Santa Anita further tightens attendance policy

Santa Anita has further tightened its admission policy for race days as a result of the coronavirus outbreak to exclude all non-essential personnel except for “trainers and their attending staff,” a decision that will exclude horse owners.

The policy, which will take effect on Friday, was announced in a text message on Tuesday afternoon. The track cited compliance with the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines to limit gatherings. In a separate message, the track stated that only “licensed working personnel” will be allowed in the stables until further notice.

Track officials gave no indication on Tuesday how long the strict attendance policy would be in place.

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Last weekend, Santa Anita banned the general public from the races on Saturday and Sunday with owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, some track employees, and credentialed media in attendance. Several other tracks throughout the nation have enacted similar attendance policies, while Keeneland in Kentucky has cancelled its April meeting.

Countries such as England, France, Germany and Italy have canceled races in coming weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak.