Just announced. Todays card cancelled. No idea where horses, 750 backside workers and trainers will go if anywhere. Stay tuned.
Related development. Aqueduct is the site of a just announced Field Hospital so if anybody is still stabling there or living on the backside, they will need to move.
That actually happened yesterday–just before racing was about to start. The Health Department shut them down. They must be under the impression that you can just send everyone home and the horses will take care of themselves.
Golden Gate Fields and Los Al are still racing. SA was covered under an LA County directive.
Yesterday shortly after the card was cancelled, TVG talked to Christina Blacker whose husband is Dan Blacker, a trainer at SA. She talked about all the precautions that SA had been taking to keep the cards going… In the afternoons, only trainer + 1 + jockey were allowed near the horse (unless horse is a real PITA to saddle). Saddling not taking place in the usual paddock location. Jocks are not required to use the jocks room to get ready.
About 1500 horses (IIRC from my post yesterday in the other thread) on the backstretch. Most of the backstretch workers live in dorms on the backstretch. It’s a pretty closed community.
And yes, those horses need to be cared for. Don’t think Los Al can absorb them all. Not sure if San Luis Rey could take them. They need food, water and exercise 
If it is like most tracks, the racing is shut down, the horses and their caretakers can stay. Pompano tried to throw everyone of the backstretch, the backlash made them allow the horses and caretakers to stay.
Our local track here in Ontario has closed for racing and we’re still allowed on the backstretch and courtesy of one of the trainers, the track is still open for jogging, which is a good thing since there isn’t much turnout.
Gulfstream ran today. Tiz The Law won the Fla Derby handily
Yes, and he was the most impressive 3 yo so far. He could have run another lap.
Back to SA, they had a representative from Stronach on who said he was optimistic they could resume and that they were in discussions about the ramifications of shutting down with no notice and not considering any options. or the fact SA has had zero cases.
JMO but think outside is safer, even if sun doesn’t kill it, it gets people out of tightly packed quarters and into fresh air. Don’t see any reason they should not run without spectators.
IMO, the shutdown was mandated by LA County Health Department. Would appear to me that the decision was driven by people, both HD and general citizens, who don’t understand racing and racetracks. Public pressure for closure I’m sure as just about every other sport has been shut down completely. (NASCAR and Fox Sports are going to be broadcasting a 1 hour virtual race today :eek: ).
Horses are not cars and can’t just be parked in a garage as we all know. Unless you’re involved in the horse and/or racing business, you don’t understand how many people are needed to care for 1500 horses. Most people don’t even know how many horses are on the backstretch at SA much less what is required to care for a stalled, fit 1000lb athlete.
As I commented from a BH article on the other thread, Gulfstream did a mandatory payout of their Rainbow Six yesterday… so far no closure but I’m wondering if Gulfstream wanted to get that off their plate in the event they were forced to close.
Not many places and races left… Oaklawn was open yesterday as was Tampa Bay and Gulfstream. Los Al and Golden Gate in CA.
Interesting to note that Japan is now back to racing. Australia appears to be racing sans spectators.
It was all LA County Health Dept, not so much as a courtesy heads up. Not that surprising but hopefully common sense will prevail.
Been hearing some discussion about many still aiming for the first Saturday in May now that Oaklawn has rescheduled the Ark Derby to that date. Seems sensible rather then pulling the plug on the whole training program for horses aimed at that date, hopefully it will run.
Too bad they can’t go the virtual way like NASCAR, it’s pretty entertaining and each driver is piloting their own sim rig, Some retired drivers, some from other series and it us actually competition. National Anthem live by Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. Start your engines command by Troy Aikman, no red flags or rain delays. It’s fun. Watching horse racing without fans in the stands has been fun too.
Hopefully they can get some work more arounds going for everybody connected to at least some sports.
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