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Charles Town To Reopen For Fans, Simulcasting Operations On June 22

Following a previous order by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice that would allow patrons at live sporting events effective June 22, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is pleased to announce the reopening of the first floor of its grandstand for live racing and simulcasting operations beginning on Monday, June 22 at 12:00 P.M EST.

Closed to racing spectators since March, Charles Town will be reopening not only its first floor to the public for wagering on live racing and simulcast signals from around the country but will also reopen its trackside apron for its live racing programs.

In working with state and local leaders, the track has developed a series of protocols designed to welcome back both guests and team members in a safe environment. These new protocols include, but are not limited to, the following:

Social Distancing

The installation of floor decals and signage to strictly enforce social distancing guidelines in areas where lines typically form.
Mutuel windows and self-service terminals will be configured to meet social distancing requirements.
The only food service to be offered at the outset will be limited to prepared food from our food court.
The box seat area and second floor of the grandstand will remain closed
Capacity restrictions for the Charles Town property will be in effect

Health & Safety

Team members, vendors and racing participants will be required to wear masks and will undergo a health screening each day, including temperature checks, prior to their shift.
Guests will be encouraged to wear masks and must respond to a verbal health screening prior to entry to the property.
There will initially be one entry for the general public to the property.
Mutuel windows and self-service terminals will be thoroughly and regularly cleaned.
Sanitizer stations will be installed on the floor and be readily available throughout the facility.
We will deploy a fog machine to disinfect and sanitize every night.

Live racing will continue to be held at Charles Town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with a first race post time of 7:00 P.M. EST. Full-day simulcasting from tracks around the country will take place from Thursday through Sunday, with opening and closing times on the other days dictated by the number of tracks in operation.

In order to accommodate patrons looking to wager on this Saturday's Belmont Stakes, Charles Town intends on opening a pair of self-service mutuel terminals located near the Sportsbook on the gaming side of the facility for the day's events.

The post Charles Town To Reopen For Fans, Simulcasting Operations On June 22 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Indiana Announces Revamped 2020 Indiana Thoroughbred Breeder Program

Changes to the 2020 Indiana Thoroughbred racing program have been approved as Indiana's racetracks prepare to commence racing in mid-June after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the racing season. The Indiana Horse Racing Commission approved the recommended program in a virtual meeting last week.

Due to casino closures and the potential for reduced revenues once reopened, funding available for the program decreased significantly, with the new projected revenue being around $8.2 million. However, even with the decreased numbers, the Indiana Thoroughbred racing program offered for 2020 remains strong.

“Going into this year's racing program, we were excited to offer a program with many enhancements; however, due to the unique situation we are now in, many of those elements had to be put on hold until the 2021 program,” says Jessica Barnes, director of racing and breed development for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. “I'm thankful the tracks, horsemen's groups and commission were able to all come together to offer the best program we could during these unprecedented times.”

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino was originally scheduled to open April 14, but the track and the backside were closed due to the statewide COVID-19 pandemic quarantine on March 16. With approval from the governor's office, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) recently released a phased approach to begin horse racing in Indiana, with the backside of the tracks now open. The plan calls for racing to commence at the two pari-mutuel tracks the week of June 16 without spectators. If there is no change to Governor Holcomb's “Back on Track Indiana” plan, spectators will be able to return to the tracks on July 4.

The new race schedule will see a reduced number of races, totaling 206 restricted Thoroughbred races. While the lucrative restricted Indiana-bred stakes schedule remains intact, there have been purse reductions enacted across the board. The six Indiana Signature Stakes (which includes the two newest races that were approved in February), and typically pay out $150,000, have been reduced to $100,000, while the other 22 restricted Indiana-bred and Indiana-sired stakes will be contested at $75,000. In total, the restricted stakes will pay more than $2 million in 2020.

One noticeable change between the initial 2020 program and the one recently approved is within the Indiana Breeders Awards. The award percentage, designed to reward breeders for foaling in Indiana, will remain at 2019 levels.

“I'd like to thank the track for the assistance they've offered the program,” says Blaine Davidson, member of the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee. “We're very, very fortunate to even be able to race this year, and I'm very pleased with what I've seen. I know it's not what everyone expected, but we're making it work.”

While the commission has approved the revised plan, Barnes is quick to point out that things are able to change as the casinos open up and patrons return to the track for on-track wagering.

“If we get a month or two into the reopening, and projections are better than what we have forecasted, we have the flexibility to go back to the commission with a revised proposal,” explains Barnes. “This is a fluid situation, and our program has the ability to adjust in a manner that will best benefit our breeders, owners and trainers.”

More information can be found on the program's website (http://in.gov/hrc/tb/).

The post Indiana Announces Revamped 2020 Indiana Thoroughbred Breeder Program appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Watson Runner Withdrawn After Staff Failed Temperature Check

Jam And Mam (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was prevented from running at Doncaster on Sunday after one of the members of staff travelling with the horse failed a temperature check. Strict protocols in place on racecourses since the resumption of racing in Britain in June 1 mean all individuals attending a fixture must pass a temperature check, with a threshold of 37.8C. The Archie Watson-trained 3-year-old had been due to run in division one of the Read Andrew Balding On Betway Insider H.

A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority said, “Following arrival at the course, one of the members of staff travelling with Jam And Mam failed to meet the screening requirements to enter. In order to ensure that behind closed doors racing is as safe and secure an environment as possible for all attendees and minimise any risk of spreading Covid-19, those travelling with the horse were not able to enter the racecourse and as such the horse was declared a non-runner.

“This is in accordance with the protocols developed with organisations from across the racing industry, which are designed to safeguard the health of all those attending.”

The post Watson Runner Withdrawn After Staff Failed Temperature Check appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Horse Racing Professionals Create Lexington-Based Nonprofit To Care For Thoroughbreds Surrendered Due To COVID-19 Financial Impact

On June 12, the newly created Lexington-based We Are Here Initiative (WAHI) will begin accepting Thoroughbreds that have been retired from horse racing due to financial and economic strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We Are Here, which is not an aftercare or adoption program, will serve as a layover destination for Thoroughbreds before being placed in an approved aftercare facility, so as not to inundate aftercare and adoption organizations with an influx of horses.

In the spring of 2020, the horse racing industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in many racetracks throughout the United States postponing or shortening their race meets. With limited races available for horses, many owners and smaller training operations and have suffered a financial hit, resulting in the need to retire some of their runners. Due to the possibility of historical numbers of horses needing to be placed in aftercare the We Are Here Initiative has been proactively created for the horses to facilitate their journey from the track to various aftercare organizations nationwide.

Thoroughbred owners and trainers needing to rehome their horses can contact the We Are Here hotline at 833-924-6882 (833-WAH-OTTB), which will provide information regarding the initial steps to be taken.

Thoroughbreds being rehomed to We Are Here must meet certain criteria to be eligible for this program. Horses must be registered Thoroughbreds trained by a licensed trainer in the United States; horses much be located at a US licensed racetrack or training facility, or verified to be eligible for the 2020 racing season; and horses will need a current Coggins, health certificate, and the completed “We Are Here” documentation.

“When racetracks closed down, I began to worry that the horses and their wonderful caretakers were going to need us at the very moment most aftercare facilities were either closed or dealing with severe financial strain. The Kentucky Horse Park stepped up to the plate to offer 100 stalls, and a partnership was formed with the Secretariat Center to provide a place for these horses to go until such a time as space opens in the various Aftercares nationwide,” says Dorothy Crowell, Deputy Director of We Are Here Initiative and Secretariat Center Board President.

“Horsemen and horsewomen are inherently resilient and supportive of each other in tough times. We all believe our industry will survive the crisis we are currently under, but we recognize these are threatening times in horse racing, not only financially, but in other ways that affect our day to day lives. The We Are Here initiative was put in motion to ensure race horses in need will be safe, cared for and transition to new careers. Most importantly, through this initiative we hope all horsemen and horsewomen know and understand, We Are Here to support you,” says Eric Hamelback, Executive Director of We Are Here Initiative and CEO of The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA).

For more information about the We Are Here Initiative, to donate, or to learn more about surrendering Thoroughbreds in your care, please visit www.wahi.info. To contact the We Are Here Hotline, please dial 833-WAH-OTTB (833-924-6882).

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