Jockey Manny Franco’s victory aboard Tiz the Law in Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby is likely to be his last mount for a while.
Franco returned to New York on Sunday and said he doesn’t plan to ride until New York begins racing again. Racing on the New York Racing Association circuit is on hold until at least April 24, the scheduled opening day of Belmont Park. More likely, given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the state of New York, that opening will be pushed back to a later date.
Fonner Park in Grand Island, Neb., which brought back live racing for a trial period after halting its meet last month due to the coronavirus pandemic, intends to continue racing through the month of April, according to Chris Kotulak, the chief operating officer at Fonner.
The track’s trial period ended Wednesday.
“We did go to the racing commission and we do intend to race beyond today because we’re taking entries for next Monday,” Kotulak said on Wednesday, adding that in these times, all situations are fluid.
Wednesday was supposed to be entry day for the Santa Anita Derby. And the Blue Grass Stakes. And the Wood Memorial. All would have been run Saturday, all as final major preps for the Kentucky Derby four weeks later on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Now, all three are at best postponed – for weeks or months – or at worst canceled. The uncertainty over those races is but a microcosm of what the sport is going through owing to the coronavirus pandemic, which as of Wednesday has shuttered all but a handful of tracks, including Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Aqueduct.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – One locally based 3-year-old committed to the May 2 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park is King Guillermo, upset winner of the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7. Trainer Juan Avila said King Guillermo is scheduled to have his first work since that 4 3/4-length victory here Saturday, when he’ll go five furlongs immediately after the renovation break.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dale Romans readily admits he’s a creature of habit. And under normal circumstances, his habit at this time of year is to be in his native Kentucky where he’d be racing at Keeneland for the next several weeks while looking forward in a month to attending and possibly competing in another Kentucky Derby.
Instead, Romans finds himself stuck in Florida for the foreseeable future, along with dozens of his training colleagues from up north, not knowing when he’ll be able to leave.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn announced Tuesday its casino will remain closed until April 30. During the same period, the track will continue its policy of racing spectator-free on-site, according to Jennifer Hoyt, spokeswoman for Oaklawn.
Oaklawn is scheduled to race through May 2, which is the new date of the Grade 1, $750,000 Arkansas Derby.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – With the Ontario government extending the Declaration of Provincial Emergency and associated emergency measures due to the coronavirus global pandemic, Woodbine Entertainment announced Tuesday that it remains committed to stabling horses on its backstretch.
The Woodbine meet, which was scheduled to begin April 18, has been postponed with a start date yet to be determined.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Grade 1 winner Tom’s d’Etat remains on schedule to launch his season April 11 – but the venue has changed.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Tuesday that the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile is the new target race for Tom’s d’Etat. The horse had been pointing for the Grade 3 Ben Ali the same day at Keeneland.
However, the spring meet at Keeneland has since been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- The millionaire Come Dancing got her first real feel for the Oaklawn surface on Tuesday morning, when she worked toward a potential start in the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap here April 18.
She also is being considered for the Grade 3, $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap the same day at Oaklawn, according to her trainer, Carlos Martin.
Come Dancing, who is under the care of trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Oaklawn, breezed first after the break. She went five-eighths by herself in 1:00.60 on a sealed, muddy track.
