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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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Britain’s Animal Health Trust To Close; Equine Research Affected

Britain's Animal Health Trust (AHT) is set to shutter its doors forever. A nonprofit organization dedicated to veterinary and scientific research, the AHT has undertaken extensive disease surveillance work around the world. The Trust has virus and bacteria isolates that date back 50 years and it holds DNA samples for every registered Thoroughbred in Britain. The Trust has also completed cutting-edge research on equine sarcoid treatment and the use of HDR brachytherapy to address equine cancer.

The AHT board of trustees reported that they were unable to secure funding to make the organization viable long term and that additional announcements would be forthcoming. The AHT was established by Dr. Reginald Wooldridge in 1942 and has offered veterinary services to cats, dogs and horses since its inception. The staff included scientists, veterinarians, nurses and support staff.

The board began indicating in March that the organization was facing financial struggles and began exploring reorganization options, including closing its small animal and equine practices.

Though financial donations were offered, the board noted that it needed longer-term, substantial funding options to remain functioning. They reported that they would feel dishonest if they accepted the donations and were still forced to close.

Read the AHT full statement here.

U.S.’s First 2-Year-Old Winner Quinoa Tifah Returns In Thursday’s Schuylerville

Arindel Farm's Quinoa Tifah, the winner of the first race for 2-year-olds in the U.S. this year at Gulfstream Park, is set to make her much-anticipated return in Thursday's Schuylerville (G3) on Saratoga's opening-day program.

The Arindel homebred will be joined in the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies by two other recent Gulfstream winners, J Stables LLC and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Queen Arella and Briannjenn Racing LLC's Hara.

Juan Alvarado-trained Quinoa Tifah chased the heavily favored Lime before scoring over the Wesley Ward trainee by three-quarters of a length in a $65,000 maiden special weight race April 16 at Gulfstream. The Florida-bred daughter of Gemologist, who is not eligible for the upcoming Florida Sire Stakes series, ran 4 ½-furlongs in 52 seconds. Manny Franco has the call.

Queen Arella overcame a very troubled start in a May 29 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream to win her debut going away by four lengths. The Roderick Rodriguez-trained filly provided freshman sire Speightster with his first winner, running five furlongs in 59.54 seconds. Joel Rosario has the mount aboard the New York-bred filly.

Hara, who set a pressured pace before settling for second behind by Queen Arella in her debut, came back to score an impressive front-running eight-length victory at Gulfstream June 19. Tyler Gaffalione, a multi-meet champion at Gulfstream fresh off winning titles at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, has the call.

John Oxley's Beautiful Memories, a handy 10-length winner at Churchill in her recent debut for trainer Mark Casse, has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite.

One race later on the Saratoga card, Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing LLC's Caracaro, an impressive maiden winner during Gulfstream's Championship Meet, is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to action in the Peter Pan (G3).

Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the son of Uncle Mo has been idle since scoring an eye-catching six-length victory at a mile Jan. 11. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano has the call on Caracaro, who set a pressured pace in his Dec. 8 debut at Gulfstream before finishing second to a next-out winner. Mathis Stable LLC's Candy Tycoon, who broke his maiden at Gulfstream before finishing second in the Fountain of Youth (G2), is along among the eight 3-year-olds entered in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Saffie Joseph Jr., the Gulfstream Spring/Summer Meet's leading trainer, has sent multiple graded-stakes winner Tonalist's Shape to Saratoga for Saturday's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham and Legacy Ranch Inc., the daughter of Tonalist, is currently ninth in qualifying points for the Sept. 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Tonalist's Shape, an impressive allowance winner at Gulfstream in her most recent start, won the Forward Gal (G3) and the Davona Dale (G2) during the Championship Meet.

Joseph is also scheduled to send out Ny Traffic for Saturday's $1 million Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park. The 3-year-old son of Cross Traffic, who is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing and Paul Braverman, won an allowance at Gulfstream in his first start for Joseph before finishing third in the Risen Star (G2) and second in both the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds and the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs. Ny Traffic is currently eighth in qualifying points for the Sept. 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill.

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team, a runner-up to Sole Volante in a stakes-quality allowance at Gulfstream last time out, was also entered in the Haskell by trainer Jose D'Angelo.

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Steve Byk Wins 2020 Bill Handleman Memorial Award For Haskell Coverage

Steve Byk, whose daily “At The Races With Steve Byk” radio show on Sirius XM Satellite is the sport's longest running Thoroughbred news magazine program, has been named the winner of the 2020 Bill Handleman Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of last year's TVG.Com Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park announced Wednesday.

Inaugurated in 2012, the Handleman Award honors outstanding media coverage of the Grade 1 Haskell, Monmouth Park's premier race. It is presented annually prior to the Haskell.

“Steve's dedication to the sport, his passion for it and his ability to popularize Thoroughbred racing on a national platform were reflected in his broadcasts of the 2019 Haskell,” said John. F. Heims, Monmouth Park's Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “Racing fans have learned that he is a 'must-listen' for any big race on the calendar.”

The award honors the late Bill Handleman, one of New Jersey's top sportswriters for nearly three decades for the Asbury Park Press. Handleman, who made Monmouth Park his home away from home and was a passionate chronicler of the sport, died in June of 2010 at the age of 62.

The first recipient of the Handleman Award was Tom Luicci of The Star-Ledger, followed by Steve Edelson of The Asbury Park Press in 2013, Dave Johnson of Sirius XM in 2014, Ed McNamara of Newsday in 2015, Bob Ehalt of ESPN.com and Bloodhorse in 2016, Tom Cassidy of TVG.com in 2017, Jim Dunleavy of Daily Racing Form in 2018 and Mike Farrell of The Associated Press last year.

In 2003, Byk also launched the still-active DerbyTrial.com, which features his writing, editorials and race previews. He has been a contributor to Bloodhorse since 2004 and began hosting “At The Races With Steve Byk” on Sirius Satellite Radio in 2007.

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