safety protocols

The Breeders' Cup Veterinary Review Team has conducted the first stage of an extensive assessment of the veterinary and treatment records associated with more than 200 potential contenders for the 2023 Breeders' Cup World Championships, it was announced Tuesday. The 2023 Breeders' Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade I races and $31 million in purses and awards, will showcase the best Thoroughbreds from around the globe Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park. Working in conjunction with Dr. Jennifer Durenberger of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), Dr. Will Farmer...

Racing will return to Churchill Downs as scheduled for the track's regularly scheduled meeting beginning Sept. 14. The announcement comes following an "evaluation of existing safety protocols and a thorough assessment of industry best practices," according to a release from the track. Operations at the Louisville oval were suspended in early June following a rash of breakdowns during the first month of the meeting that began only a few days prior to the running of the GI Kentucky Derby. The balance of the Churchill spring meet was run at Ellis...

In the latest resumption of racing update, racing behind closed doors is set to continue for the foreseeable future, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. The BHA thanked participants for their continued support and cooperation in following the behind closed doors protocols, but stressed that with both government and public health concerns about a rise in cases and a potential 'second wave' of COVID-19 cases, that it is vital everyone in racing continues to follow the proper protocols so that progress can be resumed towards re-introduction of spectators at...

Have saddle, will travel--a well-worn aphorism. But is it a wise one to emulate in this time of the coronavirus? Within the past week, Flavien Prat, Victor Espinoza, Eduard Rojas Fernandez, Luis Saez and Martin Garcia have all tested positive for the virus--a chain of events that can be traced back to Los Alamitos over the July 4 weekend, said Derek Lawson, Prat's agent. "There's no question that that's where it happened," he said, of Prat's infection occurring at the Southern California facility. But against a broader surge in coronavirus...

The Sept 5 GI Kentucky Derby will be held with a limited amount of spectators in the stands, it was announced Thursday by Churchill Downs. "We are happy to announce that we will conduct Derby week with fans," Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery said. "It's going to be a different experience. This is a different year." Churchill's plans to conduct the races with fans was approved by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and state health officials. The Derby was moved from its traditional spot, the first Saturday in May, to September...

British racing resumed behind closed doors on June 1, and now, with these first weeks back going well and in accordance with the UK government's safety protocols, the British Horseracing Authority is working on a template to allow owners to observe their horses race on location. In a letter sent to racehorse owners on Monday by the BHA, the BHA's Chief Operating Officer Richard Wayman thanked the owners for their support in these challenging times due to the coronavirus situation and outlined plans for their return in the near future....

In addition to the news about the GI Belmont S. and stakes schedule at the upcoming Belmont meet, the New York Racing Association announced new safety initiatives and entry rule changes for the 25-day meet. Among them are new rules for horses coming off of long layoffs and horses making belated career debuts. Horses which have not started in more than 180 days, but fewer than 365 days, will be placed on the Veterinarians' List and must be presented to the NYRA Veterinarian prior to racing, while horses which have...

Two horses at Woodbine have tested positive for equine herpesvirus EHV-1, according to a report on CanadianThoroughbred.com. The two reportedly came from Barn 12 on the track's backstretch and are currently being cared for at the University of Guelph in Ontario. The news comes shortly after Woodbine was given the green light to reopen for racing June 6. "This will be an evolving situation, and we will keep [horsepeople] updated with information as it is known," Jessica Buckley, Woodbine Entertainment's senior vice president of racing, told CanadianThoroughbred.com's Jennifer Morrison. "This...

Brice Blanc is rested, swabbed, needled and raring to go. "It'll be good to get back to work," said the jockey, who's scheduled to ride Friday at Santa Anita before a grandstand empty of spectators--the track's first day of live racing since March 22. To get the green-light to ride, Blanc underwent a blood test Wednesday to see whether he carries antibodies showing that he's already been exposed to Covid-19. He was also given a nasal swab to see if he's currently infectious. "It wasn't that bad," said Blanc, of...

As many businesses evolve to address public safety concerns in the age of COVID-19, Woodford Thoroughbreds has announced extensive safety protocols for the OBS Horses in Training Sale set to take place June 9-12. Beth Bayer, Director of Sales commented, "The 2-year-old in training sales are a critical piece to the sale cycle of the Thoroughbred Industry in the United States. We have full confidence in the preparation that went into our horses and expect them to perform well. Woodford Thoroughbreds understands in order for the sale to be a...

Keeneland and Churchill Downs will ban the race-day use of Lasix in all 2-year-old races under the International Medication Protocol authority granted in 810 KAR 8:050 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations beginning with Keeneland's 2020 Spring Meet and following at Churchill Downs Racetrack's 2020 Spring Meet, according to a joint press release Thursday. Kentucky's Thoroughbred race tracks supported sweeping medication reforms, including the Lasix ban, adopted by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) in late 2019. The tracks also jointly announced major changes in racing and training policies to strengthen...