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Jockey Gerard Melancon, Lone Star Racing Operations Employee Test Positive For Coronavirus

Following Sunday's announcement that live racing at Lone Star Park had been cancelled, the Daily Racing Form reported that jockey Gerard Melancon, who most recently rode at Lone Star on June 28, has tested positive for the coronavirus. Additionally, a positive test was returned by a racing operations employee at the Grand Prairie, Texas track.

Lone Star abruptly cancelled the race card on Sunday after the first race, making the announcement via Twitter. Race cards for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have also been cancelled.

“Due to an abundance of caution, all racing operations at Lone Star Park have been suspended due to COVID-19,” read Sunday's Tweet. “Racing will resume at a date to be determined.”

Melancon, normally based in Louisiana, rode Mocito Rojo in the $75,000 Lone Star Mile on June 28, and had a fever when he returned to Opelousas, La. on June 29. He improved and a “rapid test” for the virus on June 30 came back negative, so he arrived at Evangeline Downs to ride the July 1 card. Melancon felt dizzy before the races, however, and went to the ambulance and then the hospital where he was diagnosed with acute pneumonia.

Another test for coronavirus came back positive, and Melancon has quarantined himself at home.

The racing operations employee who tested positive has been instructed to self-quarantine as well.

Because of potential exposure to coronavirus, jockeys and employees working in the licensing and racing offices are being told to quarantine for two weeks. It's unclear when racing may resume, but Lone Star may have an opportunity to extend their meet, which is currently scheduled to end on Aug. 11.

Lone Star was forced to delay the start of its live meet until May 22. On June 10, Lone Star management was notified by officials that spectators would be permitted on-track as Texas became one of the first states to reopen its economy.

After an alarming spike in COVID-19 positive tests throughout Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott on July 2 issued an order requiring face coverings in public and giving local officials authority to limit the size of gatherings.

Indiana Grand announced Monday that no individuals from Lone Star will be allowed on the property until they complete a 14-day quarantine and present a negative test for COVID-19:

“Due to the recent news of several positive tests for Covid-19 at Lone Star Park near Dallas, Texas and the suspension of their racing season indefinitely, Indiana Grand Racing and Casino has halted the transfer of all jockeys, exercise riders and grooms from that facility to the racing program in Indiana.

“The decision to prevent participants coming from Lone Star Park into Indiana is a result of a group effort between Indiana Grand, the horsemen's organizations and Indiana Horse Racing Commission, to provide due diligence for the safety of all those currently racing at Indiana Grand.”

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Economic Indicators: Pandemic, Derby Date Change Have Year-To-Date Wagering Down 10.88 Percent

Equibase, LLC released its monthly report on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing this Monday, June 6. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase is currently providing monthly reporting of its Economic Indicators Advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.

June's numbers show a slight increase in total wagering, up 0.76 percent over the same month in 2019, a small positive change as racing across the country has resumed in the past month.

Most tracks are operating without fans in attendance, though some have begun to allow a small number of fans and owners to attend racing or morning training.

Still, the numbers for the second quarter demonstrate the affect that the pandemic has had on the racing industry. The total wagering from April through June of 2020 is down 18.85 percent over the same three-month period of 2019; considering that the rescheduled Kentucky Derby was not included in that period this year, that difference is not as significant as it might otherwise seem.

Overall, year-to-date wagering has decreased 10.88 percent compared to the first six months of 2019.

Due to the cancellation of almost every major sporting event across the world, average wagering per race day showed a dramatic increase of 67.60 percent from April 2019 to April 2020. The average racing per race day in the second quarter is up 101.28 percent over the same period of 2019, while year-to-date average wagering per race day has increased 44.12 percent from the first four months of 2019 to the first four months of 2020.

June 2020 vs. June 2019
Indicator	June 2020	June 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$998,448,300	$990,923,384	+0.76%
U.S. Purses	$69,463,605	$115,194,834	-39.70%
U.S. Race Days	300	499	-39.88%
U.S. Races	2,485	3,905	-36.36%
U.S. Starts	20,146	27,726	-27.34%
Average Field Size	8.11	7.10	+14.18%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,328,161	$1,985,818	+67.60%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$231,545	$230,851	+0.30%

2nd QTR 2020 vs. 2nd QTR 2019
Indicator	2nd QTR 2020	2nd QTR 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,546,352,350	$3,137,805,499	-18.85%
U.S. Purses	$118,929,007	$316,882,492	-62.47%
U.S. Race Days	508	1,260	-59.68%
U.S. Races	4,290	10,167	-57.80%
U.S. Starts	36,101	73,409	-50.82%
Average Field Size	8.42	7.22	+16.55%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$5,012,505	$2,490,322	+101.28%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$234,112	$251,494	-6.91%

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,055,522,519	$5,672,774,271	-10.88%
U.S. Purses	$324,156,658	$544,002,132	-40.41%
U.S. Race Days	1,301	2,104	-38.17%
U.S. Races	10,906	17,457	-37.53%
U.S. Starts	88,074	130,239	-32.38%
Average Field Size	8.08	7.46	+8.25%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,885,874	$2,696,185	+44.12%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$249,160	$258,556	-3.63%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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Ellis Park: Seven Individuals Quarantined After Testing Positive For COVID-19

Seven individuals working in the stable area at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. have tested positive for COVID-19 and been quarantined, reports 14news.com. None were symptomatic; the individuals were tested as part of the track's protocols for beginning its live race meet on July 2. Six work for the same trainer, and the seventh was also closely associated with those individuals.

Six of those who tested positive have been quarantined inside the dorm, and the seventh has been quarantined at home. Contact tracing has also been initiated.

“As of right now, based on everything we know, based on the protocols we have in place in both the racing and gaming operations, we're confident we will be able to conduct our race meet, beginning the first day, opening day, July 2,” Skip Sayre, chief of sales and marketing for Laguna Development Corporation, told 14news.com. “As the backside opened, and the horses and personnel started coming in, we began testing those folks, so when this particular case came up, we were ready to move quickly and get those folks into quarantine and make sure we protected the integrity of the rest of the operation.”

Horse Racing Professionals Create Lexington-Based Nonprofit To Care For Thoroughbreds Surrendered Due To COVID-19 Financial Impact

On June 12, the newly created Lexington-based We Are Here Initiative (WAHI) will begin accepting Thoroughbreds that have been retired from horse racing due to financial and economic strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We Are Here, which is not an aftercare or adoption program, will serve as a layover destination for Thoroughbreds before being placed in an approved aftercare facility, so as not to inundate aftercare and adoption organizations with an influx of horses.

In the spring of 2020, the horse racing industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in many racetracks throughout the United States postponing or shortening their race meets. With limited races available for horses, many owners and smaller training operations and have suffered a financial hit, resulting in the need to retire some of their runners. Due to the possibility of historical numbers of horses needing to be placed in aftercare the We Are Here Initiative has been proactively created for the horses to facilitate their journey from the track to various aftercare organizations nationwide.

Thoroughbred owners and trainers needing to rehome their horses can contact the We Are Here hotline at 833-924-6882 (833-WAH-OTTB), which will provide information regarding the initial steps to be taken.

Thoroughbreds being rehomed to We Are Here must meet certain criteria to be eligible for this program. Horses must be registered Thoroughbreds trained by a licensed trainer in the United States; horses much be located at a US licensed racetrack or training facility, or verified to be eligible for the 2020 racing season; and horses will need a current Coggins, health certificate, and the completed “We Are Here” documentation.

“When racetracks closed down, I began to worry that the horses and their wonderful caretakers were going to need us at the very moment most aftercare facilities were either closed or dealing with severe financial strain. The Kentucky Horse Park stepped up to the plate to offer 100 stalls, and a partnership was formed with the Secretariat Center to provide a place for these horses to go until such a time as space opens in the various Aftercares nationwide,” says Dorothy Crowell, Deputy Director of We Are Here Initiative and Secretariat Center Board President.

“Horsemen and horsewomen are inherently resilient and supportive of each other in tough times. We all believe our industry will survive the crisis we are currently under, but we recognize these are threatening times in horse racing, not only financially, but in other ways that affect our day to day lives. The We Are Here initiative was put in motion to ensure race horses in need will be safe, cared for and transition to new careers. Most importantly, through this initiative we hope all horsemen and horsewomen know and understand, We Are Here to support you,” says Eric Hamelback, Executive Director of We Are Here Initiative and CEO of The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA).

For more information about the We Are Here Initiative, to donate, or to learn more about surrendering Thoroughbreds in your care, please visit www.wahi.info. To contact the We Are Here Hotline, please dial 833-WAH-OTTB (833-924-6882).

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