Cover image courtesy of Keeneland
Latest from the USA
Courtesy of TDN America
Keeneland’s 2020 September Yearling Sale will begin as planned Monday, September 14.
“This auction is vital not only to Keeneland, but to the entire thoroughbred industry and the central Kentucky community at large,” Keeneland President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Thomason said.
“The Keeneland sales team is moving forward full steam with plans for the September Sale. Like every aspect of life right now, there are unknowns and we do not have all the answers yet. However, one thing is certain: We are committed to work in partnership with our consignors and buyers to provide the same world-class marketplace for which Keeneland is known.”
Entry deadline for the September Sale remains Friday, May 1. However, those horses entered but withdrawn from the sale by Friday, June 12, will not pay any portion of the entry fee.
“We understand that normal inspection calendars have been upended, and we hope that by extending the withdrawal deadline to June 12 we remove any hesitancy on the part of breeders and consignors to enter every yearling they consider a possible September Sale candidate on May 1,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said.
“The goal is to continue to move the process forward, but extend the final planning window by six weeks without financial consequences.”
“The goal is to continue to move the process forward, but extend the final planning window by six weeks without financial consequences.” – Geoffrey Russell
The September Sale format will mirror last year’s schedule: a three-day Book 1 (September 14-16), dark day on Thursday, September 17, two-day Book 2 (September 18-19), followed by Week 2 of the sale.
“Our hope is to conduct the September Sale under normal circumstances, but be assured we are planning for all contingencies because our entire focus is to deliver a successful sale in September,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said.
Keeneland Sales | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“We will be adaptable depending on the challenges we face.
“Keeneland will be communicating regularly with our consignors and buyers over these next several months, but if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our sales team.”
Push for live action
The longer live racing is suspended in California the deeper the economic toll, which is why the industry continues to push hard for that suspension to be lifted.
That was the main takeaway from a broad-sweeping conference call on Friday morning, organised by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), for industry heads to outline and discuss the impacts from the coronavirus pandemic on racing and training in California.
The call was presided over by TOC Chairman Nick Alexander, Greg Avioli, TOC President and Chief Executive Officer, The Stronach Group (TSG) CEO Craig Fravel, Aidan Butler, TSG chief strategy officer and acting executive director of California Racing, Josh Rubenstein, president of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s Executive Vice-President of Racing and Industry Relations.
Greg Avioli | Image courtesy of TDN America
According to Fravel and Butler, Santa Anita is in ongoing talks with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health about lifting the suspension of live racing at Santa Anita, saying that theirs is a very “compelling” argument.
“We got caught in one or two cross-hairs,” said Fravel, about the suspension of live racing. “One was that the health department approached the pandemic by making blanket decisions with few exceptions.
“The second is, we have many reasons to believe a very small group of animal rights activists were heavily engaged in having input into the agency that ultimately had some impact.”
Santa Anita | Image courtesy of TDN America
According to Butler, Santa Anita management is scheduled to have another meeting with the department of public health on April 18. “At that point we’ll be coming with a science- based, medical-based explanation,” he said.
David Seftel, a Golden Gate Fields-based physician and infectious disease specialist, is involved in drafting new protocols to help swing the decision about live racing in the industry’s favour.
Cash for owners
Ontario purse funds from races already cancelled or expected to be cancelled in April and May because of COVID-19 restrictions will be redistributed to the owners of thoroughbreds, standardbreds and quarter horses in the form of a monthly stipend that requires an application process, the Ontario Racing task force has announced.
“These funds were already committed to the industry through the funding agreement for live horse racing between Ontario Racing and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG),” an Ontario Racing press release stated.
“In order to be eligible to receive funds pursuant to this interim measure, owners must complete an application which must be submitted to Ontario Racing Management Inc.”
Latest from Europe
Courtesy of TDN Europe
German racing on move
The German racing authority Deutscher Galopp has released a revised racing program for the sport to begin behind closed doors from Friday, May 1 at Hannover.
At present the dates have been announced for one race meeting each day to June 15, and they include the first German Classics, the G2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen (2000 Guineas), which will be run at Cologne on Monday, June 1, followed by the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf on Sunday, June 7, the same day as the Listed Derby Trial.
During that period racing will be run behind closed doors, a move referred to in the announcement on the Deutscher Galopp website as one of the "painful reductions necessary in order to alleviate the substantial loss of revenue for the organisers and to enable the races to take place in the first place.
"We are responding to the corona crisis, which has stopped racing since mid-March, taking into account all necessary contact restrictions and requirements,” said Dr Michael Vesper, President of Deutscher Galopp.
“We are in the starting stalls in order to start our races again in a restricted manner and without endangering spectators and racing participants."
Lockdown extended
Ireland’s lockdown, originally set to expire on Sunday, has been extended three weeks to May 5, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced on Friday.
Dublin’s Leopardstown Racecourse | Image courtesy of Racing Post
The nation went into lockdown on March 24, the day after Naas’s opening meeting of the flat season, including the cancellation of all sporting events. Racing, therefore, is on the shelf in Ireland for another three weeks minimum.
"Because the vast majority of people have heeded the advice of the experts we have been able to interrupt the spread of the virus, we have been able to shelter the most vulnerable and protect them," Varadkar said. "What we're doing is difficult, but it is making a difference and we have to keep going."
