COVID-19 cancellations | Horse Racing Free Tips

Racing Cancelled At Turf Paradise Monday And Tuesday Due To COVID-19 Positive

Racing and training at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., were cancelled on Monday after an employee in the jockeys' room tested positive for COVID-19. The unidentified employee has been hospitalized, according to Vincent Francia, the track's general manager.

Francia informed horsemen via social media late Sunday that all jockeys and valets had been notified and would be required to undergo rapid testing and three-day result testing for COVID-19. The jockeys' quarters were disinfected Sunday and would be fogged with an extra strength disinfectant.

The track's starting gate crew will also be required to undergo COVID-19 testing, and horsemen and Turf Paradise staff are also advised to get tested.

Francia said Monday morning that he anticipated training would take place Tuesday but racing would again be cancelled. He believed racing would resume on Wednesday.

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Steeplechase Fixtures Cancelled

The Aiken Steeplechase Association has cancelled the Spring Steeplechase, held annually at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, S.C., due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s edition was to be held Saturday, Mar. 20. Aiken’s Holiday Cup in October is currently still scheduled. For more information, visit aikensteeplechase.com.

Officials at the Foxfield Races have also been forced to cancel its spring races, scheduled for Apr. 24. According to a release, they will focus their efforts on the Fall Races, tentatively set to take place Oct. 3.

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Live Racing At Sunland Park Remains A Question During The Pandemic

In normal years Sunland Park in New Mexico would be gearing up for its annual meet which usually runs from December to March. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic however, its 2020-21 season is still a question mark. According to an article from the El Paso Times, Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino had a 42-day meet scheduled for Dec. 26 through March 30.

Sunland Park was forced to end its season early in March of this year due to health concerns. This was a big decision for Sunland Park because it meant that many of its big spring and summer races would not take place, including their Kentucky Derby prep race, the Sunland Derby. The track attempted a comeback in June, but it only lasted a few days before being forced to shut down again.

The unknown future of live racing at Sunland Park has forced some of its prominent trainers to look elsewhere for their winter seasons. Todd Fincher and Justin Evans have both run horses at Sunland Park for several years and are now relocating to Turf Paradise in Arizona and Sam Houston Park in Texas.

“We'll spend a good portion of the winter in Arizona,” Evans said to El Paso Times' Felix Chavez. “I'll look at Sam Houston as well for some stakes races. I'll keep my New Mexico bred horses ready in New Mexico if Sunland Park does open. It's been tough on everyone. Some jockeys are headed to Arizona as well. My wife Vanessa is going to be agent for a few jockeys such as Frank Reyes, Luis Negron and Jimmy Coates.”

“It's been a difficult time for so many in this industry,” Fincher added. “I'm fortunate to have been granted 24 stalls at Sam Houston and will have some run at Remington Park in Oklahoma as well. But I really believe we could have run in New Mexico and done it the right way. People are getting out of the business and it's tough to see that happen to good people.”

Sunland Park is not the only racetrack in New Mexico having issues staying open during the pandemic. Zia Park Racetrack recently took a couple weeks off due to health safety concerns, but is set to resume racing and finish their meet this December.

Woodbine Meet Officially Over

While attempts were made to reach an agreement with the Ontario government to continue racing despite a mandatory 28-day lockdown of Toronto and its suburbs, Woodbine Entertainment announced Thursday that the track’s 2020 Thoroughbred meet was officially over.

“While I am extremely disappointed we are not able to complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet, what we achieved this year in face of significant adversity is quite remarkable,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “I have been around horse racing my entire life and I can proudly say that I have never seen the industry come together as it did throughout this year.

“Together, we were able to develop, implement and follow strict COVID-19 Prevention Protocols that allowed us to be the first sport to return to competition in Canada since the shutdowns in March,” said Lawson. “We safely resumed racing in early June and ran almost 100 racing cards, more than 900 races, and the majority of our stakes schedule, including the 161st running of The Queen’s Plate.

“We hope the Government of Ontario has gained a better understanding of our business and appreciation of our safety record in operating live racing without spectators.”

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