covid-19 | Horse Racing Free Tips

EQUITANA USA’s 2020 Exhibition Canceled Due To COVID-19

Due to increased concern over public safety resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, EQUITANA USA's live three-day celebration of the horse is canceled for 2020. The world's largest equestrian trade fair and expo was originally scheduled for Sept. 25-27, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The event and its exhibitors, fans and performers will look forward to the 2021 event, slated for Oct. 1-3, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

“EQUITANA USA is a shared place and time for all disciplines, breeds, ages and levels of the equine industry,” said Meghan Margewicz, the event's director. “But the safety of everyone associated with the event is always our first priority. After many discussions with the Kentucky Horse Park, exhibitors, presenters and attendees, we made a difficult, but necessary decision to cancel this year's celebration and work to create an amazing reunion for everyone in 2021.”

All EQUITANA USA 2020 ticket holders will be refunded electronically. No further action by ticket holders is required.

EQUITANA USA invites equestrian professionals, enthusiasts, and everyone interested in learning more to follow its social channels and e-newsletters for updates on the live 2021 event, a virtual celebration kicking off this September, and a year-round celebration of our community through digital education, entertainment and conversation.

Exhibitors interested in the 2021 event, virtual celebration, or year-round promotional opportunities can learn more here or by contacting Kaitlyn Fritz at kfritz@reedexpo.com.

About EQUITANA USA & Reed Exhibitions: EQUITANA USA is a three-day celebration of the horse that invites equestrian professionals and enthusiasts of all riding levels and ages, disciplines and breeds to gather for education, entertainment, instruction and shopping. Reed Exhibitions, producer of EQUITANA USA is a leading global events business. It combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 500 events in almost 30 countries across 43 industry sectors, attracting more than 7 million participants. Reed Exhibitions is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.

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Turf Paradise Facing Uncertain 2020-2021 Meet

Ongoing tensions between the management of Turf Paradise and Arizona-based horsemen is placing the upcoming 2020-2021 meet under a cloud of uncertainty. Last week, Turf Paradise released a press release detailing plans to push back its opening day from Oct. 17 to Friday, Nov. 27. The revised dates meant an overall reduction in live race days from 133 to 110.

“We are working with AZHBPA [Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association] president Bob Hutton as to a date when the horses can begin to arrive in the stable area,” said track general manager Vincent Francia, in the release.

According to Hutton, his organization emailed last Thursday the operators of Turf Paradise a list of 17 questions and concerns surrounding such issues as the multi-year agreement that the HPBA entered into with Turf Paradise, stable area renovations, and contingency plans in the event of a second wave of COVID-19 infections this winter, including a promise not to close the track prior to the end of the scheduled meet.

When Turf Paradise suddenly closed its doors earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, track management gave the horsemen days to vacate the premises–a move the facility later shied away from.

The response to the 17 emailed questions, however, failed to allay the Arizona horsemen’s concerns, said Hutton. As such, he said that he advised trainers “to make up their own mind” about whether to stable and race at Turf Paradise when the facility opens its doors once again.

“But my recommendation would be to, based on the track not being able to guarantee that they’ll run the entire meet, then you’ll probably need to make other plans,” said Hutton, who added that he’ll be sending his horses to alternate tracks this winter.

TDN attempted to reach Francia by email and by phone Tuesday, but did not receive a response before publication.

These developments form just the latest chapter in a protracted stand-off between the horsemen and Turf Paradise management. Earlier in the year, a simulcasting dispute led The Stronach Group’s Monarch to pull its signal from the state, dealing a sizeable blow to the industry’s coffers.

The crux of the issue surrounded Arizona Downs, one of three tracks in the state. When Arizona Downs reopened for live racing in 2019, Monarch sent its signal to the track itself but not to the track’s network of off-track betting sites (OTBs). In contrast, Monarch distributed its signal to Turf Paradise and its network of some 60 OTBs.

Near the start of March, the HBPA voted to withdraw the Turf Paradise signal from all Stronach Group affiliates. Before that could happen, however, the track was closed due to the onset of the global pandemic.

When Turf Paradise closed its doors at the beginning of May, track management sent the Arizona HBPA a letter giving the organization 30 days to “remove its belongings” from its Turf Paradise office and to “remove the trailer [medical trailer] from Turf Paradise property.” Ordinarily, all HBPA equipment would have remained at the facility during the summer, said Hutton.

According to Hutton, Turf Paradise failed to answer HBPA concerns about whether the organization would be permitted office space at the track during the upcoming meet.

The two parties appear to agree on some things, however. Turf Paradise’s proposed Nov. 27 starting date, detailed in last week’s press release, would have jeopardized the various sales stakes and Arizona bred races that typically occur at the end of October and the beginning of November, said Hutton.

But Turf Paradise agreed to a compromise, said Hutton–a Nov. 1 stating date for the meet. “That would be the only thing we agree upon,” he said.

The next Arizona Racing Commission meeting is slated for Aug. 13.

The post Turf Paradise Facing Uncertain 2020-2021 Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Deadline: Jockeys Riding In Kentucky Derby Required To Arrive In State By Aug. 24

Any jockey expecting to ride in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 or Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs must arrive in Kentucky by Aug. 24, according to regulations first reported by Horse Racing Nation.

All riders, not just those shipping in from out of state, must pass two separate coronavirus tests, one by 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24, and a second by noon on Monday, Aug. 31. Jockeys testing positive will be required to quarantine for 10 days, the report states.

In addition, all individuals with access to the jockeys' room will be required to test by Aug. 31.

A Spotlight on Stress in the Era of COVID: Price Bell

Working in racing has always been a stressful occupation; a roller-coaster of emotions, triumphs and tragedies, long hours and travel. Add a global pandemic and unprecedented economic worry, with many participants fearing for their health, livelihoods and businesses, and the stress can become almost overwhelming. It’s the sort of topic many people don’t like to talk about, but we asked several industry participants to open about what particular stresses they were feeling during these very concerning times, and how they were dealing with them.

PRICE BELL, Mill Ridge Farm

We are very lucky. My godfather spent 20 days in the ICU due to COVID-19 and twice was presented DNR papers to sign, giving him 30 minutes to improve his oxygen saturation levels prior to intubating him.

He is home- still recovering, but home. He was diagnosed on March 16^th. We spoke on March 18^th and at that time, “it was not as bad as the flu, just more aggravating.” On March 20th he was admitted to the hospital, March 22nd the ICU and discharged home on April 12th. He is still recovering, but can now walk for 30 minutes. He played fullback for Coach Parcells at Vanderbilt, and on March 15th he was in the best shape of his life. We are lucky.

It is really hard. Like many, Beth and I both work full-time. Trying to excel in our professions, parent/teach/keep it on the rails with our two children (five and three) and have a relationship is impossible. The peace of two sleeping children is often our greatest victory.

Perspective, patience and community have been key to “handling” the stress of the pandemic.

Perspective that our health, the health of our team, the health of their families and the health of our families and loved ones is paramount.

Patience that we are all going through this together. We have to be patient with each other because it’s impossible to know if someone is up or down on the “coronacoaster.” I can’t say that I always have perspective and patience, but it’s something I am consciously working towards.

Our community has provided us with plenty of silver linings. We have felt great joy in sharing Mill Ridge on virtual tours, we have had many family picnics that never would have occurred because we would have been “too busy” in the past and we have forged relationships with plenty of neighbors with whom we would have normally only shared a passing hello. And, the love I felt at the outpouring of support when I tested positive for COVID-19 recently and had to isolate away from my family for 11 days. I was lucky and asymptomatic.

We will get through this and be stronger together.

Would you be willing to share your thoughts on stress during this particularly difficult time? Email the TDN’s Katie Ritz at katieritz@thetdn.com or Sue Finley at suefinley@thetdn.com.

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