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Limited Number Of Owners To Be Permitted At Saratoga On Race Day

Following updated guidance issued by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) on Wednesday afternoon, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced that beginning on Friday, July 17, a limited number of licensed owners will be permitted at Saratoga Race Course on the day that their horse is entered to race.

In order to reduce density and adhere to social distancing guidelines, the size of the ownership group will be restricted to eight individuals in possession of a NYSGC license per horse. With the exception of Friday's card, the application must be received 24 hours in advance of race day.

No same-day applications will be accepted. All owners within the group must be in possession of a valid NYSGC license. Horses with identical ownership will be limited to 8 total admissions regardless of number of horses running that day.

To align with required health and safety measures implemented in New York to mitigate risk and combat the spread of COVID-19, owners will be subjected to health screening prior to entry, including a temperature check. In addition, owners will be required to practice social distancing and to wear a facial covering at all times while on the Saratoga property.

“Health and safety are our primary focus as we continue to work with New York state officials to determine the potential for broader spectator access during the 2020 summer meet,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “To be able to allow the participation of a limited number of owners reflects the progress made in New York to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection.”

A limited number of licensed owners will be permitted within the barn area at Saratoga Race Course during the 2020 summer meet. In order to secure access to the barn area, owners must provide NYRA with a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 7 days of the request. Owners are not permitted to watch live racing from the barn area and owner access ends at 11:20 a.m. Prior approval is required to enter the barn area.

Owners approved to enter the barn area will be required to practice social distancing and to wear a facial covering at all times.

Owners planning travel to New York from any of the states currently listed on the New York Travel Advisory are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. For additional information, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Owner applications for admission to Saratoga Race Course are to be sent to NYRA's Horsemen's Relations Associate, via email at horsemensrelations@nyrainc.com or by phone at 516-488-6008. NYRA will confirm all reservations via email. NYRA cannot consider or accept same day applications.

The NYRA Office of Horsemen's Relations will begin processing applications on Thursday, July 16 at 9 a.m.

Per NYSGC guidance, owners are not permitted within any indoor areas at Saratoga Race Course, including the clubhouse and grandstand and all hospitality areas. As such, owners will be provided a socially-distanced outdoor seating area and will be permitted to view races from the apron. Hours of access on race days will begin at 12 p.m. Eastern and owners must enter via the Clubhouse Entrance.

For additional information regarding protocols, please visit https://bit.ly/32iJ0wN.

The 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will begin on Thursday, July 16 and run through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Following the four-day opening weekend, live racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. The summer meet will conclude on Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

Under current New York State guidelines, Saratoga Race Course will open without spectators in attendance. The 40-day meet will be highlighted by the 151st renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 8 and the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on Saturday, August 1.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

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NYSGC Allows Owners to Watch Racing and Training at Saratoga

The New York State Gaming Commission announced Wednesday that licensed owners will be permitted to watch their horses train and race at New York tracks.

The ban on spectators for the racing programs remains in effect.

The change in policy for owners was made the day before the start of the Thoroughbred racing season at Saratoga Race Course.

According to the commission’s news release, once the overnight list of entries is published, licensed owners must make reservations in advance with the racing office to attend a race. No same-day requests will be accepted. Owners may not bring non-licensed guests with them.

To be admitted to the track, owners must pass a temperature check at a designated location and will be asked COVID-19 related health questions. Owners will not be permitted in grandstand or box seat areas and must sit in designated areas or watch from the apron area in front of the grandstand.

Owners must wear face coverings and follow social-distancing protocols. They will be permitted to enter the paddock and the winner’s circle, but must social distance.

To access backstretch locations, owners must meet the requirements that the track makes on its personnel or residents and display their license at the stable gate. Each owner must receive a temperature check and answer COVID-19 related questions. Owners must leave the backstretch at the conclusion of training and may not watch races from the barn area.

“Health and safety are our primary focus as we continue to work with New York state officials to determine the potential for broader spectator access during the 2020 summer meet,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O’Rourke. “To be able to allow the participation of a limited number of owners reflects the progress made in New York to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection.”

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Officials Place Barn 37 At Belmont Park Under Quarantine After Suspected Equine Herpesvirus Case

Officials at the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 37 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., under a precautionary quarantine after a suspected case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) developed in that barn.

Freudnme, a 4-year-old colt trained by Chris Englehart, exhibited fever and neurological symptoms on Saturday morning and has started treatment under the care of a private veterinarian.

Freudnme last raced at Finger Lakes Racetrack in the Ontario County Stakes on June 24, 2019, where he finished 2nd. He has a series of recorded workouts at Belmont beginning on Feb. 24, 2020.

Overseen by Dr. Anthony Verderosa, Director of NYRA's Veterinary Department, and in consultation with the NYSGC, the quarantine of Barn 37 is effective immediately with standard precautions and biosecurity measures now implemented throughout the barn. The length of the quarantine will be determined following the return of test results.

All 37 horses stabled in Barn 37 will be monitored daily for fever and other signs of illness. During the initial quarantine period, these horses will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population.

Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 37 will have isolated training hours following the closure of the training track.

At this time, no other horses in the quarantined barn have developed fever or exhibited symptoms.

NYRA will provide additional updates as necessary.

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