Compiled by Paul Vettise
Racing Victoria (RV) and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have announced changes to the handicap conditions for the winter racing series that culminate on Flemington Finals Day on Saturday, July 4.
The changes follow ongoing discussions between RV and the VRC around broadening winter racing opportunities for connections impacted by interstate travel restrictions and programming changes owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The changes, which have been made in consultation with the Australian Trainers Association (ATA), also give consideration to the temporary increase to the weight scale to assist jockeys with their weight and fitness due to industry biosecurity protocols and the closure of gyms, on-course spas and saunas.
All races on Flemington Finals Day will now be conducted as Quality Handicaps with the following races to carry a maximum topweight of 62kg: VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final (1600 metres, Open), All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200 metres, Open), Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600 metres, Open), Mahogany Challenge Final (2500 metres, 3YO), Silver Bowl Series Final (1600 metres, 3YO), Rivette Series Final (1400 metres, 3YO Fillies) and the Leilani Series Final (1400 metres, mares).
The 2-year-old series that culminate on Flemington Finals Day, the 2YO Sprint Series (1200 metres) and the Taj Rossi Series (1600 metres), will be Quality Handicaps with a maximum topweight of 61kg.
The minimum weight for all races on Flemington Finals Day remains 56kg with no apprentice allowances as advertised.
The minimum weight for all races on Flemington Finals Day remains at 56kg | Image by Brendan Thorne courtesy of AAP Photos
In addition to the above, heats conducted at Flemington on Saturdays, June 6, and June 20 for the following winter series will also become Quality Handicaps with a maximum topweight of 62kg: VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series, All Victorian Sprint Series, Banjo Paterson Series and the Mahogany Challenge.
A further programming amendment has been made to the Flemington meeting on Saturday, July 18 2020 with the 3YO&Up 2500 metres Handicap increased in distance to 2800 metres and converted to a Quality Handicap with a maximum topweight of 62kg. Again, apprentice allowances will no longer be permitted in this race.
Latest from the US
Opening date
Courtesy of TDN America
Churchill Downs Racetrack officials have announced that opening day of the 2020 Spring Meet will be Saturday, May 16.
After opening weekend on May 16-17, racing at the historic Louisville racetrack will be staged Thursdays through Sundays with a special holiday Monday card on Memorial Day, May 25.
Churchill Downs | Image courtesy of Coady
Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman is crafting a condition book for the schedule of races, including a revised stakes schedule, and it is expected to be released online this weekend so horsemen can begin preparing their horses for those engagements.
On Wednesday, Churchill Downs received approval from state officials to reopen its stable areas at both Churchill Downs and the auxiliary training centre Trackside on Monday, May 11 under strict guidelines to effectively mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
Racing at Churchill Downs during the Spring Meet will be conducted spectator-free until government officials approve fans returning to the historic track.
CEO hopeful on Derby
In a first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, Bill Carstanjen, the Chief Executive Officer of Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), said he was “more than cautiously optimistic” that the September 5 GI Kentucky Derby will proceed as rescheduled, ideally with spectators allowed to attend by adhering to whatever form of COVID-19 social distancing is appropriate at that time.
Churchill Downs | Image courtesy of Coady
As part of a broader scope of fiscal progress reports, Carstanjen also gave updates on construction projects at the gaming firm’s two thoroughbred racetrack properties in Kentucky, where work is both ongoing and delayed, depending on the nature of the projects. The most notable revelation is that the US$300 million (AU$464 million) build-out at Churchill Downs is now on hold.
May resumption
During his Thursday press briefing, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced that the state’s racetracks will resume racing on May 14. No spectators will be allowed to attend the races.
“In regard to horse racing, on May 14 we will start spectator-less, without people, horse racing,” Justice said. “It will be able to resume at that time. It takes a couple of weeks of active training and conditioning before it’s safe for the horses, so they will be starting back very, very soon in preparation for us to have spectator-less horse racing.”
Charles Town | Image courtesy of Coady
In March, the track announced that the Charles Town Classic, originally scheduled to be run April 18, had been postponed and will be run at a later date. The Mountaineer Park meet was slated to begin April 26.
“This is very good news,” said Jeff Runco, Charles Town’s leading trainer. “The HPBA had been working with (the governor’s office) and talking to them over the last few weeks. They wanted to make sure everything was going in the right direction with the virus and that the numbers were going in the right direction. They wanted to be safe before they decided to let us start back racing.”
Latest from Europe
BHA making plans
Courtesy of TDN Europe
The British Horseracing Authority over the next week will draw up a provisional program for the first seven days of racing’s resumption, with that resumption date yet to be determined.
In a release on Thursday, the BHA said it will then publish the remainder of the provisional program up until the end of June. Racecourses were this week invited to submit expressions of interest to stage fixtures upon racing’s return, which will help with the development of the provisional program.
Image courtesy of Racing Post
Racing’s resumption will be based on a phased approach and the early phases will include racing behind closed doors. To be granted meetings, tracks will need to be able to adhere to strict biosecurity and social distancing measures.
All locations will need to adhere to stringent medical and risk mitigation protocols to the satisfaction of BHA Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Jerry Hill, who is part of a working group of medical advisers from major sports that is meeting with the UK Culture Secretary and Public Health England officials to discuss the principles around the safe resumption of sport.
