Del Mar will test returning BC jockeys before allowing them to race

Del Mar-based jockeys who ride in Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland on Friday and Saturday will be required to undergo coronavirus testing at a San Diego-area hospital before being allowed to resume riding next weekend.

Track president Josh Rubinstein said over the weekend that the track has arranged for rapid tests with Scripps Hospital in La Jolla. Riders will be tested shortly after flying back to California and will be informed of the results within two hours. They will be permitted to ride at Del Mar on Saturday or Sunday, if tests are negative, Rubinstein said.

Del Mar-based jockeys that ride in Breeders’ Cup races will be required to take a second coronavirus test by Nov. 11 to be allowed to ride on the weekend of Nov. 13-15.

“Our number one priority is to keep everyone safe,” Rubinstein said.

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Riders who return from Keeneland will be based in a temporary jockeys' room in the lower-level of the grandstand on Saturday and Sunday. The track expanded its jockeys' quarters during the summer. The track lost three days of racing in July after a coronavirus outbreak among riders.

Del Mar is not open to the general public this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing for space on the lower-level of the grandstand to be used to accommodate jockeys through a racing day.

The rapid testing program was not in place this weekend. On Saturday, leading rider Flavien Prat was taken off three mounts after he worked horses at Keeneland earlier in the day. Prat was informed by track officials that he could not work horses at Keeneland and ride at Del Mar on the same day because he could not undergo immediate testing.

Before the autumn meeting began on Friday, all jockeys and jockeys' room personnel underwent coronavirus testing before arriving at the track, Rubinstein said.