarter Horse meet from June 12 through September 26, has temporarily ceased operations. But is now looking to open again at some point between June 15 and July 1 and to reopen its backside some three weeks before racing begins.
KENTUCKY Keeneland dealt with the pandemic early and efficiently. Training has continued under specific protocols. Checkpoints have been set up at all gates. Individuals with a temperature higher than 100.5 degrees are not admitted. They also must be showing no symptoms of the coronavirus. The track kitchen has extended its hours to 6 p.m.
On May 22, Keeneland submitted a request to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s Race Dates Committee for a five-day Summer Meet, to be held Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12. Under the current safety protocols, the Summer Meet would be held without spectators.
Churchill Downs’ owned Turfway Park closed its winter meet early on March 28, losing three race dates.
Churchill Downs has postponed the running of the 146th Kentucky Derby from the first Saturday in May (May 2) to the first Saturday in September (September 5).
On May 12, Churchill Downs released a preliminary list of races that could be used for the extension of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve,” pending agreeable race placement by the host tracks.
Additionally, the first race in the extended series, the $150,000 Matt Winn (Grade III) on May 23 at Churchill Downs, will have Top 4 points raised from the previously announced 10-4-2-1 to 50-20-10-5.
Mike Ziegler
“Based on measured interest from horsemen and limited racing opportunities for 3-year-olds across the country, the Matt Winn at the home of the Kentucky Derby appears to be the lone race in May on the national calendar for horsemen to use as a prep to possible important stakes engagements in mid-to-late June,” said Mike Ziegler, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s Executive Director of Racing. “For that reason, we’re pleased to be able to fill the void and raise the significance of the Matt Winn.”
The other two legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown – the Preakness (GI) and Belmont (GI) – have yet to be rescheduled. Should those races be scheduled in advance of the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby, points to the Top 4 finishers will be worth 150-60-30-15.
“We’re in the midst of an unprecedented year, and this year’s Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown will be one of the most memorable of our lifetimes,”
Ziegler said. “There are a lot of moving parts and there are still a lot of unanswered questions, including who will be running and when. We’ve had great conversations with our partner racetracks and believe we’ve identified the best extension to a most unique Road to the Kentucky Derby. This will continue to evolve, including date placement, as host tracks firm up their plans.”
The following races, separated by region, have been added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Once the New York Racing Association finalizes their stakes schedules, eligible races could be added to the series:
· East: Haskell (100-40-20-10) and Pegasus (20-8-4-2) at Monmouth Park.
· Midwest: Matt Winn (50-20-10-5); Indiana Derby (20-8-4-2); Blue Grass (100-40-20-10); and Ellis Park Derby (50-20-10-5).
· West: Santa Anita Derby (100-40-20-10); Los Alamitos Derby (20-8-4-2); and Del Mar’s Shared Belief (50-20-10-5).
Because this is an unprecedented and fluid situation, all races are subject to change and events could be added or removed. Additionally, the point values for each race will be subject to readjustment based on their proximity to all Triple Crown races.
Additionally, the following races, separated by region, have been added to the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Once the New York Racing Association finalizes their stakes schedules, eligible races could be added to the series:
- East: Delaware Oaks (50-20-10-5) and Monmouth Oaks (50-20-10-5).
- Midwest: Dogwood (20-8-4-2); Indiana Oaks (20-8-4-2); Ashland (100-40-20-10); and Beaumont (20-8-4-2).
- West: Santa Anita Oaks (100-40-20-10).
A phased, systematic and controlled return of horses and their personnel to the stable areas at Churchill Downs, started on Monday, May 11.
A revised stakes schedule and condition book for the schedule of races is now available - click here to access.
Ellis Park is still scheduled to open on June 28 and concludes September 6. To help horsemen, the Kentucky Equine Economic Advocate (KEEP) has a link to information about services at https://horseswork.com/covid-19-resources.
Information is available regarding contacts, resources, unemployment insurance, latest news and pending legislation. There is also a link to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce about who’s hiring, resources for employers and advice for small businesses concerning the Disaster Loan Program.
As far as breeding goes, Gray Lyster, president of the Consignors Breeders Association (CBA) in Lexington, said, “We actually had a board meeting online. We’re wondering about farms and sales. What are public sales going to look like in the future? Up to $200 million in two-year-old sales need to happen. That’s at the top of the list.” Lyster said he advised CBA membership “to get familiar with video cameras. Nobody knows where we’re going to be. Things seem to be changing by the day, or by the minute.” Lyster said at farms, vets are wearing masks 100 percent of the time, social distancing is practiced, and contact is being limited whenever possible. “We’ve stopped nonessential work, be it tree trimming or adding a barn,” he said. “Elective surgeries are not being done. But the breeding season has gone on.”
Gray Lyster, president of the Consignors Breeders Association (CBA).
LOUISIANA As of April 14, all four tracks: Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs and Louisiana Downs are currently closed for racing. Fair Grounds, which began its traditional winter meet on Thanksgiving Day, lost six racing days before its scheduled closing March 29 because of the pandemic. The track remains open for training.
On May 5, Louisiana Downs was given clearance by the Louisiana State Racing Commission during a May Thoroughbred meet June 6 and continue until Sept. 23. The sole graded race to be run at the meet (Super Derby Gr. 3) has been cancelled with the purse money being redistributed to overnight races.
Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs and Louisiana Downs were closed but then ordered to reopen for training on April 10 by Judge Sharon Wilson in-accordance with an emergency order issued by the Louisiana State Racing Commission. Boyd Gaming, which owns Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs, filed a temporary restraining order against the LSRC order citing the pandemic.
Boyd argued that opening their facilities posed “a significant risk that by calling back their employees back to work, they may be exposed to the coronavirus and could become sick or die.” Boyd was not allowing training on its two tracks. According to Keith Smith—president and CEO of Boyd Gaming Corporation—Boyd closed all of its 29 properties in 10 states over the course of six days because of the pandemic.
On May 15 the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and
Protective Association issued a statement to say that Boyd Gaming were looking at June 5 as the new opening day, with fifty racing days applied for. Racing would be held on a Wednesday to Saturday schedule.
MARYLAND On the order of the Maryland governor, Laurel Park’s meet, which began February 15, ended on March 15.
On May 16 it was confirmed by Belinda Stronach that this years Preakness Stakes would run at Pimlico on October 3.
“All of us are hopeful that racing can resume, even without fans if necessary,” Cricket Goodall of the Maryland Thoroughbred Breeders Association said. “Laurel was racing for two weeks without fans when the governor really closed everything.” Legislation, which would greatly enhance racing at both Laurel Park and Pimlico, passed earlier this year. “It still needs to be signed by the governor,” Goodall said. “It would be huge. You’re going to have essentially brand-new facilities. I think it will be a huge boon for racing and breeding.”
On May 8 Laurel Park released a Conditions Book for the first 15 days of the meet but have yet to announce when the first day back will be. The Conditions Book can be viewed by following this link
MINNESOTA Canterbury Park opened its stable area May 8. A revised racing schedule will be announced shortly. Those wishing to ship to Canterbury must be pre-approved for entry and schedule arrival times for their horses. On May 13 Canterbury Park submitted a revised racing plan to the Minnesota Racing Commission, seeking a 52-day meet to begin June 10 and finishing on Sept. 9. The plan shows for racing to be held on a Monday to Thursday schedule.
NEBRASKA See “Last Five Standing” article about Fonner Park.
Fonner Park
NEW JERSEY Monmouth Park’s 56 day meet has been trimmed to 36 dates, and opening day has been delayed from May 2 to July 3. The barn area will open June 1. The Monmouth-at-Meadowlands this fall has been cut from 19 days to 15. “The few tracks that are open are doing good business, and I wish we were open. But the bottom line is that this is a very scary pandemic, and it could cause a lot of people to not only get sick, but die; so we have to be serious about it,” Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Monmouth Park, told The Blood-Horse April 21.
NEW MEXICO Sunland Park closed on March 16 and postponed the Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks. Albuquerque Downs is temporarily closed. Its Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet is scheduled to run from July 17 through September 2. Meanwhile, Ruidoso Downs is still scheduled to open on May 22, with the first horses allowed to ship in from the first week in May. Racing will be conducted on a mainly Saturday and Sunday schedule, through September 7.
NEW YORK On May 16 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that all racetracks in the state can resume racing June 1. Belmont Park will reopen on June 3 and will race for 25 days. Racing will be held on a Thursday to Sunday schedule with closing day on July 12.
The 2020 running of the Belmont Stakes will be on June 20 over a revised distance of one mile and one eighth. A revised stakes schedule has now been published.
Specifically, NYRA will clean all high-touch areas and facilities; post coronavirus updates in English and Spanish; allow entry through Gate 6 only with health testing including temperature taking; not allow shippers except those with extenuating circumstances approved by NYRA; allow the Morning Line cafe and the track kitchen to continue to offer grab-and-go options, and the clockers’ stand will be limited to only essentially safety personnel. Martin Zapata, a 63-year-old groom for trainer Tom Morley, died of the coronavirus on April 7. “Martin was a beloved member of our team for the past two years who always greeted you at the door with a huge smile,” Morley said. “He’ll be sorely missed by all those in the New York racing community.” Morley started a Gofundme project in Zapata’s memory.
New York’s Aqueduct Racetrack is serving as a temporary hospital amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
NYRA still plans to begin the Saratoga meet July 14, but it has delayed the opening of the Oklahoma Training Track and Saratoga stabling area, which were scheduled to open April 15, due to the coronavirus. NYRA is working with the New York State Gaming Commission and public health agencies to determine an appropriate date to safely open the Oklahoma for training and stabling.
The delay does not impact the start of the Saratoga racing season, which is scheduled to begin July 16 and run through September 7. “While we are monitoring the current conditions and consulting with the New York State Department of Health, we are planning for Saratoga to open as scheduled and run in its entirety across the 40-day meet,” NYRA Spokesperson Pat McKenna said. “We are working in earnest each and every day to prepare for the 2020 Saratoga season.”
In the interim, with no live racing in New York, the New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America has launched a gift drive for its food pantry that will benefit backstretch workers. Donations through June 6 will be matched up to $25,000 by a member of the NYRA Board of Directors. The Chaplaincy is accepting both monetary and food donations. For more information about what to donate and the drop-off location, contact info@rtcany.org or text 516-428-5267. On April 15, the Backstretch Employee Service Team of New York (BEST) is seeking additional donations. BEST operates the BEST Health Center on the Belmont Park backstretch. BEST has a staff of 15 and numerous volunteers. They provide backstretch workers free health care, life insurance, drug and mental health counseling, as well as food and clothing. Donations can be made via www.bestbackstretch.org/ donate.
On April 21, NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association announced they will match the per-start aftercare contribution by New York owners to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) through the end of the canceled Aqueduct spring meet. New York owners donate $10 per start to the TAA, and NYRA matches that donation. That will amount to a $24,000 donation to the TAA.
Meanwhile, Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y., have announced that they are planning to open for training on June 1 and to resume live racing July 13. The meet is scheduled to end November 25.
Finger Lakes HBPA Executive Director Austin Reed said he’s hopeful the track can still run a meet of 85 to 90 days. In the absence of live racing, the Finger Lakes HBPA, in conjunction with racetrack management, will send out checks of $25 to trainers for every start they made during the 2019 Finger Lakes meet and checks of $100 to owners for every start they made during the 2019 meet. The estimated cost of $827,000 will be funded through the canceled race days this year and a reduced stakes program. “It’s designed to be a shot in the arm for our trainers and owners,” Finger Lakes HBPA President Chris Vaccaro told Horse Racing Nation April 21. “Our horsemen continue to feed and take care of their horses with no way to earn income to defray the cost, adding to their financial hardship.”
OHIO Belterra Park suspended its April 24th opener until June 4. Horses that are based in Kentucky and Ohio can begin shipping in the from May 30. The first day of training on track will be June 1, from then, horses from other states can also begin shipping into the stable area.
JACK Thistledown has slated its first day or racing for June 4. The meet will last through October 22 with racing conducted on on Monday to Thursday schedule.
Mahoning Valley closed on March 20 but the backstretch has remained open. With the reopening of both Belterra Park and Thistledown, remaining horses at Mahoning Valley must vacate the track by May 31.
OKLAHOMA See “Last Five Standing” article about Will Rogers Downs.
PENNSYLVANIA On April 18, a Twitter message from Toss Mostoller (executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association) said that Churchill Downs-owned Presque Isle Downs, whose meet was scheduled to run from May 11 to October 22, will open its backstretch on May 15 and open its season on June 8. If new information arises to change that schedule, the meet will open on June 22. Parx, which operates year round, closed until further notice. Penn National, which operates year round, is temporarily closed.
TEXAS Lone Star Park, which was supposed to open April 16, planned to reopen the backstretch in the first week of May. Training on track will be permitted, yet there is no date set for racing to start up again. On May 18 Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, issued an executive order which will permit the reopening of the state's racing from May 22.
On March 20, Sam Houston Race Park canceled the final four days of its Thoroughbred meet. It also canceled its Quarter Horse meet that had been slated to begin April 10.
VIRGINIA The governor has ordered a lockdown through June 10. Colonial Downs meet is scheduled from July 23 through August 29. “As of now, we’re going forward with that plan,” Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing at Colonial Downs, said. “The stable area is scheduled to open July 9. We’ll be following all state and federal guidelines and protocols. We’ll be putting stall applications on our website: www.colonialdowns.com. Everything will be on there. It’s a long way off. Fingers crossed for everything.” Debbie Easter, executive director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and president of the Virginia Equine Alliance, said, “For us, just like everyone else, I worry about the fund for our breeders and owner awards that are distributed in the Mid-Atlantic. Hopefully, we’re going to run.”
WASHINGTON Emerald Downs will reopen on June 22, initially running on Monday and Tuesday schedule and when spectators are allowed, it will revert to a more traditional Friday to Sunday schedule. Closing day will be October 4. The 85th running of the Longacres Mile is to be run on September 13,
WEST VIRGINIA Both Charles Town and Mountaineer Park have been cleared to resume racing. On May 14, Charles Town Races restarted their meet and was also able to establish a new track record for the largest non-Charles Town Classic day handle in track history with $4,330,203 being wagered over the course of the nine race program.
The all-sources total for Charles Town’s first day back represents the fifth largest handle in the track’s near 87-year history trailing only the Charles Town Classic events held in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.
“After the hard work of so many at the track, within the HBPA and at the state level, we’re incredibly proud to be able to re-establish racing for our community and our horseplayers”, said Charles Town’s Vice President of Racing & Sports Operations, Erich Zimny. “There was unquestionably a heightened morale at our property tonight, which is a very welcomed sight during such a difficult time.”
CANADA
ONTARIO Woodbine’s opener on April 18 was canceled and will now be held on either June 6.
The 161st Queen’s Plate will now run on September 12 and the The Woodbine Oaks and The Plate Trial are pencilled in to be run on August 15.
There is limited training for the 1,100 Thoroughbreds stabled at Woodbine and horses have been able to breeze since May 1. Timed workouts are expected to available from the middle of the month. Horsemen can get relief to get through this period of non-racing through the Ontario Racing Commission’s agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, which provides $1,500 per month for Ontario Thoroughbreds in training. Two-year-olds are included as of June 1. Hastings Race Course in Vancouver, British Columbia, re-opened May 1 for stabling and training.
Jim Lawson – Woodbine https://www.ustream.tv/embed/recorded/126367763
WINNIPEG Assiniboia Downs will open its live racing season May 25. Racing without will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The meet is scheduled to finish on September 15.
