Joining a host of other American racetracks, Fair Grounds in New Orleans announced that after Saturday's card it would curtail its racing season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, canceling the last six racing days of the 2019-2020 meet.
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park announced Saturday it will cut the purses for five stakes races on next Saturday’s card, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which will be reduced from $1 million to $750,000. Other cuts will be made for the Grade 2 Pan American and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, both reduced from $250,000 to $200,000, as well as the Sanibel Island and Cutler Bay stakes, both down from $125,000 to $100,000.
The Florida Cup, which was to be run March 29 at Tampa Bay Downs, has been canceled, according to Allison De Luca, longtime Tampa racing secretary.
Even though Tampa has continued to race uninterrupted since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, and there were no plans to stop as of late Friday, the Florida Cup still has been removed from the stakes schedule, owing primarily to a downturn in revenue stemming from significantly diminished wagering handle on recent programs.
Indiana Grand announced Friday that it would indefinitely postpone the start of its 2020 race meet, which was scheduled to begin April 14, due to the national health emergency.
The Shelbyville, Ind., track and casino, owned by Caesar’s Entertainment, also said it was emptying the stables, which, according to multiple sources, housed between 100 and 200 horses as of this week. Indiana Grand general manager Eric Halstrom didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry regarding the number of horses ontrack.
Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita continued to race without spectators on Friday, a day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state’s 40 million residents to stay home in an effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.
A select number of business deemed essential have been allowed to stay open.
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.
