HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park announced Friday that it has rescheduled the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby for May 2. The mile and an eighth race was to be held on April 11.
The Arkansas Derby came under consideration for a potential date change this week when Churchill Downs announced it was postponing the Kentucky Derby to Sept. 5.
This is a strange time in racing to house a blossoming young prospect in your shed row. Bob Baffert is the prime example, with major Kentucky Derby hopes Authentic, Charlatan, and Nadal in his Santa Anita barn – and no Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May.
On a lesser scale, trainer Bret Calhoun on Wednesday watched the 3-year-old filly Ain’t No Elmers run her record to two wins from two starts and look especially impressive in so doing. Ain’t No Elmers brims with promise even as her racing future – racing’s future – brims with uncertainty.
As horsemen tried to go about their business as usual Friday morning at Belmont Park, many couldn’t help but worry about the uncertain future that lay ahead.
“It’s scary times right now for everybody,” trainer Gary Gullo said late Friday morning after training. “Just like everybody else in the country right now, it’s the fear of the unknown.”
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The announcement Thursday afternoon that Sean Payton, the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, had tested positive for the coronavirus led to some fallout in the racing industry.
Payton was at Oaklawn on Saturday, presenting the trophy to the connections of Azeri Stakes winner Serengeti Empress. The race was run spectator-free ontrack in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
Grade 1 stakes winners Combatant, Higher Power, and Ollie’s Candy may start in stakes at Oaklawn Park or Santa Anita in April and May, while the Grade 1 winner Gift Box has been sidelined until May, trainer John Sadler said Friday.
Gift Box was the morning-line favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, but did not start because of concern over an ankle. Subsequent tests determined that Gift Box needed a rest.
“He’s going to get 45 days and go back into training,” Sadler said.
Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is planning to ride the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28 and then must quarantine himself for 14 days upon his return to the United States before he can ride again at Santa Anita.
Earlier this week, The Stronach Group, the parent company of Santa Anita, released a statement saying any jockey who rides internationally must undergo a 14-day self-quarantine because of the coronavirus outbreak.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Reeve McGaughey, the 30-year-old son of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, won his first race as a trainer Thursday at Oaklawn Park.
His father also celebrated his first training win at Oaklawn, back on March 29, 1978, according to records from Daily Racing Form.
“The first horse I ran in my name won at Oaklawn,” Shug McGaughey said when asked Friday. “I like Oaklawn – a lot of good memories.”
Reeve McGaughey won the card’s seventh race, a first-level allowance route, with Franknjymme ($7.20).
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The flight carrying locally based horses to Dubai for next Saturday’s World Cup program took off as scheduled from Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday afternoon. But one horse conspicuous by his absence on the flight manifest was Mr Freeze, the likely favorite for the $1.5 Godolphin Mile at Meydan on March 28.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – At least eight 3-year-olds are likely for the 69th Florida Derby, the annual Gulfstream Park showcase that will be run under far different circumstances than ever before – assuming the race goes as scheduled next Saturday.
Fonner Park will resume racing Monday, but it will be spectator-free ontrack, according to a press release issued by both the track and the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on Thursday.
Six racing days will held during a March 23-Apri1 1 trial period. The track will race Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with a first post of 3:30 p.m. Central.
Fonner suspended racing last week until further notice at the request of local mayor Roger Steele after Gov. Pete Ricketts requested attendance at sporting events be limited to less than 250 people.
