Espinoza willing to pay price of quarantine to ride in Dubai

Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is planning to ride the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28 and then must quarantine himself for 14 days upon his return to the United States before he can ride again at Santa Anita.

Earlier this week, The Stronach Group, the parent company of Santa Anita, released a statement saying any jockey who rides internationally must undergo a 14-day self-quarantine because of the coronavirus outbreak.

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Espinoza’s decision to ride in Dubai means he could not resume riding at Santa Anita until the weekend of April 17-19. Thursday, he was philosophical about the required break.

“I missed a year. What is two weeks?” Espinoza said. “As long as my health is fine, that’s the main thing.”

Espinoza, 47, was sidelined from July 2018 until February 2019 after sustaining a spinal injury in an accident in a morning workout at Del Mar. Espinoza was hospitalized in the weeks after the accident and went through months of physical therapy and exercise before he returned.

In Dubai, Espinoza is booked to ride Tizamagician in the Group 2 UAE Derby and Imperial Hint in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint.

The Stronach Group announced an expanded list of protocols Thursday to reduce the chances of an outbreak of coronavirus at its tracks across the country, which include Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, Gulfstream Park in Florida, and Laurel and Pimlico in Maryland.

Santa Anita is one of several tracks in the nation and around the world that are racing without the public in attendance, a policy that went into effect March 14.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told state residents Thursday to remain at home except for essential errands. Santa Anita officials were seeking clarity from state officials Friday on whether racing could continue. Some officials said they were going about business Friday as if the racing program would proceed.

Friday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered racing to cease indefinitely at Laurel as part of an attempt to stem the coronavirus outbreak in that state. Thursday, racing was halted at Aqueduct after a backstretch employee at Belmont Park tested positive for COVID-19. There are no indications when racing will resume in Maryland or New York.

Gulfstream Park canceled Friday’s races to enact additional protocols there, but indicated in a statement that it plans to hold races this weekend.

The backstretches at Santa Anita, Golden Gate Fields, and the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County have been closed to stable employees from other states, The Stronach Group announced Thursday. The ban includes jockeys, trainers, grooms and exercise riders.

Only trainers and their “essential” staff will be granted admission during racing hours at Santa Anita. Owners, media, and fans cannot attend. In addition, the starting gate will be disinfected between races and members of the gate crew must wear gloves and have no physical contact.

All jockeys will have their temperatures tested daily and will be denied entrance if showing any sign of illness. Riders must wear gloves at all times and cannot have physical contact with other riders.

Food service will be available in backstretch cafeterias, with a carry-out policy encouraged.