covid-19 protocols | Horse Racing Free Tips

NYRA Announces New COVID-19 Protocols For Jockeys

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 2020/21 Aqueduct winter meet, which will open on Thursday, Dec. 10 and run through Sunday, March 28.

The 56-day Aqueduct winter meet will include 42 stakes races worth $4.57 million in purse money. In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Aqueduct will be closed to riders that are not regular members of the NYRA jockey colony as of Dec. 31.

To account for NYRA's 10-day holiday break from December 21 through Dec. 30, jockeys interested in being included in the regular NYRA jockey colony must contact NYRA for consideration by Dec. 31.

Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Aqueduct winter meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a 5-day window in order to return to ride at Aqueduct. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days. All COVID-19 testing must be performed in New York state.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area at Belmont Park.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom. Valets working in in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

Live racing during the Aqueduct winter meet will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday until the end of February and the addition of special Monday cards on Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Feb. 15 for Presidents' Day. Live racing in March will be offered Friday through Sunday through the conclusion of the winter meet on March 28.

For additional information, and the complete winter meet stakes schedule, please visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule.

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Pegasus World Cup Series Returns for 2021

The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series is returning to Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 23, 2021. Launched in 2017 as part of 1/ST’s mission to modernize the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, the Pegasus World Cup has evolved into a Championship Invitational Series featuring two Grade I stakes races with a combined $4 million in purses.

The GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, run on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles, offers a $3-million total purse. The GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, run on the turf at 1 3/16 miles, offers a $1-million purse. 1/ST entirely provides the $4-million total purse contribution.

This year’s event will provide opportunities in North American Thoroughbred racing for horse owners by showcasing their equine athletes competing free of medications on race day while providing the winner of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational with an automatic entry into the 2021 $20-million Saudi Cup.

The medication-free format, for both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards and reflects the commitment that 1/ST, along with other major racing organizations and associations, made in April 2019 to eliminate Lasix in all graded stakes races in 2021.

The 2021 Pegasus World Cup will implement strict social distancing protocols and new health and safety guidelines for riders and spectators. On-premise, attendance for this year’s event has been reduced to 20% to allow all guests to socially distance accordingly.

NBC Sports returns as the official broadcast partner of the 2021 Pegasus World Cup and will broadcast the race day excitement live from 4:30 pm-6:00 pm ET.

The post Pegasus World Cup Series Returns for 2021 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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No Reversal By Ontario Government; Woodbine Meet Officially Over

Woodbine Entertainment provided the following update on the 2020 Thoroughbred meet:

Despite efforts to gain approval from the government of Ontario to safely complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet, we have made the decision to officially cancel the remainder of the season.

“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 161^st 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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Sources: COVID-19 Outbreak Hits Parx Jockey Colony

Multiple sources have told the Paulick Report as many as 10 jockeys currently based at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. In addition, the sources said, one racing official who regularly comes in close contact with riders has also tested positive.

Track officials have not issued any statements concerning COVID-19 and could not be reached for comment.

Parx races Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Angel R. Rodriguez, fourth leading jockey during the current meet, was off all mounts on Nov. 18 and has not been named to ride this week. At least two other riders who have been riding regularly at Parx, Jason Nguyen and Luis Rivera, were off their mounts last week and not named in entries for the upcoming week.

Numerous jockey changes are anticipated on Monday's card as a number of riders were said to have tested positive since entries were taken for the Nov. 23-24-25 races.

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