COVID-19

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a major capacity increase at the state's racetracks and other outdoor large-scale sports and entertainment facilities Wednesday. The new order, which takes effect May 19, permits venue capacity to as much space as needed to meet the six-feet apart social distancing mandate. Another key part of the mandate is that fully vaccinated fans can be spaced next to one another, rather than six-feet apart, in areas that are separate from non-vaccinated patrons. "NYRA joins sports and entertainment venues throughout the state in thanking Governor...

Tickets for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, which will be staged Nov. 5-6, will go on sale to the public Friday, July 16 at Noon ET / 9:00 a.m. PT. Information including seating options and ticket pricing will be released early next month. In consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Breeders' Cup is working in tandem with Del Mar and local and state health officials to ensure attendees' health and safety. Conducted at Del Mar without fans in 2020, the Breeders' Cup will be held...

Woodbine Entertainment will host a pop-up COVID-19 Vaccine clinic at Woodbine Racetrack, which is located in a 'hot spot', beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the Rexdale Community. The vaccine clinic, which is supported by the North Etobicoke Community Cluster Partners, will operate for a minimum of three days and is open to individuals 18 years and older in 2021 and living in 'hot spot' communities in M9V and M9W. "We are very proud and grateful to be able to host this much needed pop-up clinic at Woodbine Racetrack for...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Friday that it is collaborating with Quest Diagnostics to provide COVID-19 testing this Saturday and Sunday at Belmont Park, where a limited number of spectators will return to the track for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Quest Diagnostics Mobile Testing Unit will offer COVID-19 antigen tests, which return a result within 30 minutes. On both Saturday and Sunday, tests will be offered to spectators for $30. The Quest Diagnostics Mobile Testing Unit will be located near...

Following the issuance of detailed racetrack health and safety protocols by New York State, Belmont Park will re-open to a limited number of spectators Saturday, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday. Spectators must purchase track admission in advance and adhere to strict health and safety protocols designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. "NYRA has been working collectively toward this goal since the start of the pandemic and we are thrilled to be able to welcome fans back to Belmont Park," said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. "We...

The Qatar Goodwood Festival, slated for July 27-31, will boast an increase in prize money for its three feature races, the racecourse announced on Tuesday. The G1 Qatar Sussex S. will once again be worth £1 million, while the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup has total prize money of £500,000. Rounding out the three Group 1s with increased prize money is the G1 Qatar Nassau S., which will be worth £600,000. Overall, the five-day festival will offer over £4.8 million in prize money in July. In 2020, purses were reduced due...

The Ontario government announced earlier this week that a province-wide COVID-19-related lockdown has been extended to at least May 20, dashing hopes that Woodbine will be able to open for business any time soon. The meet was supposed to begin Apr. 17. "There is a crisis right now in the Toronto area and we're right in the middle of it," said Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson. "They are running out of intensive care beds and the numbers are not going down. The good news is that more vaccines are coming in...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys competing at the 48-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet. The meet runs Thursday, Apr. 22 through Sunday, July 11. As has been the case at NYRA since Apr. 1, all jockeys who have been fully vaccinated will not be required to undergo COVID-19 testing in order to compete at Belmont. Vaccinated jockeys traveling to ride at Belmont, as well as members of the NYRA jockey colony who travel outside of New York State, will continue to...

The gaming corporation that owns Churchill Downs Racetrack is abandoning plans to build a $300 million hotel and historical horse race (HHR) gaming facility on the first turn of the track. Instead, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) will focus on a three-phase expansion of its Louisville-area properties, with expected completion dates for each project dovetailing with the runnings of the next three GI Kentucky Derbies. Bill Carstanjen, CDI's chief executive officer, said during a Thursday earnings conference call that he was not at liberty to divulge details about the new projects...

The NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance (Alliance) is resuming on-track accreditation visits after an eight-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal regulations following the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) note that the new Authority may extend provisional or interim accreditation to a racetrack accredited by the Alliance. "Racetracks across the nation are gradually beginning to welcome back customers and participants, so it is time to begin the process of re-accrediting many of the 21 racetracks currently accredited by the Alliance," said NTRA President and CEO...

A trio of Group 1 races at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival on Aug.18-21 and the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on May 13 have all had their prize money boosted to pre-COVID levels, the racecourse announced on Wednesday. The G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 18, rated the Longines World's Best Horse Race in 2020, will once again be worth £1 million, while the Aug. 19 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks will be run for £400,000. The purse of the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. will also...

Wellbeing across the Horseracing Industry, a comprehensive survey to help inform a strategy dedicated to the welfare of the British Racing workforce, was launched on Tuesday. The survey, which runs through May 16, is open to everyone working across the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. Every individual who completes the survey, will receive a personalised well-being report to help improve how they feel, live and work. A Wellbeing Committee was also created, comprising a significant range of expertise across its membership, as well as a dedication towards improving further the...