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Churchill Downs Considers Increasing Kentucky Derby Capacity

On Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that businesses would be allowed to increase indoor capacity from 50 to 60 percent. According to the Courier-Journal, Churchill Downs is now considering increasing fan capacity at this year's Kentucky Derby, scheduled for Saturday, May 1.

Previously, Churchill had announced that 40 to 50 percent of the track's reserve seating capacity would be sold for Derby day. Now, that capacity might be increased to 60 percent, though a specific number of seats has not been decided. General admission tickets will not be sold until closer to the date of the Kentucky Derby.

“With the governor's announcement yesterday, we've started to analyze how we can flex up and remain nimble for the weeks to come for any additional charges and restrictions as that might come out,” Churchill president Mike Anderson told the Courier-Journal. “We'll continue to follow the guidelines for both local and state health agencies to make sure we are following all the COVID compliance.”

No fans were permitted at the 2020 edition of the Kentucky Derby, which was held on Sept. 5, due to the pandemic.

Aqueduct Announces Updated Jockey Protocols For Winter Meet

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced updated COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys competing at the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet which runs through Sunday, March 28.

As of March 1, out of town riders not established in the NYRA colony may ride at Aqueduct upon completion of two negative COVID-19 PCR tests within five days of race day. Incoming riders will be provided isolated jockey quarters. All COVID-19 testing must be performed in New York state.

Prior to March 1, Aqueduct Racetrack was closed to riders that were not considered members of the NYRA winter jockey colony—as listed in the condition book- as of Dec. 31.

Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Aqueduct winter meet will continue to be required to provide two negative COVID-19 PCR tests taken within a 5-day window in order to return to ride at Aqueduct. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area at Belmont Park.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

Valets working in in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

Live racing in March will be offered Friday through Sunday through the conclusion of the winter meet on March 28.

For additional information, please visit https://www.nyra.com.

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Casino To Re-Open At Sunland Park, But Racing Remains On Hold

Sunland Park in New Mexico plans to re-open the casino portion of its venue on March 5, reports ABC-7. The casino has been shut down due to COVID-19 since last summer.

Horse racing at Sunland Park remains on hold, however.

Last week, state regulators officially cancelled the remainder of the 2021 race meet, including the Sunland Derby. The track's signature race was not held in 2020, either.

Belmont’s Spring/Summer Meet To Offer Highest Ever Overnight Purses

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will offer its highest ever overnight purse schedule at the upcoming 48-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet slated for Thursday, April 22 through Sunday, July 11.

The condition book for the Belmont spring/summer meet is available online now at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/horsemen. Hard copies of the condition book will be available in the race office next week.

“NYRA is pleased to be able to offer the highest overnight purse levels in the history of Belmont Park,” said Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “These increases come at an important time in support of horsemen and will drive the industry forward as we emerge from the challenges wrought by COVID-19.”

Significant increases were made across most race categories which will see horsemen at the Belmont spring/summer meet compete for some of the highest purses in North America.

Open maiden special weight races at the Belmont spring/summer meet will feature a purse of $90,000 and horsemen participating in the claiming ranks will compete for purse money ranging up to $100,000.

New York-bred maiden special weight races will offer a purse of $75,000, while horses bred in the Empire State will benefit from an $85,000 purse for non-winners of two / $45,000 claiming and an $80,000 purse for the non-winners of one category.

“There has never been a better time to race or breed right here in New York state,” Panza continued. “The New York-bred program continues to thrive, and the purses and incentives that will begin this spring will continue through the summer at Saratoga making an investment in New York-breds all the more enticing.”

Joe Appelbaum, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), expressed his support for the newly announced purse structure.

“It's gratifying to see these significant purse increases to the overnight and NY-bred races,” said Appelbaum. “These races are the foundation of the NYRA racing program and the continued investment in them has proven to be successful.”

Pari-mutuel wagering funds the majority of the NYRA purse account, which is awarded to horsemen and, in turn, benefits hundreds of small businesses operating at NYRA tracks and others dependent on the thoroughbred racing industry.

In addition to pari-mutuel wagering, the remainder of the NYRA purse account is funded through VLT revenues generated by casinos located in downstate New York, most notably at Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, all casinos in New York were closed on March 16. The phased re-opening of the New York state economy authorized casinos to re-open to the public at limited capacity on September 9, 2020.

Live racing at Aqueduct continues Friday, February 19 with an eight-race card. First post on Friday is 1:20 p.m.

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