Tag: coronavirus

Larry Collmus To Again Fill In For Trevor Denman At Del Mar

With Trevor Denman again opting to stay home out of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, Del Mar once more has called on his ace substitute – Larry Collmus – to take up the mic at the shore track's fall race meeting beginning on Saturday, October 31.

The 15-day session, named the Bing Crosby Season in a salute to the track's founder, will have a Saturday/Sunday opening weekend, then three Friday-thru-Sunday weekends before finishing up with a four-day run keyed on Thanksgiving Thursday (November 26) through to Sunday, November 29.

Denman, Del Mar's announcer at every meet since 1984, chose to stay at his Minnesota farm this summer instead of working the Del Mar meet in light of fears for himself and his family presented by the virus. He indicated to track officials that he planned to return for the fall stand. In his stead, the nationally prominent race caller Collmus filled in admirably with his sharp calls and enthusiasm shining through over the course of the summer.

“We talked to Trevor right after our summer meet and it was obvious he was torn,” said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's CEO Joe Harper. “There still was concern about the pandemic and his family, yet he also wanted to keep a commitment he'd made to us. But in the end we told him to stay home and stay safe; he appreciated that.”

Del Mar's next move was to reconnect with Collmus, the veteran announcer who has called at major race meetings from coast to coast over the past 35 years and who has been NBC television's voice of the Triple Crown for the last decade. Collmus quickly gave a thumbs up to the idea of returning to the seaside oval for another go-round and was signed on for the fall meet.

“I truly enjoyed calling the races this summer at Del Mar and look forward to the opportunity to return for the Bing Crosby meet,” Collmus said. “It's such a special place and I'm honored to be asked to come back.”

The seventh Bing Crosby Season, highlighted by 16 stakes and a strong emphasis on high-class turf racing, will see racing begin each day at 12:30 p.m. During the stand, Del Mar will serve as the California host track for the Breeders' Cup Championships, which will take place on November 6 and 7 at Keeneland in Lexington, KY.

The post Larry Collmus To Again Fill In For Trevor Denman At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Maskless Photo Draws COVID-19 Compliance Into Question At Keeneland September Yearling Sale

A photo in a tweet that circulated Thursday brought into question the enforcement of mask-wearing and social-distancing policies at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, leading Keeneland to issue a statement to Janet Patton of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The photo, taken by bloodstock agent Michael Hernon and since deleted, displayed a group of over 20 individuals inspecting and showing horses during an “Express Lane” event outside a Taylor Made Sales Agency barn, in which a group of upcoming offerings are paraded in front of prospective buyers all at once to limit the hassle and potential contact of individual showings. Only one or two of the people in photo whose faces are visible are properly wearing masks, a couple others have their masks around their chins, and the rest do not have any visible face covering on or around them.

Patton, a veteran journalist whose coverage has included the business of the Thoroughbred industry, retweeted the image with a comment tagging Keeneland that asked: “How does this square with the protocols?”

Per Keeneland's COVID-19 safety policy for the sale: “All participants in the September Sale are required to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing of at least six feet at all times on the grounds – both indoors and outdoors.”

Fasig-Tipton also had a policy requiring masks at all times while on the property for the recent Selected Yearlings Showcase Sale, and photos from the sale revealed mixed success in mask enforcement, as well.

Buyers, owners, and bloodstock agents were not required to produce a negative COVID-19 test to gain entry to the property for either sale. That group is required to complete a health questionnaire prior to the sale, and daily temperature checks are taken. Negative tests were required for all others within 10 days of entry, including consignors and their crews, auction company staff, veterinarians, farriers, and media.

After the Keeneland photo gained some traction on social media, Patton contacted the company, which issued the following statement:

“Keeneland takes the health and safety of our employees and our sale participants very seriously, and we have addressed the issue pictured in the tweet with those involved. We remain vigilant in enforcing compliance with the COVID-19 protocols established to ensure that we, along with our consignors and buyers, are able to conduct the September Yearling Sale in a safe and responsible manner. Those protocols require that every person wears a mask at all times and maintains social distance. Please be assured that we continue to monitor our grounds to promote responsible behavior across the Keeneland campus.”

The post Maskless Photo Draws COVID-19 Compliance Into Question At Keeneland September Yearling Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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BHA Releases 2019 Financial Report

The British Horseracing Authority released a summary of its 2019 annual report and consolidated financial statements. BHA’s Chief Executive Nick Rust opted for the release of an abbreviated version of 2019 to augment the strategic report featured in the accounts. Audited accounts for last season show an operating loss of £767,000–over the budgeted-for deficit of £478,000–and is due, in part, to increased activity including the formation of the Horse Welfare Board. In the summary, Rust reflects on notable events during the year like the equine influenza outbreak, Brexit, the impact on the Levy of the Government’s Gambling Review of 2018 and the formation of the Horse Welfare Board. To view the 2019 accounts report, click here.

In an effort to mitigate a deficit stemming from Coronavirus in 2020, the BHA enacted fund-saving measures during the suspension of racing, including accessing employing government help schemes, pay cuts for BHA staff and Board, cost savings linked to efficiencies in the Fixture List and the negotiation of a rent freeze on the BHA’s head office. To view the BHA’s Coronavirus Recovery Plan, click here.

The post BHA Releases 2019 Financial Report appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Owners To Return To Irish Racecourses From Monday

Owners will be permitted to return to Irish racecourses from Monday in line with the government’s medium-term COVID-19 plan published earlier this week.

Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “We are delighted to confirm that for the first time since Mar. 13, owners will be permitted to return to the racecourse from Monday next. Owners play the most important role in Irish racing and they have had to wait quite some time to return to the racecourse to see their horses run. We have always said that getting owners back on the racecourse was our first priority and we have been working closely on this with the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners and their representative Caren Walsh.

“As all key personnel who have been racing behind closed doors since June 8 will testify, these are not race fixtures as we used to know them, and given the ongoing public health risk it remains as important now as it ever has been that all those attending racecourses adhere strictly to the race day protocols.

“Since we resumed racing in Ireland, the level of care and compliance with the Covid-19 protocols has been excellent and it is vital that everybody continues to comply with the rules on the racecourse around pre-health screening, social distancing and the wearing of face masks or coverings at all times.”

The post Owners To Return To Irish Racecourses From Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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