UK

Racing in the UK will continue behind closed doors, as new national lockdowns begin at midnight on Jan. 5. Cases of coronavirus are rising in both countries and their respective governments have imposed new COVID restrictions. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited the rising death toll in the past seven days and the new coronavirus variant that is widespread in the UK as the primary reasons for a third lockdown, which is expected to last until mid-February. The BHA confirmed that racing will continue without fans and with only essential...

As there is currently an increased rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the UK, British racing leaders have agreed with the UK Government to impose more stringent racemeeting restrictions beginning on Jan. 1, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. Under the new restrictions, no owners will be permitted to attend Tier 4 race meetings and essential staff only are allowed at meetings in Tier 4 areas. In addition, no owners living in Tier 4 will be permitted to attend race meetings in Tiers 1-3. These restrictions also apply to...

Tattersalls Cheltenham will not be hosting the rest of its 2020 sales fixtures at Cheltenham Racecourse due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the Cheltenham November Sale will take place at Fairyhouse in Ireland on Nov. 12. Park Paddocks will host the Cheltenham December Sale on Dec. 3 and there will be an alternative Cheltenham December Sale back at Fairyhouse on Dec. 17. The Oct. 23 Tattersalls Cheltenham October Sale has been cancelled. "Whilst we naturally look forward to returning to Cheltenham Racecourse as soon as restrictions allow, this solution...

Nominations for the 2020 UK Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards are now open. The awards recognise and reward the outstanding skills, commitment and contribution of over 10,000 stud and stable staff in England, Scotland and Wales. In this challenging year, the 2021 awards will particularly look to recognise the challenges faced by stud and stable staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The finalists will be judged, most likely remotely, on Feb. 22. After the winners are selected, there will be a virtual awards ceremony, and a celebratory event is slated...

Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}--Plante Rare {Ire}, by Giant's Causeway) will stand at Chapel Stud in Worcestershire as a National Hunt stallion in 2021. The former Marco Botti-trained bay will stand on behalf of owner/breeder Simon Davies with the deal brokered by Richard Venn Bloodstock. The 2011 G1 Prix Ganay victor who was also runner-up in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris and two editions of the G1 Prix d'Isapahan previously stood in France at Haras de Bouquetot (2014-2018) and Haras du Grand Courgeon...

The last week of June remains the most likely date for the combined Goffs UK/Arqana combined breeze-up sale. After the Irish Government's lockdown roadmap was released on Friday and with the UK's position to become clearer on Thursday, all European breeze-up sales will be discussed with Tattersalls. The three sales companies are working to harmonise the breeze-up sales calendar and are preparing for more than one outcome as provisional plans pertaining to the resumption of racing in the UK, Ireland are under discussion, with France to begin on May 11....

Dr. Jackie Wahrmund taught my first class on the morning of my first day of college at the University of Kentucky--Animal Science 101: Domestic Animal Biology, an auditorium full of over a hundred eager freshmen. About half of them hoped to be veterinarians someday, only to have their dreams crushed a month later after their first chemistry exam. But this was a class we would all come to look forward to every week. We got to learn about what we were all passionate about, and Dr. Wahrmund made the class...

More than 270 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, the Department of Health has announced. As of 9 a.m. on Sunday, 273 people had been diagnosed with Covid-19--an increase of 67 from the 206 cases confirmed at 7 a.m. on Saturday. It represents the largest day-on-day increase in diagnoses. The four-day Cheltenham Festival, is still going ahead as planned and it begins on Tuesday. Meanwhile in Italy, more than a quarter of population has been placed in mandatory quarantine as the Government attempts to stem the...

Champion Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), G1 Investec Derby hero Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and MG1SW Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) have all had their first mares scanned in foal, Darley announced on Wednesday. A winner of the G1 Dewhurst S., Too Darn Hot stands alongside French G1SP Masar at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud near Newmarket, while 2019 Cartier Champion Sprinter Blue Point, who won four Group 1 races and two at Royal Ascot last term, is at Darley's Irish base, Kildangan Stud. They command fees of £50,000, £15,000...

There was a significant spike in the total of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK on Sunday--less than 10 days before the scheduled start of the Cheltenham Festival. Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, reported that the number of positive tests for the virus has risen to 35 after 12 new patients were identified in England. Whitty said three patients were close contacts of a known Covid-19 case that was transmitted within the UK--believed to be a Surrey resident--while another new patient, from Essex, has no relevant international travel to...