Cover image courtesy of GoRacingTasmania
“While the health and safety of Tasmanians remains our Government’s top priority, we are committed to seeing racing resume in the State as soon as it is considered safe to do so,” Minister for Racing Jane Howlett said.
“I acknowledge the difficulties experienced by the more than 5000 Tasmanians who are involved in the racing industry and I thank those key stakeholders who contributed today in a very constructive manner.
Jane Howlett
“An extension of the current restriction to racing in Tasmania was included in today’s broader announcement of public health restrictions extending to at least May 15.
“This is in line with agreement from National Cabinet to maintain current restriction efforts as we seek to stop the spread of coronavirus, both nationally and here in Tasmania.
“While the return date will be ultimately determined by public health advice, I will be working with the industry to gain agreement for even tighter controls for race meetings.
“Industry participants will continue to receive State and Federal assistance based on their specific eligibility during the period that racing is not permitted.
“The Government’s aim is to enable racing to return as soon as possible having regard to the current circumstances that the State is experiencing.”
Latest from the USA
Push for racing’s return in Kentucky
Courtesy of TDN America
Damon Thayer, a former Breeders’ Cup executive who is now the majority leader of the Kentucky Senate, continued to beat the drum on Thursday for a return of racing in his state.
In an interview with the TDN, he said he sees no practical reason why racing, without spectators in the stands, cannot resume within the next few weeks and warned that keeping the tracks closed indefinitely would create serious economic problems for the sport.
“Staggering and potentially cataclysmic,” he said when asked to predict the impact of racing in Kentucky staying closed through the summer. “Everything is driven by purse money. If we can’t start getting the purse money back into the hands of owners and trainers and their employees, it’s going to have a long-term effect that gets worse with each day we go without racing.”
“If we can’t start getting the purse money back into the hands of owners and trainers and their employees, it’s going to have a long-term effect that gets worse with each day we go without racing.” - Damon Thayer
There has been no racing in Kentucky since Turfway Park last raced on March 21. Keeneland subsequently cancelled its spring meeting and there is no timetable for Churchill Downs to begin its meet, originally scheduled to kick off on April 25.
Damon Thayer | Image courtesy of TDN America
The tracks are not able to race because Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has declared racing a non-essential business, which means the tracks must stay closed while the state is under stay-at-home orders.
When the possibility of opening the racetracks came up at Beshear’s April 3 news conference, he made it clear that he did not consider that to be a priority.
Thayer has called on the governor to reconsider, as he believes Kentucky can follow the lead of states like Florida and Arkansas that have allowed the sport to continue even though the coronavirus has not been contained.
Online bidding
Fasig-Tipton will offer online bidding at all of its future live auctions, the company announced on Thursday. The platform will be available for Fasig-Tipton's next scheduled auction, the Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, to be held June 29-30 in Timonium, Maryland.
As an additional service to buyers, the company will also further expand its long-established phone-bidding program for the remainder of 2020. The service allows prospective buyers, who are not on site at an auction, to bid on horses through a member of the Fasig-Tipton staff.
"The addition of online bidding to our live auctions is a service we are pleased to offer," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "At no other time has this service been more crucial or needed.
“As we all work to conduct business in the current COVID-19 environment of adjusted social norms, online bidding ensures the best possible marketplace for our buyers and sellers in 2020. Looking beyond 2020, we envision this service being an integral component of all future auctions."
World Champs still on
In a letter to fans and supporters Thursday, Breeders’ Cup President and Chief Executive Officer Drew Fleming said the organisation remains committed to running this year’s World Championships on schedule on November 6 and 7 at Keeneland.
“The health and safety of the racing community, including its athletes, fans and workers, has always been Breeders’ Cup’s top priority.
“As we collectively navigate this uncharted and difficult time, I want to assure you that we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and working with Keeneland, relevant government authorities and public health experts to assess its potential impact on the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
“Based on what we know today, and with the event just under seven months away, we remain fully committed to conducting the World Championships at Keeneland.” - Drew Fleming
“Based on what we know today, and with the event just under seven months away, we remain fully committed to conducting the World Championships at Keeneland.”
Belmont delayed
In a move that seemed inevitable, the New York Racing Association, Inc. announced on Thursday that the opening of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet will be delayed due to the continuing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Highlighted by the 152nd running of the GI Belmont S. June 6, the 51-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet was originally scheduled to begin on April 24 and conclude July 12.
“We are working closely with the New York State Gaming Commission and public health officials to determine a timeline for the resumption of live racing at Belmont Park,” said NYRA Chief Executive Officer and President Dave O’Rourke.
“The health and safety of our racing community is paramount and any decisions or necessary adjustments to the racing schedule and operations must reflect that priority.”
With regard to the 2020 Belmont Stakes, NYRA said it is continuing to assess various options in consultation with all appropriate parties. These options include shifting the race to a later date.
Latest from Europe
National Sale delayed
Courtesy of TDN Europe
Bloodstock South Africa’s National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg, initially put off until May from its traditional mid-April calendar slot, has been postponed to July 30 to August 1.
Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, the sale will either be staged in a traditional format with no restrictions, with limited attendees or virtually if a lockdown is still in place.
Bloodstock South Africa’s National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg, has been postponed to July 30 to August 1 | Image courtesy of TDN Europe
The National Two-Year-Old Sale will be held November 11 to 13 and will see all horses previously entered for the KZN Yearling Sale transferred across. The sale will be limited to 600 horses while the Cape Mare Sale will be moved to mid-August.
“As an industry we are all in this together and need to unify in support of one another during these difficult and uncertain times,” said Bloodstock South Africa Chief Executive Officer Michael Holmes.
“There is naturally no quick-fix for the current predicament and definitely no-one size fits all solution either. Our revised programme attempts to find a balance between all factors at play and those are not restricted to racing and breeding.“
Breeze-up postponed
German sales company BBAG has announced that its Spring Breeze-Up Sale, initially set for May 22, will be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new date has not yet been determined with the company’s flagship Premier Yearling Sale is scheduled for September 4.
German racing officials revealed earlier this month that they hope to restart racing behind closed doors on May 1, with 23 race meetings through mid-June with just one racecourse staging racing per day.
