Santa Anita is making advanced plans to resume racing on May 15 following a break of nearly two months caused by the coronavirus outbreak, according to a letter top track executive Aidan Butler sent to executives of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, California Thoroughbred Trainers association, and Jockey’s Guild on Wednesday. In the two-page letter, Aidan Butler wrote that Santa Anita “is targeting May 15 for the resumption of live racing under strict protocols,” which includes no spectators. Butler is the executive director of California racing for The Stronach Group, the track’s parent company. Santa Anita has not raced since March 22 after it was deemed a nonessential business during the pandemic. Since then, training has continued at Santa Anita. Track officials have been in discussions with executives of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in recent weeks about a resumption of racing and are eager to be granted approval to do so. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter “We still need to get the green light” from the county officials, Butler said in a brief phone conversation Wednesday afternoon. In the letter, Butler said the track plans to publish a condition book on Thursday that will describe the proposed races to be run beginning May 15. In addition, Butler wrote that Santa Anita needs time to plan for a resumption of racing and described the May 15 date as tentative. “It would be derelict of us to not give you as much notice as possible, with your understanding it is still a contingency plan,” the letter stated. In its recent proposal to county officials, Santa Anita officials said it would expand on protocols put in place in mid-March. The amended protocols would require jockeys, assistant starters, and a group of grooms who will handle horses being saddled for racing to relocate to accommodation on-site that will be constructed in a parking lot. The Santa Anita meeting is scheduled to conclude June 21. Racing took place without spectators from March 14-22, and without horse owners present on the weekend of March 20-22. The track was closed March 27 when county health officials deemed the racetrack a nonessential business. In his letter, Butler described the proposals recently presented to county health officials as “logistically complex. “It will take Santa Anita up to two weeks to resume operations with the guidelines in place,” he wrote. “To be clear, this resumption would be subject to the stringent restrictions which were included in the plan and protocols currently under consideration” by county health executives. “It is contingent upon the county’s current Stay-At-Home order expiring on May 15 and the county meeting their metrics.” Tuesday, the county board of supervisors approved a measure requiring county officials to form a report by May 5 with plans of how to relax stay-at-home measures put in place because of the pandemic and prepare to reopen some businesses while ensuring social-distancing and face-covering protocols. Track officials are hoping racing can be part of the May 5 report that could hasten a resumption of racing. While Santa Anita officials are eager to receive government approval, it could be months before the stands are occupied with racegoers. Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has a four-stage recovery plan from the coronavirus outbreak, beginning with the expansion of testing and procuring of safety equipment. The second stage is the opening of schools, offices and some retail operations with social-distancing rules, followed by a third stage of opening gyms, hair salons, movie theaters, and sporting events without audiences. The final stage would include opening concert venues, resuming conventions, and conducting sporting events with spectators. Newsom stressed that California is in the first stage. – additional reporting by Brad Free