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BC Announces Safety Protocols for ’20 World Championships

Breeders’ Cup Limited outlined a detailed set of health and safety protocols put in place to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 for the limited staff, participants and essential personnel who will be onsite at the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course Nov. 6-7.

This plan was developed in consultation with Keeneland, local and state government officials, and public health experts, including Dr. Richard Greenberg–Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. The plan closely follows the guidance established by the Healthy at Work requirements for venues and event spaces, bars and restaurants established by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Last month, Breeders’ Cup announced that the event will be run without spectators and attendance would be limited to racing participants and essential personnel only.

“The health and safety of our participants, employees, athletes, associates and the broader Lexington community are our top priorities,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming.

Dr. Greenberg added, “The important health and safety measures and capacity restrictions that Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland have put in place for this year’s event, including testing, face coverings, physical distancing and medical screening requirements, will go a long way in protecting the wellbeing of the limited number of attendees.”

For the detailed outline of protocols for the 2020 World Championships, click here.

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Breeders’ Cup Outlines COVID-19 Health And Safety Protocols For Two-Day Championships At Keeneland

Breeders' Cup Limited on Saturday announced a detailed set of health and safety protocols put in place to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 for the limited staff, participants and essential personnel who will be on site at the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course.

This plan was developed in consultation with Keeneland, local and state government officials, and public health experts, including Dr. Richard Greenberg – Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. The plan closely follows the guidance established by the Healthy at Work requirements for venues and event spaces, bars and restaurants established by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Last month, Breeders' Cup announced that the event will be run without spectators to protect the health and safety of employees, racing participants, those caring for the horses and the broader Lexington community. To this end, 2020 World Championships attendance will be limited to racing participants and essential personnel only.

“The health and safety of our participants, employees, athletes, associates and the broader Lexington community are our top priorities,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “We are proud to be in a position to conduct the 2020 World Championships in a safe manner and allow the top horses from around the world to come together and compete for $31 million in purses and awards over two days of best-in-class racing. It's a testament to the hard work put in by our entire team and many others, as well as the resiliency of the broader Thoroughbred industry.”

“The important health and safety measures and capacity restrictions that Breeders' Cup and Keeneland have put in place for this year's event, including testing, face coverings, physical distancing and medical screening requirements, will go a long way in protecting the wellbeing of the limited number of attendees,” said Dr. Greenberg.

Highlights of Breeders' Cup's health and safety protocols for the 2020 World Championships include:

Breeders' Cup will provide complimentary testing onsite at Keeneland for participants, media, vendors and staff. All those who will be on site are encouraged to take advantage of this testing.
All staff, trainers and personnel accessing the Rice Road stable area will be required to present a negative test prior to entering the stable area.
Daily health checks will be conducted at Keeneland entry points. These medical screenings include a medical questionnaire and a contactless temperature check. Only those who have successfully completed these medical screenings will be permitted to enter the grounds.
Everyone entering the facility will be required to wear a cloth face covering or protective mask and may only remove to actively eat or drink.
Hand sanitizer dispensers, touchless whenever possible, will be placed at key entrances and contact areas.
Building Services staff will clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces using EPA registered disinfectants on a regular basis. High touch point areas, including all seating, tabletops, other tabletop items, door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, phones, pens, and keypads will be cleaned on a constant rotation.
In-person events surrounding the World Championships have been greatly scaled back and cancelled in most cases.
The Keeneland Grandstand encompasses over 47,000 square feet of space, allowing for ample physically distancing for the limited number of people who will be on site. Participants will be required to practice proper distancing and stay six feet apart from other parties; this will be strictly enforced.
All seating will be assigned – all seats and tables will be predetermined and physically distanced.
Out-of-state or International jockeys must be in Lexington by Wednesday, Nov. 4 to receive COVID-19 test onsite by 7:00 p.m. ET. Jockeys have also been encouraged to get their influenza vaccinations prior to coming to Lexington.
All out-of-state or international jockeys must also have RT-PCR COVID-19 nasopharyngeal test conducted in the racing jurisdiction they are presently riding in taken within 72 hours before arrival in Kentucky and the test must show a negative result.
In-state jockeys will have a COVID-19 test completed on Wednesday, Nov. 4 and must have a negative result in order to ride during the Championships.
Breeders' Cup will maintain records to allow for contact tracing via a “Virtual Badge” app.
All those who are feeling sick are encouraged to stay home.
Access to the stable area, paddock, winner's circle and all indoor spaces will be restricted to authorized credentials.
Dining options will be limited to plated and individually wrapped food items and beverages.
Participants will be encouraged to wager through Breeders' Cup's official online wagering provider, TVG, or other online providers, rather than betting in person.
Signage and visual markers will be placed throughout the facility stressing mandatory masks/face coverings, hand washing and physical distancing.
These protocols will be stringently enforced on site.

Breeders' Cup and Keeneland remain flexible and are continuing to monitor the evolving situation in coordination with authorities to determine whether additional measures will be needed in order to hold the event in a safe and secure manner.

The 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships is set to take place Nov. 6 – 7 and will air live on NBC and NBCSN.

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Keeneland Announcer Becker Sidelined With COVID-19

Kurt Becker, the only track announcer in Keeneland's history, tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss Saturday's final day of the Lexington, Ky., track's fall meeting.

A statement from Keeneland said Becker, who ended the “silent era” by becoming Keeneland's first race caller in 1997, is “experiencing only mild symptoms and he is resting at home.”

Keeneland did not indicate what day Becker was tested. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department protocol in other cases with mild symptoms required a minimum 10 days in isolation following a positive test. Unless his condition worsens, that would free Becker from isolation in time to provide the on-track call of the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

The statement from Keeneland said: “In adherence to Keeneland's Healthy at Work protocols, track announcer Kurt Becker will miss closing day of the Fall Meet as he has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Kurt is experiencing only mild symptoms and he is resting at home. We look forward to his speedy recovery and to welcoming him back for the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7.”

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that two other unnamed individuals working at Keeneland tested positive this week, one a year-round employee and the other seasonal.

Travis Stone, track announcer at Churchill Downs, filled in for Becker on Saturday's closing-day card. Churchill Downs begins its fall meet on Sunday.

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Breeders’ Cup Festival Announces Plans For Week Of World Championships In Lexington

Befitting a city that is the “Horse Capital of the World”, the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland will be a unique and exciting experience that pays homage to the Lexington community. The CHI Saint Joseph Health Breeders' Cup Festival has developed safe and diverse ways to highlight the city's creative and culinary culture during the November 1-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships Week.

“The city of Lexington set the hospitality bar high when we hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2015,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “This year we will continue to bring out the best in our City, as we welcome our guests and showcase our international leadership of the Thoroughbred industry.”

All festival activities will follow health and safety protocols as mandated by the CDC and the Governor's office to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19.

“Despite the challenges we have faced, we are still hosting a world-class event with our limited guests, as well as locals, and they will still have ample opportunity to enjoy this international event safely,” said festival chair Kip Cornett. “Thanks to the city of Lexington, along with our arts and restaurant communities, there will be a number of activities that allow everyone to responsibly participate and appreciate what the Thoroughbred industry means to Lexington.”

Starting on Wednesday, October 28, an impressive collection of 32 dining establishments will participate in an “International Feeders' Cup”, where local chefs will create dishes of the 16 countries who have participated in the Breeders' Cup. From Australia to Ireland, from Peru to Japan, these restaurants' salute to international cuisine can be found at FeedersCup.com.

World Championship week will then kick off with a “bang” with a downtown fireworks show at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 1st. A musically-synched fireworks display will follow the same location and safety protocols from the July 4th show. Citizens who can't see the fireworks from their homes are encouraged to drive to an appropriate parking spot and celebrate from their cars. Viewing available from Rupp Arena's High Street parking lot. There is no charge for parking.

Starting Wednesday, the center of the city will feature roving musicians who will perform in numerous public spaces downtown. They will be joined by local artists who will be capturing the Breeders' Cup experience in live, plein air painting in various spaces throughout the hospitality corridor. Three life-size horse statues painted and decorated as part of the Painted Horse Trilogy will be on display in Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza.

“There will not be a single performance area and we will be very careful to adhere to social distancing rules, but this gives our artistic community a chance to shine and be a part of the experience in 2020,” stated Cornett.

A number of events planned by the 2020 Breeders' Cup Festival Committee will occur when the Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Lexington in 2022.

“During this unprecedented Breeders' Cup week, we are finding new and creative ways to honor our World Championships' participants,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “Lexington's local community of racing fans, businesses and members of the Thoroughbred industry are the backbone of the sport and deserve a second opportunity, in short order, to experience the World Championships and the Breeders' Cup Festival at their full potential and we are more than excited to return again in 2022.”

“Keeneland is honored to once again welcome the Breeders' Cup home to Central Kentucky, and to share two days of championship racing with our fans, albeit remotely, around the world,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We sincerely thank our corporate and industry partners for their support of this year's Breeders' Cup Festival. Though limited in scope, it still provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the best of Lexington and engage the community. We are eager to celebrate the pageantry and excitement on Nov. 6-7, and look forward to its return in 2022.

The Breeders' Cup will also have numerous opportunities to take in all the excitement around the racing action. Starting with the draw for post positions and continuing through two days of amazing competition on Friday and Saturday, fans are encouraged to visit BreedersCup.com to learn how to watch, wager and enjoy all the excitement from their homes. From livestream events to the NBC coverage, the Breeders' Cup can be enjoyed and experienced throughout the whole week. Racing coverage will begin on NBCSN on Friday, November 6th, at 2:00pm ET. On Saturday, November 7th, coverage begins at noon ET on NBCSN before switching over to NBC at 2:30pm ET.

“We can't thank CHI Saint Joseph Health, as well as The Jockey Club, enough for making a modified version of the Breeders' Cup Festival happen this year,” closed Cornett. “With their help, we have found new and creative ways to enjoy our local culture and highlight the importance of the Thoroughbred industry.”

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