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NYRA Announces Jockey COVID-19 Protocols for Belmont Fall Meet

The New York Racing Association announced Sunday its COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet, which will open Friday, Sept. 18 and run through Sunday, Nov. 1.

In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Belmont Park will be closed to out-of-town jockeys until further notice. Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Belmont Park fall meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a five-day window in order to return to ride at Belmont. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days.

For example, if a NYRA jockey travels out of New York to compete on a Saturday, then that jockey should be tested upon return to New York on Sunday and tested again on Thursday. Should both tests be returned negative then the jockey will be allowed to ride races at Belmont beginning Friday and will be provided an isolated area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NYRA jockeys who have traveled outside of New York state to compete at other racetracks beginning the week of Aug. 31 will also be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within the 5-day window preceding that jockey’s first mount at Belmont Park.

Jockeys who have remained in New York and not competed at other tracks following the conclusion of the Saratoga meet Sept. 7 will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 7-day window preceding that jockey’s first mount at Belmont Park.

All testing must be performed in New York state.

Condition Book 1 for the fall meet currently lists 17 active jockeys and two apprentice riders who will be designated members of the NYRA jockey colony. Jockeys and agents interested in being included in the NYRA jockey colony may contact NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza for consideration by Sept. 18.

In addition to race-day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Belmont Park have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area. In order to work a horse in the morning, the jockey must meet the horse in the paddock and may then proceed to the main track.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

All valets must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken anytime after Sept. 13 in order to access the jockey quarters on opening day, Sept. 18. Valets working in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

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Dewhurst Next Port of Call for Etonian

Undefeated G3 Solario S. hero Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) is aiming for the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket on Oct. 10. Trained by Richard Hannon, the bay colt got off the mark on debut at Sandown on July 23 and followed up with a 1 1/4-length win in the Solario there on Aug. 23.

“The thought at the moment is to go for the Dewhurst,” said owner Julie Wood. “It is lovely to have a horse capable of performing at this level again as it has been a while. He keeps it all for his races, but he is a real trier. We thought he was nice straight away, but until they get to the track you never know, and he has now done it twice now. Obviously we would like to finish off this season as good as we can, but the dream is the G1 2000 Guineas next year. He is a lovely horse to look forward to.”

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Jackie’s Warrior Meets ‘Rising Star’ Pair in Hopeful

With the obvious caveat that anything can happen with 2-year-olds this early in their development–look no further than Sittin On Go (Brody’s Cause)’s 24-1 upset in Saturday GII Iroquois S.–Monday’s GI Runhappy Hopeful S. looks solidly like a three-horse affair, as arguably the three most impressive dirt juveniles of the meet will clash in the seven-furlong test.

Made the fractional favorite on the morning line at 7-5, J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music) looks formidable in his attempt for back-to-back Spa graded stakes scores. A first-out winner going five panels over next-out ‘TDN Rising Star’ Therideofalifetime Candy Ride (Arg) June 19 at Churchill, he went to the lead and fought off all comers to triumph by three lengths in a high-quality renewal of the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7. Drawn outside of what little speed there is, the $95,000 Keeneland September grad figures to work out a dream trip as he stretches out an additional furlong.

Klaravich Stables’ Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) is a tick behind at 8-5 and may well go off favored at final odds. Unveiled going a local three-quarters in a loaded looking field of firsters Aug. 1, the $280,000 OBS March buy made short work of his rivals, rocketing away to a 7 3/4-length romp and ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors. Clicking off his final quarter in :23.81 while geared down late, Reinvestment Risk was flattered when third finisher Olympiad (Speightstown) returned to a sharp maiden victory Saturday at the Spa.

Rounding out the big three is another ‘Rising Star’ in Shadwell Stable’s Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief). Backed down to 85 cents on the dollar debuting at 5 1/2 furlongs here Aug. 8, the $425,000 Keeneland November weanling buy pressed the pace widest out and drew clear in the stretch to a 4 1/2-length success.

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Enable Exits September in Good Form, Arc Next

Saturday’s G3 September S. heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who has won two editions of the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is pointing toward her fourth-straight appearance in the ParisLongchamp showpiece, is fit and well following her performance at Kempton. The 6-year-old bay has won 15 of her 18 starts for her breeder Juddmonte, and polished off her five rivals by seven lengths in the all-weather Group 3 over the Arc trip of 1 1/2 miles. After running second in last year’s Arc, Enable also filled that position in her seasonal return, the July 5 G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown. She returned to her imperious best in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot on July 25, winning her third edition by 5 1/2 lengths prior to her tour-de-force in the September.

“These well-thought-out plans do have a propensity to go wrong, but thankfully everything seemed to go smoothly and she’s come out of the race well,” said Prince Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, who will be attending the Oct. 4 Arc if at all possible. “It was a nice race for her. She was pretty much out on her own, which is good, and it’s another piece of the jigsaw in place.

“I’ve always said she is a mare who stirs the emotions. It’s not just her great ability, but also her personality and her looks that have really captured many hearts.

“She has become a huge part of all our lives and we have to enjoy her. Of course her achievements have put her in the great pantheon of thoroughbred stars, but win, lose or draw, we have to try to enjoy her.”

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