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

[Where_sMyWhite]

Whoot-whoot! SA starts racing May 15 (talk about cutting it close )

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac…-racing-may-15

Spectator-less and under ‘strict protocols’.

Since there was some discussion about jock agents… snipped this quote from the article.

the creation of a Restricted Zone housing jockeys, valets, and other essential personnel who must have a negative COVID-19 test to access; and revised saddling and pre-race protocols to increase physical distancing.

Don’t know if jock agents were considered part of the backside community pre-racing or are considered ‘non-essential’. Not a clue. Yes, I get how important jock agents are but no mention of them one way or the other that I recall seeing.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Churchill spoilsports Fox FS1/FS2 will be allowed to carry Churchill racing… TVG only on TVG2 :mad:

FoxSports won’t get me watching ‘Day at the Races’… will still be watching TVG. Wonder if Churchill (TwinSpires ADW) and TVG will get their act together

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing

Not impressed with Churchill FoxSports on this decision.

Christina Blacker is live at SA, set up at the 3/8ths pole with just, I think, a camera person but no -one else.

[Pronzini]

I don’t think you can look at Santa Anita’s day yesterday as anything other than a success. There was a $1.5 million bet after the first race and over $11 million by the end of the day. That is a remarkable number for a Friday with no stakes and no spectators.

At the beginning of the year, I truly feared for Santa Anita. Everything they did was under scrutiny by the media and PETA and I wondered if they could survive this onslaught. I wondered if there was going to be a run at a ban on the ballot this November.

That is simply not happening now, There is no stomach either in government or outside to shut down any legal industry that keeps people employed. I’m a data point of one but I thought Santa Anita’s opening was remarkably muted on social media. There were a couple of cranks- one of which must have posted on Kathryn Barger’s Twitter announcement 30 times to express her displeasure–but basically it was seen as a positive. Unlike someone’s visit to the beach, remote betting puts money in state and local coffers at fairly minimal risk since the folks putting on the show basically live there anyway.

I thought it would take something big to get the media off of racing’s back. Well big happened. Now it is up to racing to seize the moment and cement the perception that they are good actors, taking care of their horses while keeping good people employed.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I am more hopeful for racing–at least in my state–than I have been for a couple of years.

[LaurieB]

Our 2yo filly arrived at Churchill Downs this morning. Onward and upward (I hope!)

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[Where_sMyWhite]

@LaurieB

and her name??? (I can’t keep track of them )

She’s looking nice and poised for a new environment. Bet you are glad to see her actually getting to the backside finally!
.

[LaurieB]

@Where'sMyWhite

@LaurieB

and her name??? (I can’t keep track of them )

She’s looking nice and poised for a new environment. Bet you are glad to see her actually getting to the backside finally!
.

That’s Hoodwink (Midshipman x Classic West (Gone West)). Like many other 2yos sitting at training centers, she was ready to move on.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@LaurieB

That’s Hoodwink (Midshipman x Classic West (Gone West)). Like many other 2yos sitting at training centers, she was ready to move on.

She’s in my Equibase stable

It’s fun to follow horses that I have a ‘connection’, however tenuous, to :encouragement:

Yes, I’d guess many horses at training centers that need a career 'boost

[Where_sMyWhite]

Still no mention of jockey agents but… where the jockeys are staying during the race week… “Star Wagons”.

Each half houses one jockey and has kitchenette, shower and other amenities. No family or other loved ones. They can go home during the off-racing days and must be re-screened upon track re-entry.

The jockeys also have access to the 100-to-1 Club, a high class lounge area atop the third floor of the SA facility. Friday night the riders ate on the 100-to-1 Club patio enjoying takeout from The Derby steakhouse restaurant.

Masks and social distancing are the order of the day.

From Gary Stevens…

“Gary Stevens and David Flores called. They said, ‘Man, I want to come in quarantine,’” Gryder laughed. “I said (to Gary), ‘Man, you’ve come out of retirement three times. What’s the difference with four?’”

:lol:

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/241299/santa-anita-park-a-home-away-from-home-for-jockeys

On the flip side. France has backtracked on racing in ParisLongchamp, Saint-Cloud and Auteuil are closed again. Racing in Normandy, the south and west of the country is still allowed.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/241301/paris-tracks-face-shock-lockdown-over-covid-19-policy

Closed tracks are transferring their May 20 cards to tracks that are still open for racing.

[skydy]

@LaurieB

That’s Hoodwink (Midshipman x Classic West (Gone West)). Like many other 2yos sitting at training centers, she was ready to move on.

She’s lovely.

[LaurieB]

@skydy

She’s lovely.

Thank you. We hope to have some fun with her.

[ASB_Stars]

@LaurieB

Our 2yo filly arrived at Churchill Downs this morning. Onward and upward (I hope!)

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That is a wonderful filly! I LOVE her laid back shoulder and powerfully made hind end. Hope to hear good things!!

[mht]

At Woodbine, we now have an EHV-1 outbreak, because, you know, why not, in the middle of a pandemic. Supposedly brought up by a ponyhorse coming back from Arizona.
One barn on quarantine, five deaths, but thankfully, appears to be no spread to other barns.
Opening day is supposed to be June 6. Hoping this doesn’t set it back.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@mht I saw this on BloodHorse a few days ago

Like you said, when it rains it pours. Didn’t realize it came from a pony horse coming from AZ (Turf Paradise shut down in March).

The article in BH said one horse was euthanized… didn’t realize that number had gone up Sounded bad with at least 22 horses.

Glad that it appears it hasn’t spread to any other barns other than the quarantine barn.

Racetracks are definitely scrambling for sure with openings, dates, races…

[smoofox]

I was just gifted a trip to Keeneland in November for the Breeders Cup. I am hoping against hope that the BC happens - and that spectators are allowed… my once in a lifetime trip may be in jeopardy. Selfish, I know…

ETA: If Keeneland does not happen, I am told it will be good for Del Mar in 2021… but I would prefer to be at Keeneland…

[Where_sMyWhite]

@smoofox what a great gift!

BC will happen in November but too early to know if or how spectators will be allowed.

I’d agree… Del Mar is nice (never been there) but Keeneland is one of my favorite tracks for sure!

[Pronzini]

@Where'sMyWhite

Still no mention of jockey agents but… where the jockeys are staying during the race week… “Star Wagons”.

Completely apropos of nothing, but they are actually called “Star Waggons”. When I first came to LA in the 80s, they were everywhere and I couldn’t figure out why they were misspelled. Well the company was started by Lyle Waggoner of the Carol Burnett Show and it was a clever play on his name. It also became like Kleenex. Stars didn’t just want a high end RV, they wanted a Star Waggon and they would put it in their contracts.

From everything I’ve heard, this is a pretty cushy RV.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@Pronzini

From everything I’ve heard, this is a pretty cushy RV.

They sound cushy… now I can’t remember where I saw Star Waggons spelled out to know if I saw it incorrectly, typed in incorrectly (or was thoughtfully autocorrected) or what. Thanks!

[jolise]

LauriB, your filly is lovely! Good luck with her!
It was great to have Santa Anita up and running again.
My filly finally broke her maiden there on Friday. She was coming off of a 9 month lay off, so it was really nice to have her back and running well.
I will try to link a picture.

https://twitter.com/ErnieBPhoto93/status/1264018312159129600?s=20

[LaurieB]

@jolise , congratulations! What a nice win and a lovely filly.

I, too, am delighted to have racing coming back.

[jvanrens]

Good news for Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa. Over 50 Standardbreds qualified this week. Racing to start back next week.