Espinoza taken off mounts while awaiting results of coronavirus test

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Victor Espinoza was taken off his three mounts on opening day Friday at Del Mar because results of a coronavirus test that he sought out on Thursday had yet to be returned to him, according to his agent, Brian Beach.

Espinoza rode last Saturday at Los Alamitos. Both Martin Garcia and Luis Saez, who rode at Los Alamitos that day, have this week tested positive for coronavirus.

Beach said that Espinoza learned Wednesday night of Garcia’s test and decided it would be prudent to get himself tested. He went to a facility in Orange County that promised a quick turnaround, Beach said. Espinoza expected to get the results early Friday. But because he did not have them by the time racing started at 2 p.m. Pacific on Friday, and because he had informed Del Mar officials as to his status, he was removed from his mounts.

As with all employees and essential staff here, Del Mar is requiring temperature checks of jockeys when they arrive each day. All are asked if they have been feeling ill, been around anyone feeling ill, or been out of the country in the previous 14 days. If the temperature check is passed and all three questions are answered as no, admission is granted.

At Santa Anita, jockeys were tested every Wednesday in advance of racing on a similar Friday-through-Sunday schedule, and upon arrival on Friday morning they were quarantined on-site in individual trailers.