Tracks (and sales) starting to close and now re-opening - COVID-19

[Where_sMyWhite]

Just heard on TVG from Golden Gate Fields.

From a popup on GGF’s web page

IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR NEWSOM, SANTA ANITA AND GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TO CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC;

RACES TO CONTINUE WITH LICENSED PERSONNEL ONLY

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/t…g-to-continue/

GGF and SA closed to anyone other than licensed personnel. SA’s Clocker’s Corner closed. Simulcasting close.

I suspect many more will follow.

Might turn the KD on its head if there isn’t the usual hustle and bustle of the crowds if you have a good, but reactive horse.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Keeneland is going spectator free for the start of their spring meet and have cancelled their April 2-Year_olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Turfway Park’s Jeff Ruby Steaks card will be spectator free as weill the remaining racing at Turfway.

Churchill Downs has not made a decision for the KD.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/239018/covid-19-update-cal-ny-ky-tracks-closed-to-public

[Where_sMyWhite]

The list continues…

Aqueduct, Laurel, Pimlico, Rosecroft, Gulfstream Park (slots are open) all racing but closed to the public.

ATM Oaklawn is open at least over the weekend.

Sam Houston Race Park is cancelling simulcasting, no decision yet on live racing.

[mht]

Our season doesn’t start until April 18 at Woodbine, but anyone entering the backstretch/barn area has to go through a CV-19 check before they are allowed past security.

[jvanrens]

Our local track is still going…

Many of the Standardbred tracks are closing also.

https://standardbredcanada.ca/notices/3-12-20/weekend-cancellations.html

[Countrygirl18]

Tampa bay downs will be closing to the public after Sunday.

[LaurieB]

Fasig Tipton has cancelled their Gulfstream 2yo Sale that was scheduled for April 1st.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Fair Grounds and Sunland are going spectator-less.

I kinda wonder how the quality of the play of the athletes, whether human or equine, is affected by the lack of spectators.

I can’t imaging “playing” to an empty stage as it were…

[Texarkana]

The tracks closing to spectators hurts, but with so many options for online betting, it’s merely a temporary black eye.

The sales cancellations… those could be devastating for breeders who had barely recovered from the Great Recession and are already struggling to stay in the black in this buyer’s market. I hope they can reschedule promptly.

I think you could tweak the execution of a sale to make them more “COVID-19 friendly.” For example, no in-person bidding: phone/online bids only. Limit the number of people allowed to inspect the horses at one time- there’s a number of ways you could do that, like scheduling time slots or saying one person per paddle number at a time. Reduce book sizes, or stagger the books, so there aren’t as many horses cataloged and on the grounds at once, further reducing the number of people in the barns. Out in the barns in the fresh air, I would think transmission would be pretty low if you keep the crowds down. Or you could eliminate the opportunity to inspect the horses entirely, providing digital footage of the horses and only allowing vets on site.

[LaurieB]

@Texarkana

The sales cancellations… those could be devastating for breeders who had barely recovered from the Great Recession and are already struggling to stay in the black in this buyer’s market. I hope they can reschedule promptly.

I think you could tweak the execution of a sale to make them more “COVID-19 friendly.” For example, no in-person bidding: phone/online bids only. Limit the number of people allowed to inspect the horses at one time- there’s a number of ways you could do that, like scheduling time slots or saying one person per paddle number at a time. Reduce book sizes, or stagger the books, so there aren’t as many horses cataloged and on the grounds at once, further reducing the number of people in the barns. Out in the barns in the fresh air, I would think transmission would be pretty low if you keep the crowds down. Or you could eliminate the opportunity to inspect the horses entirely, providing digital footage of the horses and only allowing vets on site.

It’s hard enough to find people who want to buy and race TBs–even when everything is made as easy as possible for them. If conditions were imposed (like those above) I think most buyers would simply stay away and figure they’ll restock next year. Especially with yo-yoing the stock market is doing.

I agree this may be devastating to both breeders and pinhookers, depending on how quickly things get back to “normal”. In 2008-2010 many people intended to sell, found themselves racing instead. (And many went out of business.) We may be looking at the same scenario again.

[Where_sMyWhite]

OBS March Sale of 2Os Under Tack Show happening now, sale will go on as scheduled.

Gulstream Park’s Sale, F-T select sale of 2YO in training (4/1) cancelled.

The April Sale, Keeneland’s select 2YO in training sale (as noted previously) cancelled.

F-T is looking at options to add the horses in the Gulfstream sale to possibly the May 18-19 Midlantic 2YO in Training sale at Maryland State Fiargrounds. F-T is also planning to add a second Midlantic auction in late June.

France, the Osarus Breeze-Up sale postponed to May 12-13.

Tattersalls Ascot is still scheduled the upcoming Thursday March mixed sale and April 1 breeze-up sale are still planned.

[jvanrens]

Update from Woodbine Mohawk

https://standardbredcanada.ca/notices/3-14-20/mohawk-race-closed-public.html

[LaurieB]

Churchill Downs issued a statement about COVID-19 the KY Derby, which says basically nothing:

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/churchill-downs-issues-a-statement-regarding-covid-19-and-the-kentucky-derby/

[Where_sMyWhite]

I saw this earlier sans the additional info that the stabling area would open two weeks later.

At least still an overlap with Keeneland’s season so there will be no homeless horses or caretakers.

I keep thinking how do you postpone the KD since we are in full swing with the lead-up races, not just for points but for conditioning, etc. Maybe a rhetorical question, I dunno.

Been surprised already. Fully expected NASCAR to go specatorless due to the length and schedule of their season… nope, they postponed this weekend and next weekend’s races…

[EventerAJ]

I was at OBS today watching the Under Tack. Lots of people there, more than I remember last year. Glad they aren’t canceling it, horses are already prepped and ready to sell. Consignors/owners need to sell to keep.the market going. Tracks need to keep running to sustain jobs (human and equine). Spectators aren’t necessary…many tracks outside of Keeneland/Saratoga are empty on weekdays. Online wagering is established.

There was concern but certainly no panic at OBS today. Fewer handshakes, backslaps, and informal greetings, perhaps, but agents were seriously studying the horses as always.

[LaurieB]

The governor of New Mexico just closed Sunland Park indefinitely. That means the Sunland Derby which had Derby points and was scheduled for next weekend, is cancelled.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co…-indefinitely/

[LaurieB]

Starting tomorrow Keeneland is blocking access to their entire property to everyone but essential horsemen. They will have to have their temperatures taken daily as they enter the grounds.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/keeneland-to-implement-covid-19-protocols/

[EventerAJ]

Meanwhile OBS is continuing with minimal acknowledgement to Covid-19. Saw boxes of hand wipes around the pavilion, but no panic here. Kings Equine grilling steaks for lunch. Plenty of people shopping, not as many international buyers, of course. Perhaps fewer owners tagging along with agents, but all the normal faces still there…David Ingordo and his vest, in 85 degrees, so you know there is still some normalcy here. I hope prices are still steady, this could be the last sale for a little while.

[Where_sMyWhite]

MD and NM have closed tracks and simulcast. This impacts, although I’d venture to guess how much or little the impact will really be, the Sunland Derby in NM which had KD points.

Tampa Bay Downs is going spectator-less. No pari-mutual wagering… The Downs Gold Practice Facility and The Silks Poker Room will remain open :rolleyes:

Mahoning Valley, essential and approved personnel only.

Indian Gaming and Indiana Horse Racing commissions ; all licensed gaming and racing operations in IN closed.

TVG might be stuck with finger puppets at some point :lol:

For the time being, many look like the closure/suspension is for 2 weeks, ending close to the end of March. I suspect time will tell if these planned dates will hold.

[JohannaStk]

In Sweden we have all races with no spectators, Denmark have cancelled all harness racing. Thoroughbred racing is still 3 weeks away in Sweden and a few weeks after that Demark and Norway starts their season.