coronavirus and horse racing

While COVID-19 has ensured that absolutely nothing is business as usual, the permission of racehorses to continue training has provided some sense of normalcy to a business that has otherwise ground to a near halt. While Britain's major training centres remain open, some conditioners have taken measures to ease the financial burdens on their businesses and those of their owners, as well as minimize the kind of human contact that permits the spread of the virus. Yorkshire-based trainer Ruth Carr revealed on Wednesday that she has turned out her entire...

The Dubai World Cup is the latest sporting event to fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Dubai Racing Club on Sunday confirming that the 25th edition of the world's richest day of racing, set for next Saturday, Mar. 28, has been cancelled. A statement from the Dubai Racing Club read, "To safeguard the health of all participants, the higher organising committee of the Dubai World Cup has decided to postpone the 25th edition of the global event to the next year. Further to the UAE government's precautionary measures...

The British Horseracing Authority has released, with their permission, a letter from the co-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Racing and Bloodstock Industries-Conor McGinn, MP for St Helens North and Laurence Roberston, MP for Tewkesbury--outlining their support of the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter reads, "These are unprecedented times that require the whole nation and government to work together to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. In dealing with the economic crisis that accompanies it, much has rightly been made of the urgent need...

The shutdown of British racing through April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has already been "catastrophic" to stable staff, said George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff. McGrath told Sky Sports Racing that the organization, which represents about 7,500 stable workers, has been inundated with calls since the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday that racing would cease for six weeks. "Without a doubt the main concerns are job losses and redundancies," McGrath said. "Where do they get money from? Some have gone into...

Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy, home to eight stallions including the much-anticipated first-season sire Shalaa (Ire), will close the doors of its breeding shed beginning on Monday "for at least two weeks" as a means to fight the spread of COVID-19. The stud said on a statement on its website on Friday that coverings already booked through Sunday will be honored, but no new bookings will be taken. A statement on the Al Shaqab Racing website read, "Fully aware of the economical impact this decision may have on...

Aidan O'Brien has removed his team of runners from consideration for next weekend's G1 Dubai World Cup because of the growing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Racing Post reports. O'Brien told that publication, "With such concerns over international travel we are really disappointed not to be able to go to the Dubai World Cup. We were really looking forward to the meeting and felt that we had a very strong team representing us this year." O'Brien's Dubai team was set to include G1 Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire)...

The Grand National Festival set for Aintree from Apr. 2 to 4 has been canceled. The Jockey Club deemed it "no longer appropriate" to stage the festival after the UK government announced heightened restrictions Monday evening on non-essential travel and mass gatherings. "The Randox Health Grand National Festival was just three weeks away and it's very clear to us it will not be possible for the event to take place. Public health must come first," said Sandy Dudgeon, senior steward of The Jockey Club. "We were working on a plan...

Bucking the trend of a day which saw racetrack closings across the country and across the world, the New York Racing Association announced that they would resume racing this Friday, albeit with no spectators. Since March 12, 2020, NYRA has conducted live racing without fan attendance. This announcement comes following consultation with the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) and adheres to New York's ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people, as no live audience is permitted. That practice will remain in place when racing returns on Friday,...

French horse racing, both for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, has been cancelled until Apr. 15, effective Tuesday, as a means to help combat the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. A joint statement from France Galop and LeTROT read, "Our top priority is the health of all stakeholders in the industry and compliance with state directives. By suspending all competition, we want first and foremost to protect them from the current pandemic. With this decision, the French horse racing industry also shows its solidarity and responsibility towards the entire Nation. "We are fully aware...

British racing will be staged at least until the end of March behind closed doors beginning on Tuesday as a precaution against the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, with limits on numbers of essential personnel. Scottish racecourse Kelso had implemented a closed-door policy on its own accord for its Monday meeting to align with the advice of the Scottish government, and England and Wales will now follow suit. The widely expected announcement from the BHA brings British racing in line with protocols put in place by Ireland and Germany. Italy has cancelled...

Keeneland issued the following release Sunday afternoon: Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our horsemen, staff and visitors with regard to COVID-19, Keeneland has announced the following restrictions regarding access to its grounds and stable areas: Beginning Monday, Mar. 16, Keeneland will be closed to all non-essential guests and horsemen. Only essential employees, owners, trainers, veterinarians, blacksmiths and stable workers will be allowed entry. Screening checkpoints will be set up at Gates 1, 2, 3 and at the Rice Road barn entrance to monitor...

Following the announcement of the cancellation of the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale on Friday afternoon, the atmosphere at the OBS March Sale was tense. Becky Thomas of Sequel Bloodstock made an analogy. "There was a movie years ago with Jim Carrey called the Truman Show, where Jim Carrey did not realize he was actually the subject of a TV series. That's the way I feel. We're going through the motions, but we don't really know if it's real or not." Consignors gathered in the barns following the breeze show, expecting to...