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COVID-19: Ohio’s 2021 Equine Affaire Transitions To Virtual Event

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect each and every one of us, our surroundings, and our businesses. Infection numbers continue to increase and while there is hope that the pandemic will begin to subside in 2021, we sadly share that Equine Affaire in Ohio on April 8-11, 2021, will not take place as an “in-person” event.

The Ohio Expo Center is currently being utilized by Columbus Health and will continue to serve as a COVID-19 testing site in the coming months. It is also slated to be a location for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines once they become available for distribution. With the inability to produce the event at the Ohio Expo Center coupled with current health guidelines and regulations beyond our control, the 2021 “in-person” Equine Affaire in Ohio originally scheduled for April 8-11, will not take place at the Ohio Expo Center next spring and will instead be held as a virtual event.

The virtual Equine Affaire will occur online on April 8-11, 2020, complete with education, shopping, competition and more! Stay tuned to our web site, equineaffaire.com, and social media platforms as we connect attendees with exhibitors and other virtual content, plus exciting updates about upcoming events and special features.

Equine Affaire will reach out directly to attendees who had exchanged tickets for the 2021 Ohio event as well as exhibitors regarding their exhibit arrangements.

Equine Affaire highly values the health, safety, and well-being of all who enthusiastically support Equine Affaire from year to year, and we are committed to producing our signature in-person events again in the future. Mark your calendars for November 11-14, 2021, as we return to W. Springfield, MA, and April 7-10, 2022 in Columbus, OH, bringing you the nation's premiere equine expositions and equestrian gatherings!

The post COVID-19: Ohio’s 2021 Equine Affaire Transitions To Virtual Event appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Happy To Get Out Of The Bubble’: Soumillon Emerges From COVID-19 Quarantine To Ride In Hong Kong

Sidelined from two of the most prestigious meetings in the world because of COVID-19, Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon is anxious to make up for lost opportunities – and time – when he resumes with a full book of rides at Sha Tin on Sunday, Dec. 20.

Diagnosed with COVID-19 shortly before the Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland on Nov. 7, the 10-time French champion surrendered a winning ride on Tarnawa in the US$4 million Breeders' Cup Turf.

Salting the wound, Soumillon also watched Order Of Australia – another confirmed mount – post an upset victory in the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Mile.

Unable to gain clearance to leave quarantine as scheduled in Hong Kong because of health protocols, Soumillon then forfeited the ride on Normcore, who claimed the HK$28 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup under Zac Purton.

Compounding the situation, Soumillon also lost the winning ride on Lucky Patch at Sha Tin at the same meeting.

But, exhibiting an attitude which has impressed his peers and Hong Kong Jockey Club officials, Soumillon is squarely fixed on future positives rather than pondering negatives from the past.

“I knew they (Normcore and Lucky Patch) were gonna run well, probably win. I was ready to see, even a bit, Admire Mars fighting with Golden Sixty. That didn't happen,” he said after the Happy Valley trials this morning (Dec. 18).

“But, anyway, I came here to try my best. I knew had some good rides. Last Wednesday, at Happy Valley, I lost five winners, so the same.

“I'm coming here to compete and do my best. Unfortunately, the rules are the rules.

“I get positively tested in the US.

“I already lost this year the Breeders' Cup, I could win the French Derby, I could win the Arc. I could win many big races and I couldn't be on the horse at the right time some times because we didn't take the greatest decision and sometimes because you get the COVID-19.

“But some people are very sick and couldn't get back well after getting the disease, so it doesn't matter.

“I work enough to know that if I keep going like this, I will find other big winners in the future.

“I lost something, but I learnt different things so it's gonna make me stronger at the end of the day.

“Hopefully I'm gonna get some good rides on some very good horses, that's the target at the end.

“I just want to go back riding races, going to the winners' circle and doing what I do best.”

Such is Soumillon's appeal among owners and trainers, he is fully booked through Jan. 1, 2021, starting with a complement of 10 rides on Sunday.

“Really happy to get out of the bubble, finally I can do what I really love every day – riding horses and competing with other jockeys,” he said.

“Very excited to be racing on Sunday and my feelings are very good. I'm fit and well and ready to go.”

Proving every cloud has a silver lining, Soumillon has used the time in isolation pro-actively, building fitness and spending hours poring over replays and form.

“Because I was locked up for more than two weeks now, maybe three (weeks), I've had the time to look at the races properly and analyze every horse's trackwork and the way they are improving a lot,” he said.

“It was quite good in that way.

“My first two race days are fully booked and it's the same now until the first of January, so I feel a lot of good support from the owners and trainers.

“I just hope now I can do my job again, like I did before.”

Soumillon is hopeful Ballistic King is among his best chances to add to his tally of 110 Hong Kong winners in the Class 2 Bellflower Handicap (1400m).

“We didn't have the best draw (barrier 9), but the horse looks in form,” he said.

“He got beat not far away the last few races, just hoping he can jump out of the gates quite well.

“He looks a bit of a one-paced horse but he looks in form. I think he's going to run good.”

Synonymous with Hong Kong top-liners Viva Pataca, Bullish Luck, Good Ba Ba and Perfect Partner, Soumillon will belatedly start a two-month contract, grateful to be heading back into the fray.

“The opportunity is great, but unfortunately I got the disease,” he said.

“Now I'm fine, I'm 100 percent right I just hope things will go back as they to normal.”

Soumillon partners Bella Baby, Smart Thinker, Glenealy Generals, King Dragon, Resolute, Speed Fay Fay, Super Power Man, Winning For All, Perfect To Great and Ballistic King.

Sunday's 10-race fixture kicks off at 1pm with the Class 5 Sunflower Handicap (1000m).

The post ‘Happy To Get Out Of The Bubble’: Soumillon Emerges From COVID-19 Quarantine To Ride In Hong Kong appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ascot Dec Racing Weekend to be Held Without Spectators

Ascot will not host spectators at the upcoming December Racing Meeting, held Dec. 18-19, as a result of the local authority in which Ascot is situated–the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead–moving into Tier Three of COVID-19 restrictions, beginning midnight on Friday, Dec. 18.

Additionally, Ascot has decided to exclude the public for the Dec. 18 card after consulting with Public Health England and its Safety Advisory Group.

Cases in the south of England have risen over 40% in the last week and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is now in a very high-risk area. For more information, visit www.ascot.co.uk

The post Ascot Dec Racing Weekend to be Held Without Spectators appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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COVID-19: Jockey Mike Smith Back On Track In Time For Los Alamitos Futurity

Sidelined since Nov. 29 due to a positive test for COVID-19, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith is ready to make his return this weekend at Los Alamitos, reports bloodhorse.com. Smith said he experienced only mild symptoms of the virus, and tested negative on Dec. 15.

The first start of Smith's return to the saddle will come aboard 2-year-old Petruchio in Saturday's Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Trained by Richard Mandella, the gelded son of Into Mischief partnered with Smith to break his maiden last out on Oct. 31. The likely second choice in the betting drew post position two in the six-horse field vying for points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“From what I hear about him, they thought a lot about him early on, but he was a bit of a renegade. He was ornery. They had to geld him, I believe,” Smith told bloodhorse.com. “After doing so, he put all his ducks in a row and ran a bang-up race. That was pretty impressive. He won within himself and has come back and worked really well on the dirt.”