Costs mount for owners, trainers without live racing

As Santa Anita approaches its third weekend without racing because of the coronavirus outbreak, costs continue to mount for owners and trainers who are keeping more than 1,600 horses active in the track’s stable area.

As of Wednesday, there was no word on when racing would resume.

Santa Anita was ordered shut by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on March 27 with less than an hour to post time. The venue was deemed a nonessential business during the outbreak.

Six days of racing – March 27-29 and April 3-5 – have been canceled. The April 4 program included the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and five other six-figure stakes. With no racing scheduled this weekend, the number of lost racing days will increase to nine through Sunday.

The absence of those racing days has been an economic blow for owners and trainers, who are continuing to maintain staff to exercise and care for horses. Last weekend, trainers were notified that the lack of live racing will result in a fee of $1,233 per horse in their stables to cover workers’ compensation costs in the first quarter of the year.

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A portion of the takeout from ontrack handle is dedicated to covering workers’ compensation costs. The fund has become deficient without live racing.

Trainers were advised in a memo to utilize the government’s small business bailout funds to apply for loans that could be devoted to workers’ compensation costs or payroll. That is proving to be easier said than done.

Eoin Harty, president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, said he was informed April 3 that his bank was not prepared to accept applications for such loans, but to apply on Monday. Harty was told Monday morning that the bank was “no longer accepting applications,” he said.

“I can’t imagine I’m the only trainer faced with this,” Harty said.

“Things are tight enough as it is, trying to meet payroll and stay afloat. To get this dumped on us, it’s inconceivable for them to expect it to get paid.”

Harty said the CTT will appeal to racing officials throughout the state for a long-term resolution for workers’ compensation costs when racing does resume.

“Ontrack handle has been diminishing for years,” he said. “We need to figure out another way to fund that program.”

As the lack of racing continues, Harty is fearful the costs may force owners and trainers out of the sport.

“There will be people who haven’t been able to sustain it,” he said.

Santa Anita officials have held discussions with the county health department in recent weeks, seeking a resolution that will allow racing to resume without spectators and with enhanced safety protocols.

Santa Anita officials said in the last week that they plan to reschedule the Santa Anita Derby for a date later in the meeting, which is scheduled through June 21. If racing does resume in the near future, it is likely to do so for a period of time without spectators. The track operated for five days from March 14-22 without spectators and with a minimum of employees.

While California has had fewer positives for coronavirus, or fatalities, than other states, some government officials in the state have said in recent days that stay-at-home recommendations designed to curtail the outbreak of the virus could continue for the foreseeable future.

Earlier this week, Los Angeles health officials told the public to venture out only for necessities and even urged people to make fewer trips for essential items, such as trips to grocery stores, in an effort to reduce coronavirus positives.

Santa Anita is one of three tracks in the state not currently operating. Golden Gate Fields was closed by Alameda County health officials on April 2, a day after the harness meeting in Sacramento was interrupted by county officials there.

Los Alamitos in Orange County continues to operate an evening Quarter Horse and lower-level Thoroughbred meeting from Fridays through Sundays without spectators, although the track does not plan to race on Sunday because of Easter.

2019 mutuel ticket deadline

The California Horse Racing Board issued a reminder earlier this week that uncashed mutuel tickets from 2019 must be redeemed by mid-May.

With racetrack and satellite betting venues throughout the state currently closed to the public, tickets can be mailed to Santa Anita Park, Attn: Parimutuel Department, P.O. Box 60014, Arcadia, CA 91066-6014.

Fans are advised to make copies of tickets and provide a legal name and return address. Fans will be mailed a check that could take seven to 10 business days, depending on volume. Tickets on horses that were late scratches can be mailed for collection.

This policy applies to customers who attended the Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita last November and may have left without collecting winnings and to outstanding tickets purchased at simulcast locations or Northern California tracks.

Tickets must be received by May 15 to be valid.

Revenue from winning tickets not cashed before their expiration dates is divided between racetracks, owners in the form of purse money, and the health and welfare of active and retired jockeys.