coronavirus | Horse Racing Free Tips

Permission Revoked For Goodwood Spectators

The British government on Friday morning withdrew permission for Goodwood Racecourse to host 5,000 spectators on Saturday as part of a pilot project for the return of fans to sporting events. A joint statement from the British Horseracing Authority, the Racecourse Association and Goodwood said it is believed the cancellation of the event is due to concerns about the national infection rate of coronavirus and is not a reflection of any concerns about Goodwood or the measures taken there. Racing will take place on Saturday behind closed doors.

David Armstrong, chief executive of the RCA, said, “The RCA is very disappointed to learn that the pilot event at Goodwood Racecourse scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. We understand and respect the issues raised within the Prime Minister’s announcement and have always maintained that public health has been paramount to any event, be it racing resuming behind closed doors or with crowds. The work undertaken by the sport, and especially the Goodwood team, to bring the safety protocols to life has been very thorough and detailed. It is worth reiterating there were no concerns with the protocols put in place by the sport and Goodwood Racecourse and we wish them the very best for the final two days of the Qatar Goodwood Festival which will take place behind closed doors. The RCA will continue to work closely with government to plan future pilot events to welcome back crowds subject to the latest public health advice.”

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10% Purse Increase at Del Mar

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has instituted a 10% purse increase, which will be retroactive to the track’s opening day, July 10. Del Mar has also added a stakes race to its 2020 calendar–the $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf–a one-mile grass test for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 6. The race, which had been a regular feature at the seaside oval in the previous eight seasons, had been omitted from the original stakes schedule due to belt tightening measures. From July 10 through July 27, Del Mar conducted seven days of racing, without spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, accounted for $133,841,412 in online wagering, an increase of over 5% over corresponding dates last year.

“Our horsemen have been terrific and our customers have responded very positively to what we’re presenting,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s executive vice president for racing. “We’ve been running either 11- or 10-race cards and our field size is up to 8.6 in the early going. We’re very pleased to offer this purse boost in conjunction with how the meet has unfolded so far.”
Last summer the track’s average field size finished at 8.0 per race.

Del Mar’s summer season is scheduled through Labor Day Sept. 7 with racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. However, in response to the cancellation of racing during its second week, the track added Monday racing (July 27) with a 10-race card that drew $11.6 million in wagers. Del Mar indicated the plan is to make up their second and third missing days from week two with an added race day and additional races on scheduled cards.

The track returns to action Friday with six stakes races planned over the three-day weekend, including the GI Bing Crosby S. and GI Kentucky Derby point-earning race, the Shared Belief S. Saturday.

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Del Mar Will Increase Purses By 10 Percent, Add Stakes Race Back To Calendar

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced Thursday a 10 percent purse increase after a solid opening span of racing days during the month of July. The increase will be retroactive back to the track's first day, July 10.

Del Mar also announced the addition of a stakes race to its calendar – the $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf, a one-mile spin on the grass for 2-year-old fillies that will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6. The race had been a regular feature here the previous eight years, but had been dropped from the original stakes schedule due to belt tightening measures.

Between July 10 and July 27 Del Mar conducted seven days of racing and — though it has not had fans on board any of those days as a safety measure tied to the coronavirus pandemic — it saw wagering amounting to $133,841,412 flow from its online and satellite services, an increase of more than 5 percent over similar dates last year.

“Our horsemen have been terrific and our customers have responded very positively to what we're presenting,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president for racing. “We've been running either 11- or 10-race cards and our field size is up to 8.6 in the early going. We're very pleased to offer this purse boost in conjunction with how the meet has unfolded so far.”

Last summer the track's average field size finished at 8.0 per race.

Del Mar's summer season is scheduled through Labor Day Monday, September 7 with racing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

However, in response to the cancellation of racing on its second week, the track added Monday racing on July 27 with a 10-race card that drew a solid $11.6 million in wagers. Del Mar officials have indicated that they plan to make up their second and third missing days from week two with an added race day and additional races on scheduled cards.

“We are pleased to announce this well-deserved purse increase to the horsemen and women competing at Del Mar,” said Thoroughbred of Owners of California chairman Nick Alexander. “It is very encouraging to see the positive response at the entry box and from bettors on Del Mar's races. We look forward to continuing to partner with management on another world-class race meet at Del Mar.”

The track returns to action Friday with six stakes races planned over the three-day weekend. Among the upcoming highlights are the Grade I, $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs and the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at a mile and one-sixteenth for 3-year-olds, both this Saturday. The Shared Belief will be the first time the track has offered a “points” race for the Kentucky Derby, which this year has been shifted from the first Saturday in May to the first Saturday in September.

Additionally, this forthcoming weekend will offer the foremost race at the stand for older fillies and mares, the Grade I, $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Sunday.

First post on all days throughout the meeting is 2 p.m.

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Keeneland To Require Negative COVID-19 Test Proof Upon Arrival At September Sale

Following is an open letter to the industry from Shannon Arvin, Keeneland's president-elect:

To our customers:

First, I'd like to thank everyone who has been so kind and welcoming as I transition into my new role with Keeneland. This is both a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I very much look forward to working alongside our team to support your needs as we move into the fall season and into the future.

Over the course of the summer, the Keeneland team has been working diligently on the operational plans for the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. From expanding our bidding opportunities to building our safety protocols, we are leveraging the full resources of the Keeneland team to deliver for our customers.

While Keeneland is excited to unveil our full portfolio of remote bidding options, we continue to work closely with state and federal government officials, including representatives of both Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressmen Andy Barr, to seek exceptions to allow international travelers to attend the September Sale. Just as we have done for 80+ years, Keeneland will exhaust every measure possible to bring the world to Keeneland.

Keeneland September COVID-19 Testing:

We have also received a number of questions regarding COVID-19 testing during the September Sale. We will be communicating final plans very soon, and are working in concert with health and government officials as well as Fasig-Tipton to deliver consistent and reliable protocols and testing. Keeneland's continued commitment to safety and our compliance with the Governor's Healthy at Work standards allow us the opportunity to operate our auctions and race meets. It is for this reason that we will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival at the sale (which will need to have been completed within the last five days). If a participant does not have proof of a negative test, we have made arrangements for onsite testing at Keeneland. As we have all experienced, information available with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic changes frequently, and we may need to update and amend our protocols accordingly.

Keeneland Remote Bidding/Inspection Opportunities:

Whether you wish to attend in person or you find yourself unable to travel, Keeneland is providing our customers a number of ways to prepare and participate in the September Sale remotely. We strongly encourage buyers to familiarize themselves with these tools and take a few minutes to set up your account and establish credit within the Keeneland Sales Portal.

Online Bidding: This service will fully integrate with the live auction environment, providing live video with enhanced speed that allows for a real-time bidding experience as the sale is occurring.
Phone Bidding: Keeneland has expanded its existing phone bidding program to accommodate for expected increased demand in 2020.
Walking Videos: Keeneland's online catalog will offer the capability to showcase walking videos for any yearling selling in the September Sale, allowing buyers to access and view virtual inspections from anywhere.

The health and safety of our customers is our top priority. With that goal, Keeneland also has expanded our on-site bidding options to provide additional bidding locations beyond the sales arena and back ring to allow for further social distancing. We look forward to sharing these details with you in the coming weeks.

Before closing, and with a heavy heart, we acknowledge the passing of our own Katherine McKee on Monday. As previous manager of Keeneland's Horsemen Hospitality and most recent director of racing administration, Katherine has been a part of the Keeneland journey alongside many of you. We will always cherish the legacy of her dedication and love for horsemen and her Keeneland family. Although she battled advanced melanoma for nearly three years, many of you may have been unaware as Katherine's positive attitude, dignity and grace never wavered. She was an amazing person and friend and will be tremendously missed by all of us.

Sincerely,

Shannon B. Arvin

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