Coronavirus

Raceday Covid restrictions-like face coverings and Covid Status Certification-are set to be eased in England from Jan. 27. Face coverings on racecourses will be strongly encouraged but not enforced, while the courses will drop the government-mandated Covid Status Certification requirement that applied to race meetings with over 4,000 attendees. Restrictions will still be applied in the weighing rooms, where a negative lateral flow test is required for entry and social distancing is enforced. Those rules will be re-evaluated no later than Feb. 14. British Horseracing Authority Chief Medical Adviser Dr...

Although the federal racehorse doping conspiracy trial for veterinarian Seth Fishman and his assistant, Lisa Giannelli, paused for the weekend, attorneys for both sides remained busy on Saturday and Sunday, filing requests with the court over the admissibility of evidence regarding an equine fatality and the way witnesses must testify while wearing masks as a pandemic precaution. On Sunday morning, the prosecution filed a motion in United States District Court (Southern District of New York) that asked for permission to present evidence related to Fishman being investigated in Delaware more than...

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Stallion Parade will return after a two-year hiatus at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Feb. 3. Free to attend, the event will feature 12 stallions embarking on their first and second seasons at stud in Great Britain and will begin at 11 a.m. prior to the start of the Tattersalls February Sale. Hosted by racing broadcaster Gina Bryce and Tattersalls' Shirley Anderson-Jolag, the parade's dozen stallions are: A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), who stands at Newsells Park Stud; Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), a resident of Chapel...

Crowd capacity numbers will be reduced at Royal Ascot beginning in 2022, Ascot Racecourse announced on Thursday. After feedback from racegoers attending the smaller scale Royal Ascot in 2021, attendance caps will be instated across the Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne Enclosure, and Windsor Enclosure for the five-day meeting from June 14-18, 2022. In addition to reducing capacity in the Royal Enclosure by 1,000 guests (-7%) to 12,500, a new area for circulation has been added-the Royal Enclosure Gardens. The Queen Anne and Windsor Enclosures have been reduced by 4,150 (20%)...

Attorneys for Seth Fishman and Lisa Giannelli, the first two defendants scheduled to face trial on Jan. 19 in the years-long alleged international horse doping conspiracy, Wednesday asked the judge in the case to delay the trial over concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a highly-redacted document filed Jan. 12 in the United States District Court (Southern District of New York), Fishman's attorney, Maurice Sercarz, wrote that he and Giannelli's lawyer "respectfully submit that the present trial should be adjourned until there has been a substantial reduction in the...

From next Tuesday, jockeys entering British weighing rooms will be required to provide a negative lateral flow test against the coronavirus. The measure was due to be brought in this week, but temporarily delayed by the British Horseracing Authority to allow participants time to obtain the tests, and to wait for increased availability of the tests. The introduction of mandatory tests for jockeys builds on the existing infection control measures that include social distancing and face coverings.

Every person entering a UK weighing room on a raceday will be required to present on arrival evidence of a negative Lateral Flow Test (LFT) beginning on Jan. 5, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. This mandate dovetails with the requirements introduced on Dec. 15, and is in response to the continued increase in COVID-19 cases. The LFT should be completed on each day of racing prior to travelling. Proper evidence of a negative LFT must be demonstrated either via the NHS App, or an NH text message or...

The Welsh Grand National on Dec. 27 and Musselburgh's New Year's Day meeting will be held behind closed doors after the Welsh and Scottish governments tightened restrictions in response to the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. All sporting events in Wales from Boxing Day will be staged behind closed doors, while in Scotland outdoor sporting events are limited to 500 people. "We've had up to 12,000 people for the Welsh National meeting in recent years, an average of around 10,000," said Chepstow's Executive Director Phil Bell. "Hospitality had been...

Betting on U.S. Thoroughbred races was up again year over year in November 2021, while the industry saw a major spike in purses for the month, according to figures released by Equibase Monday. The numbers continue the positive economic trends the sport has seen this year as it slowly emerges from the toll taken by the pandemic. A total of $961,813,331 was wagered on U.S. races in November, up 7.4% from the November 2020 figure of $895,546,532. The November 2021 number is more flat when compared with November 2019, when...

The 2022 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Irish Stallion Trail, which includes over 25 participating farms, will last from Jan. 14-15, 2022 and registration for the event is now open. Free to attend, visitors are asked to register for which studs they intend to visit via the ITM website. Due to high demand, it is mandatory to register for a specific date and time slot in order to visit Coolmore Stud. Please note that the dates and format of the Irish Stallion Trail may change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In...

Covid passports will not be mandated at British courses by the Racecourse Association (RCA), which has no plans to implement a policy similar to Chelmsford's which requires covid passes. At Chelmsford City, attendees will be required to show a photo ID and a covid pass to attend meetings for the remainder of the year. Wales requires proof of vaccination status or a negative test if crowds exceed a certain level, and Scotland is set to introduce a similar rule. A statement from the Racecourse Association was released on Monday and...

Chelmsford City Racecourse will implement a Covid pass as a condition of entry, with racegoers also required to show photo identification. "Due to the ongoing pandemic, the racecourse has taken the decision to implement Covid passes as a condition of entry," a statement from the track read. "We have introduced these measures in order to protect our customers, team, local community and those who participate in our sport. "Alongside this as an additional safety measure, the racecourse will also be implementing ID as a condition of entry as well. This...