Racing at Lone Star Park, which was suspended July 5 after an employee in racing operations tested positive for COVID-19, will resume this Sunday, July 19, with strict protocols in place, according to the track's Twitter feed. The protocols provide for live attendance, but fans will be required to wear facemasks, follow social distancing rules and will be subjected to temperature screening.
Sunday's nominal feature is a first-level allowance for main-track sprinters and the track has drawn programs through July 22. The Wednesday program, which begins at 1:35 CT, is highlighted by four Texas-bred/Texas-stallion stakes races that were to be contested during the supension.
According to a post on the Texas Thoroughbred Association Twitter feed, purses at Lone Star are being raised by 18% beginning this weekend, though none of the purses for the races drawn through the coming week reflects the hike. The post also indicates that two additional race dates have been added, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12. The races for those dates will be those that were previously canceled and brought-back book races. Both divisions of the $100,000-estimated Texas Thoroughbred (Sales) Futurity will be run Aug. 11, however the second legs of the Texas Stallion Stakes have been postponed. The TTA said it hopes to conduct those races at Sam Houston Race Park in January.
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