Training Status Update on Canadian & US Thoroughbred Racetracks

While Thoroughbred owners and trainers await racing to begin at tracks in Canada, one track is helping owners see their horses train.

Owners of racehorses are deemed ‘non-essential’ to the direct care of the horse on the backstretch and currently are not allowed on the backstretch of tracks because of the COVID-19 restrictions. Assiniboia Downs began a video-cast Friday, April 24, showing horses training and working.

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The feed was excellent.

Owners can watch their horses train and work on the Assiniboia Downs website and on MTS channels 179-180. Workouts on the Winnipeg track began on April 22.

In an email to Canadian Thoroughbred, Assiniboia’s CEO Darren Dunn explained how he has set up the feed.

“We have planned this for over a week and were finally able to launch today. We put this together with our television production sub-trade, OnTrack Media. We have a live pan camera operator and direct communication with our clockers who have a television feed in the press box.

They point out the next horse who is to work and relay that to the camera operator – specifically where the horse is on the track and what the jockey/exercise rider is wearing. They are to film some brief warm-up and then the workout, followed by the gallop out and then on to the next horse. We may not be able to realistically catch every workout, but we will try our best. If there are no horses working then the camera operator is to give circa. 30 seconds to any horse he can find on the track galloping and then move on to the next one – with the intent to try and give “camera time” to as many as possible.

We are committed to this plan until things hopefully loosen up and owners can return on site in some limited fashion. I am very pleased with our first day, though we have a few things to smooth out.”

CENTURY MILE has training and workouts at its track and when racing resumes, it will host all of the racing dates that were scheduled for Century Downs as well as its own remaining dates.

HORSE RACING ALBERTA issued the following release April 21: Representatives from Horse Racing Alberta, ACTRA, AQHRA, ASHA, HBPA, Century Casinos, Evergreen Park, Rocky Mountain Turf Club and the Track on 2 held their weekly conference call this afternoon.

“We remain committed to supporting the health and safety of the people in the racing community in Alberta, and will continue to follow all of the recommendations from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer.

Officially, all of our April racing dates have all been cancelled at both Century Downs and Century Mile. The backstretch is open for training at Century Downs, Century Mile and the Track on 2, with a few horses in the barn at Evergreen Park. Updates from the horsemen’s associations indicate that some trainers are preparing horses at farms and other facilities.

Each of the horsemen’s organizations are working on plans for the resumption of live racing when casinos and/or racetracks are allowed to open. A number of proposals and scenarios are being discussed at the board level contingent upon being able to safely return to racing.

A number of Federal and Provincial programs have been introduced, and horsemen are encouraged to explore the different programs and apply for applicable funding.

All of the representatives understand the uncertainty and stress that all stakeholders are facing and we will continue to keep you updated as more information is available. The last 5 weeks have been filled with unprecedented challenges and changes, and we are working together to find as many solutions as possible.”

HASTINGS RACECOURSE in Vancouver is expected to re-open its backstretch on Friday, May 1. The 2020 meeting was scheduled to begin this weekend and horses were training at the track in late March until the backstretch was closed. Most of the horses shipped out to train at farms.

FORT ERIE RACETRACK opened its backstretch almost two weeks ago and horses are allowed to do light training, but no workouts or gate training on its main dirt track. Fort Erie’s season is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 26.

At WOODBINE RACETRACK, horses were training and having recorded workouts until late March before workouts and gate training was halted. The training track was closed a few weeks ago and only light training is allowed on the main track.

It is expected that full training, at least workouts, will be allowed soon and the next ‘Stronger Together’ Q & A online session with Jim Lawson is scheduled for May 12, the current last day of the Ontario state of emergency directive.

Woodbine Entertainment CEO Lawson has indicated that he hopes spectatorless racing can begin in June or July. The June 27th Queen’s Plate has been postponed.

In the US, the very fluid events of the pandemic have led to very different scenes at tracks:

Santa Anita Park issued the following statement April 23 regarding its proposal to the Los Angeles County Health Department for a resumption of spectatorless racing:

“Santa Anita is continuing discussions with the LA County Health Department and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office as they undertake a thorough and thoughtful review of the proposal submitted to resume live racing as soon as possible at Santa Anita. The comprehensive written proposal was submitted last Thursday (April 16) following a meeting with Supervisor Barger earlier that day.

While Santa Anita is first and foremost in our minds, we are one of literally hundreds of businesses asking for attention during this pandemic. The process, as thorough as it is, is time consuming. However, we anticipate receiving an answer shortly.”

Churchill Downs announced April 23 that it must delay the reopening of its stable areas at both Churchill Downs and its auxiliary training center, Trackside, to at least May 5. The opening of the 2020 spring meet, originally scheduled for April 25, also has been postponed, and a determination of the exact starting date will be made closer to the opening of the stable areas.

Churchill Downs officials are in ongoing discussions with state and local officials and public health experts about reopening its stable areas and conducting spectator-free racing under strict guidelines.

In New York, the 2020 Belmont Park meeting was expected to begin today, April 24, but has been postponed with no start-up date announced as of yet. The track’s signature race, the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes, is still set for the first Saturday in June. Belmont switches to Saratoga in mid-July and currently that track is expected to open.

Fonner Park, once a little-known track in Nebraska now attracting plenty of interest and wagering, will extend its season’s 12 racing dates. The second season of the track will race May 4 to May 31.

Tampa Bay Downs, Oaklawn, Gulfstream, Will Rogers Downs, and Fonner Park remain the only thoroughbred tracks holding races at this time. Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar. FL, has extended its meet to May 30, from its originally scheduled end on May 3. Tampa plans to run Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the last four weeks of May.