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Charles Town To Reopen For Fans, Simulcasting Operations On June 22

Following a previous order by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice that would allow patrons at live sporting events effective June 22, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is pleased to announce the reopening of the first floor of its grandstand for live racing and simulcasting operations beginning on Monday, June 22 at 12:00 P.M EST.

Closed to racing spectators since March, Charles Town will be reopening not only its first floor to the public for wagering on live racing and simulcast signals from around the country but will also reopen its trackside apron for its live racing programs.

In working with state and local leaders, the track has developed a series of protocols designed to welcome back both guests and team members in a safe environment. These new protocols include, but are not limited to, the following:

Social Distancing

The installation of floor decals and signage to strictly enforce social distancing guidelines in areas where lines typically form.
Mutuel windows and self-service terminals will be configured to meet social distancing requirements.
The only food service to be offered at the outset will be limited to prepared food from our food court.
The box seat area and second floor of the grandstand will remain closed
Capacity restrictions for the Charles Town property will be in effect

Health & Safety

Team members, vendors and racing participants will be required to wear masks and will undergo a health screening each day, including temperature checks, prior to their shift.
Guests will be encouraged to wear masks and must respond to a verbal health screening prior to entry to the property.
There will initially be one entry for the general public to the property.
Mutuel windows and self-service terminals will be thoroughly and regularly cleaned.
Sanitizer stations will be installed on the floor and be readily available throughout the facility.
We will deploy a fog machine to disinfect and sanitize every night.

Live racing will continue to be held at Charles Town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with a first race post time of 7:00 P.M. EST. Full-day simulcasting from tracks around the country will take place from Thursday through Sunday, with opening and closing times on the other days dictated by the number of tracks in operation.

In order to accommodate patrons looking to wager on this Saturday's Belmont Stakes, Charles Town intends on opening a pair of self-service mutuel terminals located near the Sportsbook on the gaming side of the facility for the day's events.

The post Charles Town To Reopen For Fans, Simulcasting Operations On June 22 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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‘Living My Dream’: Jockey Dean Butler Carries On At 48

Dean Butler doesn't mind if you think he's hard-headed for continuing to ride Thoroughbreds at 48. Basically, he agrees.

“I've had nine concussions in my career. My head has taken a pretty good beating,” said Butler, who was born and grew up in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Butler was named to ride three horses today, but he didn't get the chance. Today's third-through-ninth races were cancelled because of heavy rain and lightning throughout the Tampa Bay area. The decision was made for the safety of the horses, horsemen, jockeys and patrons.

All wagers on any of the cancelled races are, of course, refundable.

Thoroughbred racing continues Saturday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:25 p.m.

Slightly less than two years ago, Butler incurred three fractured vertebrae in a spill at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. His injury did not require surgery, but a routine examination that included a brain scan led to doctors discovering a basilar tip brain aneurysm, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Butler underwent a procedure in September of 2017 in which doctors inserted flexible metal coils to 'correct” the aneurysm and a stent to hold the coils in place. And, wouldn't you know it: he was able to return to work in time for the 2017-2018 Tampa Bay Downs meeting.

He points out that had he not gone down in the Canterbury race, the aneurysm probably would not have been found and could have ruptured at a future date.

OK, you still don't get why he stays at it. … but then, you aren't a jockey. And the explanation is pretty simple, really.

“I love what I do, I love the horses and I love the competition,” said Butler, the Senor Tequila Mexican Grill Jockey of the Month at Tampa Bay Downs. “And I like working with the horses to see what I can do to help get the most out of their ability.

“It's something I've always wanted to do since I was a little kid, so basically I'm living my dream. As long as I'm fit and I'm feeling good and I still enjoy what I'm doing, I'm going to keep going with it.”

Butler, who has ridden 2,210 career winners, has won 10 track riding titles: five at Canterbury, four at Philadelphia (now Parx Racing) and one at Atlantic City.

He enjoyed a moment few athletes get to experience last September when he was inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame. The ceremony took on greater meaning with his father Ted and his brothers Denis, Danny and David in attendance.

“That was the first time my dad was ever at Canterbury, which made it really cool,” Butler said. “He's 90 now and in really good health, and I'm thankful he's still able to watch me ride.”

Displaying a flair for the dramatic, Butler rode two stakes winners on the day following the induction ceremony. Butler's father and brother Danny were also at Tampa Bay Downs three years ago when he notched career victory No. 2,000 on then-4-year-old gelding Impromptu.

Although he doesn't have the volume of business at Tampa Bay Downs as in Minnesota, Butler has taken the past few weeks to remind bettors and fans that his skills haven't eroded. Five recent victories, including four for trainer Bernell Rhone, earned him the SenÞor Tequila Mexican Grill honor.

Butler accepts that his business will be a little slower in Oldsmar, which allows him to spend more time with daughters Kayleigh, 12, and Kendall, 8. His passion for the job hasn't diminished; make a road trip to Shakopee this summer to see for yourself, if you'd like.

“Some of the younger riders might look better, they might look stronger, but the knowledge and experience I have can overcome that,” said Butler, who began his career in 1992 at Aqueduct after absorbing early lessons from Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg.

“The more you ride, the more you get to know how much horse you have underneath you and how fast you're going (early in a race), and those are huge advantages,” Butler said.

It's said that time waits for no one, but in a sport where youth cannot be denied, Butler is one of at least a half-dozen older (read: 45-and-up) Oldsmar jockeys who still can bring it, using both strength and finesse as called for.

“I've always been the type of rider who usually lets the horse do most of the running and lets them tell me how they want to run,” Butler said. “Then when I pick them up and ask them, hopefully they're underneath me and they run for me.”

Sounds like the type of thrilling experience anyone can relate to.

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Technical Issues Force Cancellation Of Friday, Saturday Cards At Evangeline

Evangeline Downs Racetrack today announced it will be cancelling the live racing programs for Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, as a result of a technical issue with the track's electrical system caused by the severe heavy rain which fell in the Opelousas area on Thursday afternoon.

Evangeline Downs was forced to cancel Thursday's racing program after four races were run due to the same issue, which caused several banks of the track's lighting system to not function properly.

Live racing at Evangeline Downs is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, April 24 with a nine-race program. Post time on Wednesday will be 5:50 pm Central Time.

Evangeline Downs is currently in the midst of the 2019 Thoroughbred season, which will continue on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule through Saturday, August 24.

For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs' Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

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