Saw this and thought :eek:
They’ve been floating all over the place, which is actually normal for riders of their caliber, Indiana Grand, Keeneland, Gulfstream, Del Mar, Los Al (depending on the jock). Many jockey changes yesterday at the different tracks.
I like how some of the larger tracks which multiple jocks’ rooms have been able to segregate jocks so the ‘floaters’ may be in a different room than the jocks who don’t travel.
Glad that the tracks are being proactive with testing and hopping right on positive tests.
Hopefully all 3 will clear quarantine safely and in good health.
Flavian Prat raced at Keeneland yesterday is off all mounts today at Del Mar after mandatory COVID test came back positive 
Good news is that Flavian is asymptomatic at this time.
From TVG just now.
Late update via BH.
All 4 riders rode at Los Al during the July 4th weekend
It’s not just jockeys. Santa Anita has had a total of 38 confirmed cases amongst staff with 10 being symptomatic. Source: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/locations.htm#nonres-settings (scroll down to #93).
And USEF believes that attracting hundreds of children from all around the country to Lexington Kentucky for the Pony Finals show is a good idea. :no: If I’m not mistaken, most of the racetracks have been quite diligent in their COVID monitoring and prevention efforts.
https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/21067.html
I believe the above link states that they will be held online.
Too bad for all the people sitting on the airplanes with them as they fly around the country riding in races.
#5.
Eduard Rojas Fernandez rode at Los Al and tested positive in the past month
Fernandez has said he’ll be out for weeks. His agent said the rider didn’t have acute symptoms.
https://www.drf.com/news/eduard-rojas-fernandez-jockey-los-alamitos-tests-positive-coronavirus
Fernandez hasn’t ridden anywhere else but Los Al.
Garcia rode at Prairie Meadows.
Saez rode at Belmont, Indiana Grand and Keeneland.
Prat rode at Del Mar and Keeneland.
I think Espinoza rode only at Los Al.
Fernandez usually rides the evening TB races.
The other 4 rode the daytime TB program on July 4th.
How quickly it spreads when something wasn’t handled properly/safely
At the Fasig Tipton HRA sale, the auctioneer and the announcer are not wearing masks (obviously) but they are sitting next to each other as per usual. That doesn’t seem wise considering the length of exposure to each other with the auctioneer speaking pretty much non-stop.
Apparently they are not enforcing the mask rule that they announced. This is the second person that had led and handled a horse in the ring without wearing a mask.
Racetracks are like everywhere else. Mandating masks, but people walking around with no masks or wearing their masks around their necks, which appears to be the latest fashion statement. I’d predict they’d be shut down again amidst rising numbers, but then again Disneyworld just reopened in the worst effected state, so, I think that speaks volumes about where priorities are right now.
On the flip side, Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien have been fined €2,500 (about 2,800 USD) and prohibited from attending race meetings in Ireland for two weeks after failing to enter the Curragh through the health screening area on Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) Day.
I much prefer this type of structure and re-enforcement. The money isn’t probably a big deal but missing race meetings might be.
Ouch but I think a good call. NYRA has closed Saratoga Race Course to out-of-town jockeys until further notice. Any member of the NYRA jockey colony who travels to ride at any other racetrack will not be permitted to return to Saratoga.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac…f-town-jockeys
Saratoga’s 2020 summer condition book lists 22 active jockeys and 3 apprentices who will be considered the regular NYRA jock colony. There are provisions for an out-of-town jockey to be considered for inclusion in the NYRA regular colony (in the article).
All personnel working Saratoga in any capacity will be required to provide a negative COVID test (jocks, valets, NYRA employees, trainers, staff, outside vendors, credentialed media).
Maryland Jockey Club will be instituting a similar policy with some provisions to get out-of-state jockeys to be allowed to ride but none of the ride in one state yesterday, a different one today and another different one tomorrow.
Oh, and Florent Geroux has now tested positive.
Geroux did not ride at Los Al but did ride at Indiana Grand 7/8 as did Saez. Geroux rode Keeneland 7/9-10, Belmont 7/11, Keeneland 7/12.
Saez rode Keeneland Thursday and early Friday before being removed due to the positive test results.
Prat rode Keeneland Saturday, returned to CA and tested positive on Sunday.
Definitely some tracks have been more lax with requiring masks and social distancing :mad:
Saratoga closed to “outside” jockeys. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/242320/nyra-closes-saratoga-to-out-of-town-jockeys
Could see this coming from a mile away. jet-setting all over the country. Not wearing masks properly (due to impaired vision risk), social distancing not adhered, Many non-jockeys not wearing masks or distancing, jocks rooms being co-mingled with those travelling all over the place to ride. Glad Saratoga finally said no travelling jockeys. This should be the same everywhere else.
Amazing how some people can predict the future :rolleyes:
Umberto Rispoli is the next to test positive. Sounds like he’s ridden only at Del Mar recently.
Del Mar is now closed through the 19th.
Does anyone know how the positive-tested jockeys are doing with regard to their health? Don’t want to violate their privacy, but hope they are doing OK. A couple of my family members had the thing in March, and they are still physically limited–weak, fatigue easily, out of breath at the slightest exertion. For a jockey, that his (or her) career.
At least one comorbidity (obesity) does not apply to them, which is a good thing. :o (I am not trying to make light of an awful situation.)
I suspect due to the proximity to Los Al with jockeys being able to easily ride on both tracks.
I think a wise move and also support the tracks that are closing their jockey colonies to outside riders without a 14 day quarantine first.
Victor Espinoza had flu like symptoms. Goroux didnt have any symptoms when he was diagnosed.
