And then there were seven.
Seven tracks in North America are still holding races despite the devastating spread of the COVID-19 virus – Gulfstream (Florida), Tampa Bay Downs (Florida), Oaklawn Park (Arkansas), Fonner Park (Nebraska), Will Rogers Downs (Oklahoma), Los Alamitos (California, mostly quarter horses) and Remington Park (Oklahoma, mostly quarter horses).
The latest track to close was Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco, shut down by the Almeida County health department.
And other tracks, many with opening days of the meetings drawing near, are not likely to open on time.
WOODBINE – There are still plenty of horses and trainers and staff giving their stable runners light exercise on the main track or sand ring. There are no workouts or gate training sessions.
Woodbine has laid off most of its staff, as had Ontario Racing, temporarily until racing can begin again. There is very little revenue coming in with only a handful of North American tracks being offered through simulcast of which Woodbine receives a small amount of that take.
The Queen’s Plate has been postponed, originally scheduled for Saturday June 27. The latest the Plate has ever been run is July 22 in 1984 at a brief time when the Plate was run in the third week of July.
The projections of continued spread of the virus in Ontario, as noted by health officials and Premier Doug Ford, make it impossible to guess when racing without spectators can begin at Woodbine.
ASSINIBOIA DOWNS – With a starting date of May 10, the Winnipeg track seemingly will be hard-pressed to get racing, without spectators, going by that date. There are about 150 horses at the track but no workout times have been recorded.
CEO Darren Dunn told the Winnipeg Sun, “If we’re not able to run this year it could be catastrophic,” said Dunn. “It’s going to be difficult to keep people in the sport, it’s going to be difficult to keep people from declaring bankruptcy and ultimately it’s going to be very difficult to keep the industry going.”
(UPDATED) – HASTINGS RACECOURSE in Vancouver, has a start date of April 26 but there are just 6 horses on the backstretch currently according to Grant Watson of the CTHS.
Statistics on the spread of the virus in BC have indicated that province is underway in “flattening the curve”, there is a informational site for Canada here.
ALBERTA – Century Mile’s opening date is April 29 but as with other Canadian tracks, the horses are on the backstretch being cared for but are only in light training. It was announced last week that Century Mile will host the race dates of Century Downs in 2020.
CHURCHILL DOWNS – While the backstretch is scheduled to open for horses and people on April 14, that date is every much in the air. Federal guidelines have in place social distancing protocols until April 30 at least. Churchill’s spring meeting has a start date of April 25.
KEENELAND – Horses are training but the track cancelled its three-week meet that was expected to begin April 2
TURFWAY PARK – Was forced to cancel the final three days of its winter/spring meet on March 25th.
SANTA ANITA – The track was shut down by the Los Angeles County Health Department a week ago and will remain closed through this weekend when the Santa Anita Derby was to be run.
Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group which owns Santa Anita (and Gulfstream Park) said in an open letter, “Simply put, by ceasing live racing operations, we are jeopardizing the income stream for backstretch employees (racehorse caregivers) and the financial resources required to provide them and the horses they love with the care they both deserve.”
AQUEDUCT – Racing was halted March 19 at Aqueduct racetrack and that track’s winter meet has been cancelled. The track now serves as a temporary hospital site as that state has been ravaged by the COVID-19 virus.
BELMONT PARK – Opening day is scheduled for April 24, but that track’s backstretch has had several workers test positive for the COVID-19 virus. Leading trainer Todd Pletcher moved all of his horses out of Belmont and dispersed them to farms or training centres.
Racing continues in HONG KONG and JAPAN as well as AUSTRALIA, although the first Australian state to shut down racing, the island of Tasmania, halted racing Thursday.
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