coronavirus | Horse Racing Free Tips

Soumillon Clears Quarantine

Jockey Christophe Soumillon told Hong Kong Jockey Club officials that a negative result was returned on his most recent COVID-19 test and with that, he has completed all necessary quarantine requirements as set out by the Hong Kong SAR Government. The Club will require that Soumillon take further tests beginning Saturday in accordance with established protocols and the earliest he may accept mounts will be Sunday, Dec. 20. The Belgian is on a short-term contract through Feb. 14 and was to ride Sunday’s Longines HKIR, but was stood down Thursday after failing to gain clearance from quarantine. In related news, jockey Zac Purton was fined HK$40,000 for a tweet that had the potential to “create uncertainty regarding the continuance of racing in Hong Kong in the immediate future.”

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Turf Paradise Getting Horse Influx From Pandemic Affected Tracks

By the time Turf Paradise opens Jan. 4 for Arizona’s first live Thoroughbred racing since March 14, track management projects the horse population could top 1,200 for the five-day weekly, 84-date meet that runs through May 1.

Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia said during the Dec. 10 Arizona Racing Commission meeting that 664 horses are currently stabled on the grounds, adding that “I expect by the end of the month that that figure is probably going to double.”

Francia explained that Turf Paradise is the recipient of a mixed blessing related to COVID-19 pandemic closures at other racetracks.

Chiefly, he said, interest has been sparked from outfits at Golden Gate Fields (which is currently closed for racing until at least Dec. 26) and from tracks in New Mexico (where Zia Park just resumed racing after a health-related shutdown and the Dec. 26 start date at Sunland Park has been pushed back at least 30 days because of pandemic-related uncertainty).

“So in the good news department, we’re getting an influx of horses,” Francia said. “And the not-so-good news [is] both of those areas have been hit pretty hard with by the virus.

“So we’re having to revise and amp up how we’re going to handle people coming into the backside and the track,” Francia continued. “And by that I mean we’re looking at making sure [licensees] have a negative coronavirus test before they come on [to the backstretch]. And once they get here and get their horses in, then they get [another] test. We’re taking that extra step…and we need to keep everyone here at Turf safe if we are going to get through this race meet.”

Leroy Gessmann, who serves as both the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) executive director and the National HBPA president, said that in terms of compliance, “the majority of people want to stay safe and the majority of people are following the guidelines.”

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Funding Boost For Scottish Racing

Scottish horse racing will receive £2-million in grants as part of a £55-million funding package for sports to help navigate the pandemic.

Delly Innes, manager of Scottish Racing, said, “As Scottish racecourses continue to race behind closed doors, this financial support from the government is not only very welcome, but absolutely vital for everyone in our sport. We’re delighted that the Scottish government has recognised the importance of the nation’s second most popular sport and the potentially devastating financial implications the pandemic has had on the industry north of the border. As a group, we are all very grateful to the Government Ministers and officials we have worked with for their support for horse racing in Scotland and we will continue to work closely with them to return crowds to racecourses as soon as possible.”

Scottish Sports Minister Joe Fitzpatrick said, “I am pleased to announce this substantial funding package, which will help to ensure those sports which have been worst affected by the loss of ticket revenue during the pandemic are able to bridge the gap in revenue until spectators are able to return safely to sports events in larger numbers.

“While restrictions on supporters at events have been vital in stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives, there can be no doubt that they have created real hardships for many sports clubs. These clubs are at the heart of our communities and, without urgent financial support, the survival of some could be in question.”

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Soumillon Ruled Out of HKIR

Christophe Soumillon will miss Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races meeting after failing to secure an ‘unconditional’ release from the 14-day quarantine he has been undertaking in Hong Kong.

Having been granted a short-term riding contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club set to begin HKIR day Dec. 13 and last through Feb. 14, Soumillon–who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky early last month–arrived Nov. 26.

A release from the Club Thursday evening indicated that even though Soumillon had cleared his first COVID-19 test upon his arrival, that he had been yet to receive clearance and was being asked to undergo further testing by the Hong Kong Department of Health. The release stated that is was not known when said testing would take place, nor could a release date from quarantine be pinpointed.
Soumillon was booked for each of the four HKIR Sunday afternoon, chief among them defending champion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the Hong Kong Mile. Ryan Moore has been engaged. His other rides have been assigned as follows:

Hong Kong Vase: Vincent Ho on Ho Ho Khan (NZ)
Hong Kong Sprint: Alexis Badel will ride Computer Patch (Aus)
Hong Kong Cup: Zac Purton rides Normcore (Jpn)

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