The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to add Monday, July 27, to the live racing calendar to make up in part for the three lost days (July 17-19) due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among the Southern California jockey colony.
The track is expected to request two additional as-yet undetermined days later in the meet that runs through Sept. 7. The regular schedule is Fridays through Sundays, with racing now scheduled on Monday, July 27, and closing day, Monday, Sept. 7.
“We're looking forward to resuming racing on Friday, July 24,” said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club executive vice president for racing Tom Robbins. “Adding a race card on Monday, July 27 provides our horsemen and women with additional opportunities to run their horses.”
Racing secretary David Jerkens said entries for the July 27 card would be drawn on Friday, July 24.
“We applaud Del Mar's management for quickly adapting during these unprecedented times,” said Nick Alexander, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “Winning a race at Del Mar is special and a four-day race week will provide our members with additional opportunities to do so.”
Three days of racing were cancelled this weekend after 15 jockeys tested positive for COVID-19. The tests were ordered after Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza and current leading Southern California jockey Flavien Prat tested positive last week. Swabs of all jockeys were taken on Tuesday, July 14, and protocol in San Diego County is that those who test positive may resume regular activities after an immediate 10-day quarantine, provided they are asymptomatic.
According to Del Mar officials, all but one of the Southern California jockeys who tested positive were at Los Alamitos on July 4, when Luis Saez and Martin Garcia – who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 – flew to Southern California from the Midwest to ride that day's card.
Del Mar has rescheduled the four stakes scheduled for this weekend, including the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap expected to feature the return of last year's 3-year-old male champion, Maximum Security, making his debut for trainer Bob Baffert.
The new stakes lineup for the July 24-26 weekend:
- Friday, July 24: Daisycutter Handicap (originally scheduled July 18) for fillies and mares, 3 and up at five furlongs on turf; the Fleet Treat Stakes for Golden State eligible California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs.
- Saturday, July 25: G2 San Diego Handicap (originally scheduled July 18) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles; G2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on turf; Smiling Tiger Stakes for 3-year-olds going six furlongs.
- Sunday, July 26: G2 Eddie Read Stakes (originally scheduled July 19) for 3-year-olds and up going nine furlongs on turf; California Dreamin' Stakes for Golden State eligible California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
The post Del Mar To Add Monday Card On July 27 As Make-Up Date; Reschedules Stakes For July 25-27 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
