Coronavirus

Woodbine Racetrack will allow spectators--at 25% capacity in the grandstand and on the track apron--beginning on Canada Day, July 1. "We are thrilled to be able to open our doors on Canada Day and welcome back our owners and some spectators to the track who have been dearly missed," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "We have been operating live racing for a couple of weeks now, but it's just not the same with empty stands. We are thankful to the government for entrusting us to safely welcome back a...

In light of the challenges of getting in overseas purchasers, Tattersalls Ireland will postpone its May and July Store Sales to Aug. 10 and 11, with the August National Hunt Sale following on Aug. 12. The decision follows consultation with vendors and purchasers and is in reaction to the concern that overseas purchasers, in particular those from the UK, will be unable to visit Ireland without quarantine until July 19, as per the latest guidance from the Irish government. Tattersalls Ireland had facilitated about 100 buyers from the UK to...

Edited press release After racing with no fans in 2020, Saratoga will open with 100% capacity in 2021, the New York Racing Association announced today. With 70% of adult New Yorkers now vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday the immediate removal of COVID-19 protocols and restrictions for nearly all activities and industries, including outdoor sports and entertainment venues. Accordingly, NYRA will open all sections at Saratoga at 100%. The lifting of all COVID-19 protocols, including the requirement for fans to provide vaccination status, applies to all hospitality...

After the UK Government announced that they would be taking a four-week pause on the country's progression out of COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, the UK Racing industry acknowledged the reasons for the delay, but expressed disappointment at the news. The COVID-19 roadmap out of lockdown had been due to switch to Stage 4 on June 21, but instead the current restrictions will continue, affecting major racing events like Coral-Eclipse Day at Sandown Park, and the Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket. Currently, the industry is working with the Horserace...

The catalogue for the Tattersalls July Sale is now online, the sales company announced on Tuesday. Scheduled for July 7-9, 853 lots, divided between 742 horses and fillies in and out of training and 110 broodmares-13 with foals at foot, will sell at Park Paddocks in Newmarket over the three-day stand. Past graduates of the sale include recent G1 Doomben Cup hero Zaaki (GB) (Leoridesanimaux {Brz}). Large consignments from owner/breeders Cheveley Park Stud (16), Godolphin (45), Juddmonte Farms (24), Newsells Park Stud, Shadwell Estates (102) and the Royal Studs have...

With news that the province of Ontario has entered Step One of the 'Roadmap to Reopen' plan earlier than anticipated, officials at the Woodbine Entertainment Group have announced that Thoroughbred racing will return to the track this Saturday, June 12, with first post set for 1:20 p.m. ET. "While it has been a very frustrating period, I would like to thank the Government of Ontario for the recent attention it has given the horse racing industry," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "In particular, I would like to thank Premier...

Nominations for the 2021 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA) opened June 7 and will close Monday, Aug. 2. Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin is the principal sponsor of the awards in association with The Jockey Club, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA), the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and Breeders' Cup. Godolphin sponsors the Stud and Stable Staff Awards in England, Ireland, France and Australia. While the 2020 TIE Awards ceremony took place virtually, a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year's ceremonies are planned as an in-person...

With the news that spectators will be permitted to return to the races in Wales from Monday, racegoers are now able to attend courses across all three nations in Britain. Four-thousand spectators will be permitted at a fixture in Wales, with the first to take place under those guidelines at Chepstow on June 11. Spectators returned in England and Scotland on May 17; 4,000 spectators are currently permitted at a fixture in England, with Royal Ascot set to be a pilot event allowing 12,000. The next phase in the UK...

Owners will once again be welcome at Irish racecourses from June 7, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Wednesday. The news follows on the heels of the Irish Government announcement that up to 200 people can attend outdoor events from next Monday. The last time owners were permitted on racecourses in Ireland was in September of 2020. Two owners per horse will be allowed to attend. There will be designated areas for owners to meet their trainers and jockeys at each track, while winning owners will be permitted to enter the...

The Women Jockey's World Cup has been cancelled for the second year running due to continuing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Started at Bro Park in Stockholm, Sweden in 2017, the event is traditionally staged in June and has seen riders from 12 countries compete during the first three editions. Dennis Madsen Svensk Galopp's Director of Racing said, "It is very frustrating to have to cancel the Women Jockeys' World Cup for a second year running. "The international nature of the event requires early planning and even with the concessions that are...

A prize money boost of over £3 million at The Jockey Club racecourses for the remainder of 2021 was announced on Tuesday. This purse increase brings prize money to within 9% of pre-pandemic levels. Total prize money will exceed £42 million this year at all levels of the sport for the 15 racecourses operated by The Jockey Club. This amount is prior to additional funding from the industry's Appearance Money Scheme (AMS). These prize money increases are effective immediately, with the Cazoo Derby Festival gaining £65,000 and a £135,000 boost...

The catalogue for the Arqana Summer Sale, slated for June 30-July 1, is now online. There are 593 lots total set to go through the ring at Deauville, with 81 Flat-bred 2-year-olds set to breeze at Deauville-La Touques Racecouse on June 29 beginning at 1 p.m. Those juveniles are first through the ring at 11 a.m. on June 30, with 156 2- and 3-year-old stores and 23 3-year-olds in training from the Ecurie Centrale dispersal set to follow later that day. On July 1, the breeding portion of the sale...