Nine riders test positive for COVID-19 at Parx

At least nine riders based at Parx racetrack outside of Philadelphia have tested positive for coronavirus, including the top three jockeys at the track, according to the president of the Jockeys’ Guild, which represents riders nationwide.

The riders who tested positive have all gone into quarantine as Parx puts in place new protocols, according to Terry Meyocks, the Jockeys’ Guild president, who said he had several discussions with Parx officials over the weekend to discuss the positives.

“We’re trying to keep racing going while keeping everyone safe,” Meyocks said. Meyocks declined to name the riders that tested positive.

Parx officials did not respond to phone calls on Monday. Officials with the track’s horsemen’s group referred questions to the Parx officials.

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Parx carded 10 races on Monday and has plans to run 10 races on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Word began circulating this weekend that a number of Parx-based riders had tested positive for the virus, but Parx is dark on the weekend and currently racing on a Monday through Wednesday schedule. Late on Monday morning, the track issued its changes for that day’s race card showing eight riders being declared off their mounts.

Meyocks said that Parx began prohibiting riders from visiting the backside on Monday morning and began enforcing stricter social-distancing protocols in the jocks’ room.

Many tracks have banned riders from working horses in the morning during the coronavirus pandemic, and some have created new areas for additional jockeys’ rooms in order to prevent too many riders from occupying the same space.