COVID-19 protocol

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...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Even though he is healthy and enthusiastic, 91-year-old Gus Ziamandanis will not be able to attend his 70th consecutive opening day at Saratoga Race Course on Thursday, July 16. His quest for a remarkable personal milestone was stopped by New York State's coronavirus guidelines that prohibit spectators at professional sporting events. When he understood that it was unlikely that he would get into the grounds for the 10-race opener, Ziamandanis made a reservation for a table at Capital OTB's Clubhouse Race Book in Albany, 33 miles...

Doug Cauthen is the managing partner at Doug Cauthen Thoroughbred Management LLC. As anyone not under a rock is noticing, COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections are on the rise across the country, and this tragedy is causing renewed shutdowns and concurrent economic damage to many businesses and families. As everyone is learning, a positive step towards avoiding rollbacks and future shutdowns is to wear a mask and socially distance, and to accept and follow protocols which are put in place to screen event attendees. In order to have a successful horse...