Nebraska HBPA

The National HBPA Foundation, the world's largest Thoroughbred horsemen's organization, is coming to the assistance of Nebraska horsemen whose horses have been quarantined since March 10 following an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) by making a per-horse monetary donation to every owner and trainer impacted by the lockdown in two barns at Fonner Park. The Nebraska HBPA also is providing the impacted owners and trainers a per-horse amount of money to use toward expenses that continue to accrue while their horses are prevented from racing. About 110 horses, which includes...

Fonner Park, the Grand Island, Nebraska track that has seen record handle over the last several weeks, may stay open past the scheduled shutdown of the current meet. Horsemen and track management are in talks to extend the meet through the month of May. Currently, the meet is scheduled to end Apr. 29. "We are currently in talks with Fonner Park in hopes we will be able to run there through the month of May," said Nebraska HBPA President Bob Moser, Jr. "I am optimistic. We've had really good discussions...

Perhaps the most off-the-beaten-track in horse racing, Fonner Park sits isolated in Grand Island, Nebraska, unknown to most horseplayers and having to get by without any casino subsidies. Yet somehow it has survived, racing every year since it opened in 1954. The goal now is to make it another 36 days. As one track after another announces the cancellation of live racing due to COVID-19, Fonner is still going. Considering the obstacles, that doesn't seem possible, but horsemen and management came together last week with a plan they hope will...