Fonner Park to resume racing Monday

Fonner Park will resume racing Monday, but it will be spectator-free ontrack, according to a press release issued by both the track and the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on Thursday.

Six racing days will held during a March 23-Apri1 1 trial period. The track will race Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with a first post of 3:30 p.m. Central.

Fonner suspended racing last week until further notice at the request of local mayor Roger Steele after Gov. Pete Ricketts requested attendance at sporting events be limited to less than 250 people.

The Thursday announcement said that following the trial period of spectator-free racing, officials will assess its “productivity.”

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“Currently, horse racetracks in our nation are either closed or operating with a no-spectator adaptation of racing,” Chris Kotulak, chief executive officer of Fonner, said in a press release. “My primary concern is the uninterrupted care of the horses in our stable area and a continued opportunity for their caregivers to maintain a livelihood through racing and the distribution of purse money from racing.”

Kotulak said Fonner will stream its races on its website.

Fonner’s meet opened Feb. 21 and was scheduled to run 31 dates through May 2. The biggest race of the season, the $75,000 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Guss Fonner Stakes is April 25.