Santa Anita still awaiting approval to reopen Friday

Santa Anita has yet to receive approval from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to resume racing on Friday amidst the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement released early Saturday.

The track has not operated since March 22 and was ordered closed by county health officials on March 27 when it was deemed a nonessential business because of the pandemic. Training has continued since late March with the hope that racing would resume.

The track issued a statement early Saturday morning stating that discussions continue with county health officials regarding a resumption of racing on Friday. The letter was addressed to race fans and referenced “strict protocols” that will be put in place if racing is allowed to resume to avoid coronavirus positives.

“As part of our discussions, our team has presented to local health officials a comprehensive plan that outlines stringent health and safety measures to safeguard both our horses and the dedicated team members who care for them,” the letter read, in part.

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“As we await the decision of the L.A. County Health Department regarding when live racing may resume at Santa Anita Park, we will continue to consult with health department officials and our own independent health experts to assure the safety of our horses, employees and participants.”

When racing resumes, Santa Anita will operate without ontrack spectators and with a limited number of track personnel needed to conduct racing. A similar plan was in place briefly in March before racing was halted.

If racing is approved to resume on Friday, additional protocols will be in place. Jockeys, assistant starters, and a group of grooms that will accompany horses from the walking ring to the racetrack will be provided temporary housing on racetrack property to reduce the chance of a spread of coronavirus cases.

Horses will be saddled in the receiving barn, not the saddling enclosure adjacent to the jockeys’ room. The horses will be led toward the walking ring by employees of trainers to a group of grooms employed by the racetrack. Jockeys will mount horses in the walking ring and proceed to the track for the post parade and warm up, accompanied by ponies.

After the race, the grooms employed by Santa Anita will attend to the horses and walk them to the testing barn, or to an appointed area near the entrance to the stable area where they will be met by grooms employed by trainers.

A trial run of this procedure was held earlier this week.

Santa Anita is scheduled to race until June 21, largely on a Friday-through-Sunday basis. The track has lost 21 days of racing since late March because of the coronavirus outbreak.