Jockeys refuse to ride, tracks close or on pause as horse racing deals with COVID-19
While most all other sports were shutting down last week, horse racing devised a way to keep going. Tracks continued to run races, just without spectators in the stands. Now, however, that idea has taken a few hits.
The New York Racing Association announced Thursday that it was suspending racing at Aqueduct indefinitely after a stable worker at Belmont Park tested positive for the coronavirus. The Daily Racing Form was first to report the closure.
“A backstretch worker who lives and works at Belmont Park tested positive this morning for the coronavirus,” said the track in a press release. “Following NYRA’s Preparedness and Response Plan, the worker has been quarantined since developing symptoms the morning of Friday, March 13. His roommate was also quarantined at that time.”
On Thursday night, Gulfstream Park announced it was suspending racing on Friday so that it could increase safety protocols. Racing is to resume Saturday.
“At Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows, the health, safety and welfare of every person and every horse in our community is our top priority,” the track said in a press release. “With that in mind, Gulfstream Park will suspend racing for one day, Friday, to update its protocols in a number of areas, including the Jockeys’ Room. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday.”
The move came after a pair of high-profile jockeys, Rajiv Maragh and Irad Ortiz, announced they would stop riding while the coronavirus threat continues.
Also on Thursday, Sean Payton, head coach of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Last Saturday, Payton was at Oaklawn Park for the running of the Rebel Stakes. He also presented the trophy in the winner’s circle after the Azeri Stakes.
Trainer Tom Amoss announced that he was going into self-quarantine after having contact with Payton at Oaklawn. Amoss won last year’s Kentucky Oaks with Serengeti Empress.
Amoss tweeted Thursday, “Having just found out that Sean Payton tested positive for the Coronavirus & being with him Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn, I am self quarantining immediately and will get tested at the earliest possible time. I feel great and have no symptoms. Wishing Coach a fast recovery.”
Turfway Park did race on Thursday night. It is to continue racing on Friday and Saturday. Its meet concludes March 28.
The Louisiana Derby is still scheduled for Saturday at the Fair Grounds.
In other news, trainer Aidan O’Brien announced Thursday that his horses will not travel from Europe to the UAE for the Dubai World Cup on March 28 because of coronavirus concerns.
Keeneland announced this week that it is canceling its spring meet, which was scheduled to begin on April 2. Keeneland at first announced it would hold racing without spectators from April 2 through April 11, but later decided to cancel the entire meet.
Churchill Downs announced Tuesday that the Kentucky Derby would be postponed from May 2 to Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved that plan on Thursday.
Update: Laurel Park has suspended racing after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a “Maryland Unites” initiative. According to the Paulick Report, “The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association distributed news of the shutdown on Friday morning on its text message alert system. The move came less than 24 hours after protocols were tightened that would, among other things, block the shipment of horses into Laurel from anywhere other than the Maryland Jockey Club’s other Thoroughbred track, Pimlico Race Course.”
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 8:07 AM.
