covid-19 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Colonial Downs Adjusts To Spectator-Free Racing, Implements Jockey Restrictions

In light of the unprecedented pandemic impacting all walks of life and industries, Colonial Downs Group, a subsidiary of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, announced today that it will alter course from hosting limited spectators to a “spectator-free” racing program for the 2020 race meet, which opens Monday, July 27.

The decision to conduct the meeting without spectators is at the request of the Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) and the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (V-HBPA). . The change to “spectator free” racing is out of an abundance of caution and enables Colonial Downs to focus extra care towards key operating areas, such as the jockeys' quarters, paddock supervision, racing office and the stabling area.

“We accept the position of our industry partners that adjusting to spectator-free racing is ultimately best for protecting the health and safety of our racing participants,” said John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations for Colonial Downs.  “Our team is prepared to deliver a quality racing product while ensuring a safely run meet, which is our chief objective.”

Colonial Downs joins the group of major racetracks in the region racing without spectators including Saratoga, Laurel Park and Penn National. Spectators will not be permitted on the outdoor apron or the grandstand seats, and the 4th floor restaurant (1609) and suites will remain closed.

The 2020 Colonial Downs meeting will be conducted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, with first post time at 5:30 p.m. ET. The meeting will conclude on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

“Our horsemen fully support the decision to conduct racing without fans at Colonial this summer, otherwise the public health risk is too great,” said Frank Petramalo, Jr., Executive Director of V-HBPA. “There is a bright spot — all our races will be televised live on the TVG network, and people can wager on TVG or on other on-line sites.”

Fans are encouraged to watch Colonial Downs live on TVG channel 718 Xfinity, 399 Dish or 602 Direct TV, and wager by setting up an account on www.tvg.com.

As part of the protocols for jockeys participating in the upcoming meeting, Colonial Downs has established the following procedures:

Jockeys must provide a negative Covid-19 test before arriving on Colonial Downs grounds for the first time, and the test must have been taken since last riding elsewhere.
Jockeys who leave Colonial Downs to ride elsewhere, or enter another racetracks jockey's quarters, will not be permitted to return to Colonial Downs unless they self-quarantine for 14 days and obtain and provide a negative Covid-19 test.

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Blue Grass Farms Charities To Postpone Annual Fundraising Event

Due to Covid-19 causing many events to cancel, the Board of Directors for Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC) has made the difficult decision to postpone the upcoming “Monster Bash” Masquerade Ball.

The charity's annual fundraising event was scheduled for October 30, 2020 at Limestone Hall in downtown Lexington.

The online auction portion of the annual Fall fundraiser will still occur. While the exact date for the auction is yet to be determined, the charity is working to gather rare and unique items to offer up for bid.

“Creativity is the key word in fundraising this year,” states Julie Berry, Executive Director. “We began our 'Gallop and Graze' campaign for the next six months to raise funds to offset benevolent costs the charity is incurring due to the pandemic. Plans are being made for the online auction to take place sometime this Fall. Our auction committee members are working diligently to find unique objects to bid on that will not only be exciting but hard-to-find items, as well.”

Stay tuned – more information to come! In the meantime, contributions for the 'Gallop and Graze' Campaign can be made on the charity's Donate Now link located on its website, www.bgfcky.org.

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Blue Grass Farms Charities’ Monster Bash Postponed

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors for Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC) have postponed the upcoming “Monster Bash” Masquerade Ball, an annual fundraising event which was scheduled to be held at Limestone Hall in Lexington Oct. 30. Also, a date for the charities’ annual online auction has yet to be determined but will be conducted this season.
“Creativity is the key word in fundraising this year,” states Julie Berry, Executive Director. “We began our ‘Gallop and Graze’ campaign for the next six months to raise funds to offset benevolent costs the charity is incurring due to the pandemic. Plans are being made for the online auction to take place sometime this Fall. Our auction committee members are working diligently to find unique objects to bid on that will not only be exciting but hard-to-find items, as well.”
For more information on the online auction or to make a contribution to the ‘Gallop and Graze’ Campaign, visit www.bgfcky.org.

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Ireland: Statistics For First Half Of 2020 Illustrate ‘Devastating’ Financial Impact Of COVID-19

Six-month statistics for horse racing and breeding in Ireland, released last week by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), illustrate the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry.

A total of 87 fixtures were lost in Ireland from March to June during the Covid-19 lockdown. Racing resumed behind closed doors on June 8 with strict protocols designed to ensure race fixtures could be run in a safe and controlled manner. Only key personnel who have completed medical screening and thermal checks are permitted on track.

Those lost race meetings – allied with the current scenario of no public attendance at all fixtures held behind closed doors – have decimated attendance figures for the first six months of the year, down almost 80 percent.

The bloodstock sales in the first half of 2020 experienced severe interruption, with sales either deferred or moved out of Ireland. Sales of Thoroughbreds at auction in Ireland for the first six months is down 87.3 percent year-on-year.

The number of active owners during the first six months (i.e. those making an entry) was down by 13.9 percent. Since the resumption of racing, there has been an upturn in the number of horses returned in training.

The number returned at any point during the first six months was down 1.6 percent compared with 2019, having been up by 9.1 percent on March 24 when racing ceased, while the number of horses-in-training at the end of June was up 6.8 percent year-on-year, reflecting the resumption of a full race program under both codes.

With no racing attendances since early March, betting with on-course bookmakers and the Tote was down 73.9 percent. In April, Horse Racing Ireland announced a strategic alliance between Tote Ireland and the UK Tote Group which from early next month will provide bigger pools and a single online betting pool for Irish and UK Tote customers.

Business update from HRI Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh:

“2020 has been a devastating year for the country and like many other sectors, the horse racing and breeding industry has suffered greatly having effectively come to a standstill on March 24. Against that background, any comparison with previous years is futile. Nevertheless, a few key points are worth highlighting.

“The absence of attendances is having a devastating impact on racecourses and the businesses that depend on them such as on-course bookmakers, Tote, caterers and so on. Horse Racing Ireland and the racecourses are working to develop methods by which attendance can return once deemed appropriate by the Government. This is challenging and the contribution to the industry by the racecourses in continuing to race behind closed doors since June 8 is commendable.

“While traditionally the quieter part of the year, bloodstock sales figures for the first half of 2020 were decimated. The sales companies have shown flexibility with regard to their dates and HRI is working with them and Government to ensure that sales can safely resume in Ireland in August. The equivalent sales of those scheduled to be held between now and the end of the year generated €150m in turnover for Irish breeders in 2019, much of it to overseas buyers.

“With the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, horse breeding and training were able to continue safely during the period of restrictions and owners have shown great loyalty with just a small drop in the number of horses in training. HRI is committed to restoring as many of the lost opportunities as possible and has previously announced revised fixtures and race programmes for the rest of the year which will provide opportunities for horses at all levels. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of owners, both domestic and international, in retaining their horses in training which has protected employment and economic activity in rural Ireland.

“Horse Racing Ireland welcomes the strong commitment to develop the industry over the coming years contained in the recently published Programme for Government, particularly in the context of the challenges provided by Covid-19 and Brexit. The racing and breeding industry is one which will contribute to the economic recovery, generating employment and a significant level of international investment into the Irish rural economy. Horse Racing Ireland is working with all elements of the industry to mitigate the impact of the current crisis, however, the challenges facing many participants are significant.”

SUMMARY OF KEY FIGURES:
Attendances down 79.1%
Bloodstock sales down 87.3%
Horses-in-Training down 1.6%
Current Horses-in-Training up 6.8%
Active Owners down 13.9%
Field sizes up 3.4%
On-Course Betting down 73.9%

A full summary of figures can be viewed HERE

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