Groom at Belmont Park dies due to coronavirus

The New York racing community on Wednesday was mourning the passing of Martin Zapata who died Tuesday due to the coronavirus, racing officials said. Zapata, a hotwalker who worked for trainer Tom Morley, was 63.

Zapata, who lived and worked at Belmont Park, tested positive for coronavirus on March 24. Two day later, he was admitted to the hospital, where he died.

“Martin was known for his infectious smile, and the amount of people who have reached out to me this morning recognizing that has been astonishing,” Morley said Wednesday morning. “He was much loved by everybody from the racing community from New York to California. He’ll be missed by all.”

Morley said Zapata had worked for him for about two years. He had previously worked for another trainer at Belmont Park and also had worked at tracks in California before coming east, Morley said.

Zapata is believed to be the first fatality owing to the coronavirus on the Belmont backstretch, which had its first confirmed case of coronavirus on March 19. As of Wednesday, there have been 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus on the Belmont backstretch, according to NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna. There are 13 individuals recovering off the property, 11 are in isolation at Belmont, McKenna said.

“We at NYRA offer our condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Martin Zapata, a beloved member of our New York racing community and a respected horseman,” NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said in a statement. “During these troubling times, we stand together with our colleagues at NYTHA, B.E.S.T, Belmont Child Care Association, and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy to offer comfort for all who are mourning Martin and to continue to support the ongoing needs of the backstretch community.”

Belmont Park is located in Nassau County, N.Y. Through Monday, Nassau County had 16,610 reported cases of coronavirus with 500 fatalities.

“NYRA is following the most up-to-date health guidance established by the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control,” McKenna said. “As such, the individuals at Belmont Park who have tested positive are under quarantine and in isolation within a Belmont Park facility dedicated to these quarantine efforts. NYRA is in close communication with NYS and Nassau County health departments to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps to reduce the risk of spread.”

On March 19, NYRA suspended racing operations. The final six cards of Aqueduct’s winter meet and the entire 13-day Aqueduct spring meet have been canceled.

Belmont is scheduled to open April 24, That date is expected to be pushed back, though NYRA has not yet made an official announcement.

Belmont Park is currently closed to horses shipping in from out of town. Requests to ship in will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations.