covid-19 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Woodbine Cancels Remainder of Sunday Card Due to Inclement Weather

Shortly after announcing that the final three weeks of its Thoroughbred meet would be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, Woodbine was forced to cancel races seven through 13 on Sunday’s card due to inclement weather, effectively ending the meet. Among the races cancelled Sunday were renewals of the GIII Grey S. for 2-year-old males and GIII Mazarine S. for juvenile fillies.

In a brief statement, Woodbine said, “Woodbine Racetrack was forced to cancel the remainder of its live Thoroughbred racing program on Sunday, Nov. 22 following the sixth race due to inclement weather conditions in the Toronto area. For the safety of the horses, participants and staff, races seven through 13 were cancelled as a result of the inclement weather, including accumulating snow and forecasted fluctuating temperatures and mixed precipitation.”

The post Woodbine Cancels Remainder of Sunday Card Due to Inclement Weather appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

COVID-19: Indoor Dining Rooms, Concessions Closed For Remainder Of Churchill Downs Fall Meet

In accordance with the Commonwealth of Kentucky's most recent health and safety requirements issued on Wednesday, Nov. 18, all indoor concessions, dining rooms, the Turf Club, the Roses Lounge, private suites and inter-track wagering in the Aristides Lounge and Champions/Gold Rooms will be closed for the remainder of the fall meet. All current ticketholders will be refunded.

Reserved outdoor box seats remain open with proper social distancing at limited capacity per the state's requirements for venues and event spaces. First floor reserved box seats will be sold at general admission pricing for $5 ($7 on Friday and Saturday). Third floor box seats are $12. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.churchilldowns.com/tickets/. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

Temperature checks, physical distancing and mandatory face coverings are required upon entrance and movement within Churchill Downs.

Guests will be able to purchase limited food and beverage from concession stands located outdoors on the ground level. No food and beverage is allowed inside spaces of the track or indoors, including the second floor Clubhouse. Additionally, guests are not permitted to bring food and beverage into the facility.

Wearing cloth face coverings at all times is required when not actively consuming food or beverage; simply holding a beverage or food item does not constitute actively consuming.

Following the conclusion of the race meet on Sunday, Nov. 29, Churchill Downs will remain closed for simulcast wagering through Dec. 13, which is expiration date of the latest executive orders.

The post COVID-19: Indoor Dining Rooms, Concessions Closed For Remainder Of Churchill Downs Fall Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Woodbine Cancels Final Three Weeks of Meet Due to COVID Restrictions, Will Close After Sunday’s Card

As a result of the Government of Ontario’s announcement Friday that Toronto will be entering the Province’s grey ‘Lockdown’ phase of coronavirus-related restrictions, Woodbine Entertainment announced that Sunday will be the last day in 2020 of Thoroughbred racing in the Province.

“We have been, and continue to be, extremely supportive of the Government’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout our Province and appreciate the many difficult decisions they have to make,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We have approached the Government to explain the impacts this decision will have on our business and the horse racing industry in Ontario. With a better understanding of our operations and based on our safety record in operating live racing at our racetracks, we hope that the Government will consider these impacts in the future and assist us in managing the potentially devastating impact to horsepeople and animal welfare this early shutdown will cause.”

The cancelled race cards (12) at Woodbine Racetrack represented a significant opportunity for horsepeople to earn purse money that is critical for their livelihoods and the welfare of their horses as they enter the off-season for Thoroughbred racing in Ontario.

“Our organization’s sole mandate is to sustain the horse racing industry that supports the livelihoods of 20,000 families throughout the Province,” mentioned Lawson. “Woodbine Entertainment is the engine of that industry and this early shutdown further impacts our business.”

Woodbine Entertainment has approximately 1,300 employees either temporarily or permanently laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shutdown of racing also negatively impacts the approximately 2,000 horsepeople on the Woodbine backstretch, putting many of them out of work.

The recent ‘Lockdown’ restrictions prohibit live racing although do allow for training to continue, however it is expected that training will be wound down this week.

“Since we started racing at Woodbine and Mohawk Park in early June, we have demonstrated that racing without spectators poses no greater health risk to participants than training,” said Lawson. “We have been a leader in health and safety since the beginning of the pandemic and we are extremely proud of our record and the cooperation of our racing participants in maintaining safe racing environments.”

Woodbine Entertainment will provide further updates Monday regarding the closure of the season at Woodbine Racetrack.

The post Woodbine Cancels Final Three Weeks of Meet Due to COVID Restrictions, Will Close After Sunday’s Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Government ‘Lockdown’ Forces Early End To Woodbine’s 2020 Race Meet

As a result of the Government of Ontario's announcement on Friday that Toronto will be entering the Province's grey “Lockdown” phase of coronavirus-related restrictions, Woodbine Entertainment announced that Sunday, Nov. 22, will be the last day in 2020 of Thoroughbred racing in the Province.

“We have been, and continue to be, extremely supportive of the Government's efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout our Province and appreciate the many difficult decisions they have to make,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We have approached the Government to explain the impacts this decision will have on our business and the horse racing industry in Ontario. With a better understanding of our operations and based on our safety record in operating live racing at our racetracks, we hope that the Government will consider these impacts in the future and assist us in managing the potentially devastating impact to horsepeople and animal welfare this early shutdown will cause.”

“Our organization's sole mandate is to sustain the horse racing industry that supports the livelihoods of 20,000 families throughout the Province,” mentioned Lawson. “Woodbine Entertainment is the engine of that industry and this early shutdown further impacts our business.”

The recent “Lockdown” restrictions prohibit live racing although do allow for training to continue; however it is expected that training will be wound down this week.

Woodbine Entertainment will provide further updates on Monday regarding the closure of the season at Woodbine Racetrack.

The post Government ‘Lockdown’ Forces Early End To Woodbine’s 2020 Race Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post