Coronavirus

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Once again, Saratoga opens its world-renowned race meet with the question: How many? During the COVID-19 summer of 2020, the issue was whether there might be some loosening on the ban on spectators during the 40-day season. That never happened, though a limited number of owners were allowed to see their horses run, and some of the world's best Thoroughbreds played to a oh-so quiet empty house at America's oldest race track. With restrictions completely lifted in New York State in time for the 153rd season,...

There will be an attendance cap of just 1,000 spectators per day for the Galway Summer Festival. The week-long fixture features the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle. Galway Racecourse had submitted a proposal of 5,000 fans a day through the turnstiles, but that was rejected by the Irish Government. Instead, the festival will have the same limit on spectators as the Irish Derby meeting at The Curragh earlier this summer. Ireland is still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We got news last night that we will be able...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Precisely 52 weeks ago, King's Tavern co-owner Jason Fitch valiantly tried to be at least a little bit positive about the prospect of a racing season without spectators across Union Avenue at Saratoga Race Course. Closed for three months by the COVID-19 lockdown, King's had reopened in mid-June at the partial-capacity limits of the time. While just being able to operate was better than nothing for Fitch and his brothers and partners, Adam and Patrick, he acknowledged it was going to be a difficult summer without the thousands...

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that lockdown restrictions will ease on July 19, paving the way for racecourses in England to receive their full complement of spectators. The UK Government will no longer require social distancing and wearing face coverings, but the public is still advised to utilise them in crowded spaces. Some COVID-19 safety protocols will remain in place at racecourses, with Ascot slated to host the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. on July 24. The Prime Minister said in a Downing Street...

Officials at Goffs have released a statement clarifying announcements made June 30 as regards the venue and date options for the company's marquee Orby Sale. As was previously stated, the Orby sale, with the cooperation of Tattersalls, is planned for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25, at Park Paddocks in Newmarket. However, Goffs officials are expressing optimism that travel restrictions could be eased in time enough for the sale to take place at its originally scheduled dates of Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 28 and 29. These plans follow discussions...

A total of £150,000 will be split amongst the winning team of the Racing League, with an additional £50,000 to be divided between the three jockeys with the most points across the 36-race challenge, the Racing League announced on Wednesday. There was already £1.8 million in guaranteed prize money on offer, bringing the total over £2 million to be decided across six race days and 12 teams this summer. The extra £200,000 will be shared by the winning team and leading jockeys as follows: £60,000 to the trainers £30,000 shared...

In conjunction with the Irish EBF Ballyhane S., Naas Racecourse has partnered with Barretstown, a children's charity, which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A JustGiving page has been set up here and Naas is requesting minimum donations of €5. Each donation will be placed in a draw-to be held on July 30--and assigned one of 24 horses in the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. on Aug. 2. The fundraiser will close on Juy 28 at noon. The person assigned to the winning horse will receive a €5,000...

The Arqana v.2 Yearling Sale, which took a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to its home in Deauville directly after the Arqana August Sale. A one-day event, the Aug. 17 sale features 146 colts and fillies geared toward precocity on the racecourse. Current poster girl is 2021 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), while earlier distinguished alumni include fellow French 1000 Guineas heroine Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}) and Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War), who won the colts' equivalent in...

The Great Community Race Day, the brainchild of Carlisle Racecourse non-executive committee member Bruce Jones and his wife Sue who founded OEE, a Carlisle-based engineering company, will be held on Thursday, July 8. Keen to support and contribute towards the local community, the couple decided to sponsor a racing fixture and the concept of the Great Community Race Day was born. Each of the six races on Thursday's card will include the name of one of the following charities that the team at OEE had been personally involved with and...

The 20th running of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will feature veteran reinswoman Hayley Turner, Ascot announced on Tuesday. Turner, who has won the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle in 2018 and 2019, is the leading jockey in the history of the event with 297 points from 13 appearances. Turner said, "I'm excited that the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is around the corner. It's one of my favourite days of the year. The girls team is always strong and we get lots of supporters which is great. It's going...

England is on course to remove the COVID-19 enforced limit of attendees at sporting events from July 19, according to an announcement from the UK Government. A final decision on easing restrictions, which currently limits attendance to just 4,000 spectators at each race meeting, will be made on July 12. During Royal Ascot, up to 12,000 were allowed to attend through a Government pilot scheme. In addition to ending spectator limits, the one-metre social distancing rule will end, as will the compulsory wearing of masks. "If we do find another...

Officials at Monmouth Park have announced an across-the-board increase in purses to begin on TVG.com Haskell S. day July 17 and have added three live September dates on Fridays to the calendar. "We're thankful to Gov. Philip Murphy and to the leadership in the state Senate and Assembly who continue to support racing in New Jersey," said Dennis Drazin, the Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. "A supplemental appropriation was passed and signed into law, and with rain preventing us from writing more races...