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Ascot to Reduce Attendance at Royal Meeting

Crowd capacity numbers will be reduced at Royal Ascot beginning in 2022, Ascot Racecourse announced on Thursday. After feedback from racegoers attending the smaller scale Royal Ascot in 2021, attendance caps will be instated across the Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne Enclosure, and Windsor Enclosure for the five-day meeting from June 14-18, 2022.

In addition to reducing capacity in the Royal Enclosure by 1,000 guests (-7%) to 12,500, a new area for circulation has been added-the Royal Enclosure Gardens. The Queen Anne and Windsor Enclosures have been reduced by 4,150 (20%) to 16,600and 2,000 (12%) to 15,000 attendees, respectively and new facilities will be introduced. The Village Enclosure, located on the Heath proper in the middle of the course, will be in operation for the first time since the 2019 pre-pandemic meeting and its capacity is 6,500. Royal Ascot was held behind closed doors in 2020 and with reduced attendance last year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Felicity Barnard, Commercial Director at Ascot, said, “We are really pleased to be making these customer-focused changes to Royal Ascot this summer. They will provide an improved experience for all our racegoers across the three main enclosures, ensuring a more enjoyable atmosphere and better access to facilities throughout the site.

“A key message in the feedback from the 2021 Royal Meeting, when attendance was limited to 12,000 per day as part of the Government's Events Research Programme, was that people really appreciated the benefit of additional space.

“This set us on a journey to look at how we could reduce density to improve comfort across the site going forward in a 'normal' scenario. Incorporating feedback from previous years and other racedays, it became clear to us that we needed to make a fundamental change in terms of the capacities across the site.

“This was especially the case in our premier public area–the Queen Anne Enclosure–and reducing the number of people there significantly and investing in improved facilities will deliver a much better environment for people to enjoy the world-class racing on show.

“It is crucial that we protect the unique and very special sense of occasion that people feel when they come to Royal Ascot and we hope that these changes will provide an enhanced experience for all our racegoers.

“Ticket sales have been strong since launch last summer and they will clearly be in higher demand as a result of these changes at what will be a special Royal Meeting in the Platinum Jubilee year.”

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‘We’ve All Got To Do Our Part’: Gaffalione Returns From Quarantine With Four-Win Day

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione bagged four winners Wednesday at Gulfstream Park in Hallendale Beach, Fla., making it a pretty good first day back after sitting out last weekend's races after testing positive for Covid-19.

“My valet tested positive early last week,” Gaffalione said. “Instead of putting anyone at risk, I went ahead and took a test at home and sat out the necessary days. Unfortunately I missed out on a few winners, but we've all got to do our part.”

The Davie, Fla. native and 2015 Eclipse Award winner as champion apprentice, who said he experienced only mild symptoms, captured Wednesday's opener on Slam Dunk Racing's Banker's Hours ($5.60), a mount he picked up from Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been out with a right knee injury.

Represented by agent Matt Muzikar, Gaffalione won Race 4 with Robert Cummings and Donna Cummings' 4-year-old filly Jazzy T ($8), and followed up in Race 8 aboard Pocket Aces Racing's 4-year-old gelding Critical Threat ($8.60) and Race 9 with Patricia's Hope LLC's Chacalosa ($6.20).

“My agent does a great job. He always puts me on live horses, I've just got to come out here and get it done,” Gaffalione said. “They're running well today and I'm enjoying myself. I'm glad to get back to work.”

Gaffalione had not ridden since finishing third with Philzano in the 10th race finale Jan. 6. He ranks third in the Championship Meet standings with 27 wins, trailing Luis Saez (49) and Paco Lopez (30).

“It feels great. I was starting to run circles in my house with just not much to do,” Gaffalione said. “I'm really happy to be back.”

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Manny Franco Off Mounts Through Jan. 9 After Testing Positive For COVID-19

ockey Manuel Franco tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will remain off his mounts until Sunday, Jan. 9, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Wednesday.

All members of the NYRA jockey colony are vaccinated and adhere to established protocols. In addition, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum physical distancing and reduce density.

Franco has not experienced symptoms and was proactively tested because of standard contact tracing following the positive tests of jockeys Jorge Vargas, Jr. and Jalon Samuel on Friday, Dec. 31.

Vargas and Samuel will be permitted to ride Thursday, Jan. 6, at Aqueduct provided they are asymptomatic following five days in isolation.

NYRA follows the most updated federal and state guidance regarding contact tracing, testing, required isolation, and quarantine. Accordingly, Franco will be permitted to return to competition on Sunday, Jan. 9 should he remain asymptomatic.

In accordance with New York City requirements, anyone seeking to enter Aqueduct Racetrack in any capacity must demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Facemasks are always required on NYRA property.

Live racing resumes Thursday at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

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‘Deeply Embarrassed’: Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy Relinquishes His License To Focus On Rehabilitation

Crowned Britain's Champion Jockey for a third straight year in October and winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff aboard longshot Marche Lorraine in November, Oisin Murphy announced Thursday his decision to relinquish his racing license in order to focus on his rehabilitation, according to a statement released by the British Horseracing Authority. In 2021, a pair of racecourse incidents related to alcohol caused Murphy to be taken off his mounts for the day, and in 2020 a positive test for cocaine (blamed on a sex partner) saw the jockey handed a three-month ban.

“It became obvious to me and to everyone else that I needed to seek serious help,” Murphy's statement reads. “In recognition of this I have relinquished my license and will now focus on my rehabilitation.

“Whether I deserve it or not, many kind people have stood by me and I really appreciate their support. I'm deeply embarrassed and regret my actions.”

The BHA's statement also details a breach of coronavirus protocols in September of 2020, resulting in the following alleged charges:

Breaches of Rule (J)24.6 of the Rules of Racing for misleading or attempting to mislead the BHA regarding his true location between 9 and 12 September;
Breaches of Rules (J)24.4 and (J)24.6 for accessing the racecourse in breach of the COVID-19 Requirements;
Breaches of Rule (J)19 for acting in a manner prejudicial to the proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing.

A hearing in front of an independent Disciplinary Panel to consider these charges was arranged for Friday, Dec. 10, but prior to the hearing the BHA received submissions from Murphy's legal team regarding his welfare, which were supported by medical evidence, and stated that Murphy had made a decision to relinquish his Flat Jockeys License whilst he engages fully with medical support.

Bearing these submissions in mind, it was agreed with Murphy's representatives that the proposed hearing would be postponed to take place at a later date, when it is deemed appropriate considering the welfare of Murphy.

These matters will also be heard at the same time as two cases regarding positive tests for alcohol returned from racecourses in 2021 by Murphy, as follows:

Breach of Rule (K)55 due to the presence of alcohol in urine sample exceeding permitted threshold at Chester racecourse on May 5, 2021.
Breach of Rule (K)55 due to presence of alcohol in breath samples exceeding permitted threshold at Newmarket on Oct. 8, 2021.

Tim Naylor, BHA Director of Integrity and Regulation, said:

“In regulating the sport we must always strike the balance between the importance of upholding the rules, and being mindful of the wellbeing of those who we regulate. The welfare of our participants is an absolute priority.

“Having received detailed submissions from his representatives, which were supported by medical evidence, and being aware of the decision made by Mr Murphy to relinquish his jockeys license, we agreed that the proposed disciplinary hearing may be postponed for a short period of time.

“The charges will be considered in front of an independent Disciplinary Panel we anticipate in the early part of 2022. We will support his medical team in the meantime.”

Mr Murphy has asked that the following statement be relayed on his behalf:

“On returning from abroad last September in 2020 I failed to follow the Covid protocol set out by the BHA. In breaking these rules, and attempting to mislead the BHA, I've let my governing body down, along with trainers, owners, staff, sponsors and family for which I wish to apologize.

“In addition to this there have been two racecourse incidents linked to alcohol during 2021. It became obvious to me and to everyone else that I needed to seek serious help. In recognition of this I have relinquished my license and will now focus on my rehabilitation. I am grateful to the BHA for agreeing to postpone the disciplinary hearing until I have been able to take these steps.

“Whether I deserve it or not, many kind people have stood by me and I really appreciate their support . I'm deeply embarrassed and regret my actions.”

The BHA and Murphy will not make any further comment on this matter, which remains an ongoing disciplinary process, until a hearing date is set.

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